Just So Festival's 10th Anniversary took place in the usual Cheshire woodland location of Rode Hall and created a real festival to remember forever, and one for your CV if you work in events management!!
I've been to many, many festivals over the years and for the last 25 I've had children with me. It's really easy for it all to go wrong when the rain hits, and it hit Just So really hard. One month's rain in one day, as 5000 people arrive and attempt to start their festival weekend. It's the stuff of nightmares for any event organiser. They did fantastically.
The staff and volunteers gave everyone just enough leeway, and the festival attendees had enough common sense, to make it work safely for as many people as possible. I'm truly sorry to anyone who didn't make it in the end. For most of us at least, the festival went ahead virtually as planned.
It was a festival of the arts and the outdoors, and nature was determined to reassert the fact she is bigger than all of us.
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| 6am Saturday morning |
We caught a few bands on the Footlights Stage over the weekend. Thingumabob & The Thingumajigs made us all laugh. Everybody Loves Runcorn is a catchy tune indeed - we're all still singing it!
Just So Festival does have a map, and a timetable, but somehow it isn't as important as just wandering around in the woods exploring...
Nice to see the Woodland Library was being well used between showers - and during them. There weren't many takers for the hammocks though - even my youngest didn't fancy getting into one!
There is always so much to do and see at Just So Festival that you can't go far without coming across someone performing. The Workshy Fops here did a great set of 70's classics. With the Amazon on fire and microplastic raining down over the Arctic, Big Yellow Taxi has never sounded so apt.
The Woodland Theatre Stage is in a gorgeous natural amphitheatre - and when it was covered in mud it was an opportunity to be a mountain climber on an adventure. I declined. There are actually rows of wooden benches hiding there.
The Spellbound Forest is always one of our favourite places. This year there was Giant Marble Run which is really GIGANTIC, When I Grow Up..., Clay Faces, Hammer & Chisel kids woodwork, den-building and more, including the campfire.
The Village Green is the main gathering area of the site and suffered worst from the rain and mud because of the sheer number of people who used it. Festival organisers and staff did a great job of spreading straw to stop the ground being slippy, and by some miracle none of us fell over. Thank heavens for the hot showers though!
Those who were brave enough could bring or borrow a swimming costume and take a bath at Just So - a mobile bath tour of the site. It was incredibly popular!
At the far end of the site is The New Curiosity Shop, which was at times a disco, a schoolhouse and an Aardman Animations workshop, among other things. Opposite is the huge Flamingo Lounge barn and we found Our Kids Social hosting a disco there more than once over the weekend! It was packed! They know how to throw a party...
There really is theatre, music and perfomance everywhere. Here with a gorgeous stately backdrop was The Hare And The Moon for younger children in the Peekaboo area. There's all sorts organised for young families - including baby-wearing dance sessions!
I'm pleased to say we managed to catch The Baghdaddies full set, the mud was at it's worst at this point. It only got better and drier after this!
By Saturday teatime, with no rain and lots of sunshine, we were exhausted but very happy - and a bit pink round the edges.
The Lantern Parade was on Saturday evening. It's always incredibly spectacular, with hundreds of paper home-made lanterns. We were a bit close for good photos, but I did catch The Baghdaddies leading the parade, and these amazing stags....
We were among the first to arrive at the Fire Garden - one of our highlights. The orchard beside the Flamingo Lounge was lit up by torches and we were allowed to walk through in small groups. It was beautiful.
Sunday was gorgeous weather! Everyone was in good spirits and wandering the site was easier going, especially for anyone on wheels. Ice cream and sorbet weather...
We all had Sunday lunch picnic with food from vendors on site. The food is superb quality and there's lots of variation, but cheaper options are limited. My 5 bean chilli and chips was £5, the mini Chorizo tortilla was £6, pizza £8 and Tibetan Kitchen Momo meal £8.
We wanted to catch storytellers and performers Ian Douglas, Gary Bridgens and Professor Pumpernickel over in the Enchanted Forest, and during a leisurely walk over there we also caught part of a musical performance at the Wonderland Stage. The setting really is amazing...
Ian and Gary enlisted a troupe of young musicians to help perform a story and song especially for the Facebook Page Story Competition winners - who were sitting in front of us. They were so touched, it was a great gesture and a lovely prize for anyone.
Our weekend had to end, it was work at 7am next morning for my partner. Before heading home we had a walk around to say goodbye to the site and our lovely neighbours from Hodgepodgedays blog, and enjoy a few more minutes escape from the real world.
We managed to drive away without needing a tractor pull too - yeeay!
There was so much more that we didn't see or take part in, including the Pillow Fight, discos, bands, theatre, workshops and performances. We crammed absolutely loads into our 2 days though and had a really awesome time. Mud doesn't stop anyone at Just So Festival - it's what wellies were made for.
Just So Festival is an annual 3 day weekend festival which takes place at Rode Hall, Cheshire and we have been a few times now. It is designed especially for families with children 0 - 11 and is organised by Wild Rumpus.
For a different review, see Hodgepodgedays Blog!
For a different review, see Hodgepodgedays Blog!
We love Wild Rumpus and everything they do to bring the arts and nature together in such perfect collaborations - they are also the people behind The Lanterns At Chester Zoo, The Forgotten Carnival, Hinterland Film Festival, Timber Festival and more... Here are the events we've reviewed for them...
We were guests of Timber Festival to review, and we paid for everything except our entry.
I've never been to a festival before, this always makes it look so good. I should do this at some point with the kids xx
ReplyDeleteYou really should try it at least once. You can go as a day visitor if you are scared at the thought of camping, although that's one of the big highlights for the kids itself :)
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