Six of the best... Mum-Friendly Festivals

Long gone are the days where we can turn up with a bunch of 99p carnations and a Terry’s chocolate orange and be done with it, and nor should we be pleased with ourselves if that is the case. Why not treat your mum to the amazing gift of music? And no we don’t mean a Michael Buble CD you unadventurous lot – think outside the box!

Festival tickets make great presents - and couldn't be easier to buy. Here's our pick of this summer's Mum-friendly festivals.

Parklife

Held on June 9th and 10th, Parklife has cemented itself as a much anticipated event in the Manchester diary. The site is just a short journey from the city centre in Platt Fields Park, Fallowfield. The plus point of this festival for Mum is no camping is involved, and you can happily get to and from local transport and parking with ease. Saturday at Parklife Festival represents a great selection of music old and new this year - with a line-up that would appeal to any music loving Mum. Flaming Lips, Chic ft Nile Rogers, Noah and the Whale, Crystal Castles and Kelis are just some of the acts set to appear. We're sure your Mum will love it. Adult day tickets start at £38.50.
Buy tickets for Saturday at Parklife

Isle of Wight Festival

Originally held from 1968 to 1970 and showcasing acts such as Bob Dylan, Hendrix & T-Rex, IOW was revived in 2002 and for the past 10 years has managed to put the Isle back on the musical map. This year will see an appearance from The Boss himself, Bruce Springsteen, as well as British ska band Madness. The wonderful Elbow are also headlining over the weekend as well as Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds.
Adult tickets start from £160.

Paul Weller Live From Jodrell Bank

24th June sees the return of live music at Jodrell Bank. Famous as a research centre for Astrophysics, Jodrell Bank provides an unlikely yet alluring backdrop for a music concert. Last year The Flaming Lips blew people away, but for 2012 we think Mum would like nothing better than to experience the Modfather, Paul Weller, perform new and past tracks in the the shadow of the towering, world famous, Lovell telescope. This is a one-day event, so perfect for those Mums who would prefer to leave their wellies behind! Tickets are priced at £35.
Buy tickets for Paul Weller Live From Jodrell Bank

Latitude

12th – 15th July brings us the charmingly eclectic Latitude Festival. Set in sunny Suffolk, there is action a plenty over the weekend. Not only is there music from
the likes of Paul Weller, Elbow and Simple Minds, there is also comedy with a variety of comedians ranging from Jack Dee to Russell Kane, as well as cabaret, literature and film tents for those who want to inject a little bit of culture and arts into their festival experience.
Adult weekend tickets start from £175.

Camp Bestival

Camp Bestival takes place on 26th – 29th July at Lulworth Castle, Dorset. The sister to Bestival, Camp Bestival aims to encapsulate the good old British 1950’s summer camp, but with a twist. Everything has been thought of here to include all the family and it is guaranteed to be a magical, memorable experience. Kool & The Gang, Chic, Earth Wind & Fire and Rolf Harris make up just a small part of the fantastic line-up that Mum is sure to enjoy, but there is also dance, comedy, poetry, art, story telling, circus performers, fine foods and real ales onsite.
Adult tickets start from £170 for the weekend. Day tickets on sale April/May.

Belladrum

On Friday 3rd - 4th August we have Belladrum. Belladrum, also know as the Tartan Heart Festival, is held the Belladrum Estate near Inverness in Scotland. Known for its family friendly atmosphere, the campsite is family orientated so late night noise is a bare minimum back in camp. This year acts include Travis and soul sensation Beverly Knight alongside many others. Music aside, there is also alternative therapy tents, yoga and dance tuition! Weekend adult tickets from £90.
Buy tickets for Belladrum 2012

All the above weekend festivals also have the option to upgrade for a more VIP experience, so instead of just going for the day or camping for the weekend, why not treat Mum to a stay in a tipi, yurt or luxury pod.

So there you have it. Do something different this year and get something for Mother's Day that will be enjoyed and truly remembered for many years to come.

(Also, just think how much more decent your birthday and Christmas pressies will be after pulling this out of the bag!)

Happy Mother's Day!

Words: Jo-Anne Waddington

Photo: Camp Bestival/Jamie Baker

See all 2012 festivals in our Festival Guide