28 June 2013

Mobile app M8 on the UK festival season: Plan for wet weather & pack extra wet wipes!

Image courtesy of festivalawards.com
So, lots of you have made the pilgrimage to Glastonbury and are already enjoying the fun, you lucky things! This year’s is set to be spectacular, and it’ll have to be to follow Beyonce’s epic performance - check out Single Ladies - in 2011!

Summer and festivals go hand in hand in the UK. A season of fun in the sun (well...fun anyway), every year hundreds of thousands of us pack up our cars, set the sat nav, and flock to festivals to listen to great music, enjoy amazing food and spend time with the people we love to have a laugh with.

We’ve had a look and rounded up our other favourites for this summer, there’s something for everyone so book your tickets, fire up handy sat nav app M8, and head off for some fun!

July
Deer Shed
What to do: This festival is a family friendly affair, but certainly not . Spend a lovely weekend camping and enjoying art and science exhibitions, workshops and music that the whole family will love. This year's theme is machines: robots, rockets and anything you can think of! Lots to capture the imagination of kids of all ages. Cardboard city and 8 tonnes of play sand adds to the fun - imagine the dens and sand castles you could build with that?! Sounds awesome!
Who: Edwyn Collins, Gaz Coombes, House of Love, Darwin Deez
When: 19-21 July
Where: Baldersby Park, Topcliffe, North Yorks





Secret Garden Party
What to do: A favourite for those looking for a magical experience. Superstitions are celebrated this year so grab your black cat, a couple of horseshoes and plenty of clover and head to the countryside with friends and family. This festival is held in a beautiful enchanted garden with everything you need for comfortable family camping. Watch theatre performances, learn about spellmaking, pamper your body & soul or try a casual pizza baking. Something a little bit different, a great experience!
Who: Regina Spektor, 2MANYDJS, Django Django among many other acts
When: 25-28 July    
Where:   Abbots Ripton near Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire

Goodwood Festival of Speed
What to do: A highlight in any petrolhead’s calendar, Goodwood Festival of speed celebrates the world of cars, motorsports and most of all, speed. This year celebrates its 20th Anniversary and organisers have revved up the star studded lineup and visitor fun to mark the occasion! Want to meet Formula 1 legends? Witness the very best in petrol powered action? Drool over gorgeous vintage racers? This place has it all, and more.
Who: Jenson Button, Lewis Hamilton,  Nico Rosberg to name a few   
When: 11-14 July
Where:   Goodwood Estate, Chichester, West Sussex



August
Camp Bestival
What to do: Pack up the car and bring your kids to one of the most beautiful places in UK. An amazing theme park, stunning castle grounds and the wild Jurassic coastline are sure to make for some fabulous photos of happy, smiley faces. Take a morning bicycle ride, catch the Horrible Histories crew live, try a touch of afternoon medieval jousting, enjoy an evening of songs around the campfire, and laugh your socks off at the children’s comedy club. This festival is chock-a-block with family friendly fun and of course, lots of dancing.
Who: Ash, Richard Hawley, Labrinth, plus many more
When: 1-4 August
Where:  Lulworth Castle, Dorset
Official Website: http://www.campbestival.net/


Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo
What to do: Experience the marvellous city Edinburgh in all its splendour as it celebrates the finest in Scottish performance among breathtaking surroundings. Dedicating the events to the Year of Natural Scotland, this festival is set to capture the spirit of Scotland through traditional costumes and energetic dance, inspiring music and heart pounding-ly strong percussion. Perhaps the most memorable however, is the haunting lament of the Lone Piper, playing from one of the World’s most beautiful, iconic castles.
Who: A sparkling event of Massed Pipes and Drums, Massed Military Bands and spectacular dancers and of course, the Lone Piper
When: 2-24 August     
Where:   Edinburgh Castle, Scotland
Official Website: http://www.edintattoo.co.uk/

Dunsfold Wings and Wheels
What to do: What’s not to love about this?! Set to be an exceptional family day out in Yorkshire featuring a 5 hour airshow with heart stopping aerial aerobics from some of the world’s most highly skilled pilots; a 2 hour motoring show, and impressive military vehicle parade at the Dunsfold Aerodrome - home of TV show Top Gear. Participate in master classes and try motoring stimulators, watch daredevil stunts, pick up a little memorabilia and help raise money for charities. Fantastic!
Who: Royal Air Force, The British Army, The Royal Navy
When: 24-25 August     
Where:   Dunsfold Park, Surrey

With so much going on this summer, we’re spoilt for choice! These are just a few of the festivals and family events that have caught our eye, but please let us know if you have plans to head to any others - we’re open to suggestions!
With most of these festivals requiring a bit of travelling to get to each of the various locations, M8 UK is the perfect mobile app companion to help you get there with minimal stress. Using your iPhone, Android or BlackBerry mobile devices, you can plan your route with the integrated sat nav, calculate your ETA and keep an eye on the traffic with real time traffic news while watching out for those speed cameras that are certain to catch a few people out!
Travelling with children is always going to test the stress levels so make sure you bring lots of games - or make them up as you go along(!) - and use M8 UK to plan toilet stops by locating the nearest service stations, pubs and restaurants. You might even be able to bag yourselves a family deal at one of the many roadside restaurants if you browse nearby MyVoucherCodes offers - now that will certainly get you in the festival spirit!

Our top tips for successful festival-ing? Whatever you do, plan for wet weather, always bring extra tissues or baby wipes, and never, ever skrimp on snacks for a road trip.

Happy UK festival season, folks!

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