Greenbelt is an inter-generational festival like no other. It’s not just that we have lots of children and families onsite. We do. It’s that as well as their parents and carers, often their grandparents are there too! Greenbelt is truly inter-generational. And that rocks!
Greenbelt has always been a great festival to bring children to and since moving to beautiful Boughton House, near Kettering, this is even more the case. The site’s beauty and safety allows for a potential independence, freedom and earthed experience for children that they will rarely encounter. And that’s wonderful to see.
From traffic-free campsites to the biggest, poshest, best-mown lawn you could imagine to play on. And from ancient trees (with organised tree-climbing this year!) to wildlife a plenty – with geese, swans, herons and buzzards – Boughton is a paradise for children (of all ages).
The festival is also a really safe space too. People are looking out for each other, for the common good. There are lots of children and families around and we’re geared up for that. We’ve got a great children’s team of volunteers onsite too, there to help and support you make the most of the festival. From buddies for children with special needs to great workshop leaders and venue hosts, we’re here to make Greenbelt the best it can be for festivalgoers of all ages.
It’s a great space for children to make new friends, too, as they play and create together. Greenbelt friends often become friends for life and this annual gathering of the clans is something that children and families come to cherish as community.
We place an emphasis on fun and participation – and this seems to suit children well. Greenbelt isn’t a place where you’re just required to sit still and listen. It’s a place where you can get stuck in and really hands-on. Where you learn by doing and laughing and playing.
Children and Family venues
Make & Create – for a rolling programming of led workshops and DIY crafting activity
Learn & Do – for music and movement workshops and all-age performance too
The Duke’s Lawn – the best location to let off steam and have a kick-around or join in the rolling programming of organised team games and physical activities
But we also have great all-age programming across the weekend in The Playhouse theatre venue, The Glade Big Top, and walkabout performance, too. And remember – the site itself in general is just the biggest and best playground you can imagine.
Programming
Here’s just a brief overview of some of the programming on offer for Greenbelt 2017. More details on all of this will emerge on our lineup pages over the coming weeks. You can also view and share our children’s lineup video (embedded above) and the poster image at the top of this blog.
Participation, Arts & Crafts and Workshops
Tatty Bumpkin Yoga for kids, Belly Dancing with Syren, Songwriting, Drumming workshops, Glamba Samba Show, Family Worship, Bedtime Stories, Paul Cookson’s Family Twist, Late Night Village (for 8 – 11s), Improvised Comedy with The Twitnits, Story Slam, Circus Skills with Circus Kaos, Science Experiments with Mini Professors, Clay Modelling, Outside sport and activities on the Duke’s Lawn
Crafting in the Make & Create venue
DIY crafting in the Make & Create venue, Enamelling, Groovy Records Vinyl Art workshops, Journey Sticks, Willow Weaving with Salix Arts, Clay Modelling,
Performances for Childrens and Family
Children get their own gig from David Gibb, Family Show presented by Lords of Strut, The First King of England presented by Snail Tales, Puppet Pantomime presented by Mr Brown’s Pig, Big Howards LOL-tastic Yukfest for Kids and Well-Trained Adults,Anyday presented by Max Calaf, Seed presented by Pif Paf, Fischy Music
Support
We provide great wrap-around support for children and families onsite – from a Welcome & Orientation Session on the Friday (to introduce the volunteer team, the venues, the site and the programme) to a dedicated Parent Support Venue base for those with really young children across the weekend (where you can feed, bathe and change babies and young children, or just chill out!). We’ve got a large Play Tent open all day every day and rammed with all sorts of ride-on and hands-on toys to play with and for those with children needing special support we also offer an SEN Buddy System (come along to the Welcome Session to find out more).