I don't know about you but as this lovely weather persists I feel this might be THE summer for fabulous festivals. And with the school summer holidays approaching and my already bored uni student kids at home this seems like a great time to book Lakefest 2026 which runs from August 5-9 . Want some excellent news? I can offer my readers tickets at a generously discounted rate!
I am a relative newcomer to festivals thinking they were maybe not suitable for families but after experiencing the late and lamented Cornbury Music Festival at Grew Tew Park, Chipping Norton, I became a convert realising this is a great way to entertain the entire family, whatever their age.
Learning that Lakefest not only had an epic line up including Madness, The Charlatans, Bananarama and Scouting for Girls to name just a few and the festival was based at Eastnor Castle (where I made some very happy memories in the 1980's as a teenager) and I knew this was a not to be missed experience.
Some of you might know that my husband is not in the best of health with a life limiting lung condition and some cognitive impairment and so this year's festival will be extra special as "It Must Be Love" by Madness is "our tune" yet I've never seen them play live.
We are taking two of our "children" who are actually in their 20's (some of the others were not entirely happy at being left out) and they will be happy with music, dancing and maybe the odd alcoholic beverage, but if you have younger children fear not. Lakefest 2026 has an array of family activities to amuse and occupy them. Creative crafts? Tick. Retro gaming? Tick. Circus acts, Disco Bingo and Ibiza style foam party? Tick, tick, tick.
Don't worry about having to cook and forcing the kids to eat beans every day while camping at the festival - there's a wonderful selection of foodie offerings onsite including the evocatively named Cakefest where you can buy (or preorder) grazing boxes for lunch at a reasonable price, buy hot drinks and a variety of cakes and sweet treats and even get a birthday cake if someone is celebrating during the festival. I might pretend it's my birthday....
Other options include Sri Lankan food, pizza, gyros, falafel, salt beef and the intriguingly named Death Row Sandwiches.
General camping is included with every weekend festival ticket but if you simply cant be without electricity, fancy something more comfortable than your two man (or one and a half man) pop up tent and a mat, you can upgrade to proper beds in a bell tent, a bedouin tent or the type of glamping options which leave you wanting to stay there forever -Sultan's Lair (sleeps up to 12 with bedrooms added) I'm looking at you. It has sofas, carpets and hanging space!
You need to book your festival ticket(s) first then upgrade. Want to make some truly special memories? You can opt for all inclusive accommodation options and a range of VIP experiences ranging from posh loos to side of main stage experiences and full access to the VIP village.
Now. I promised you a discount and since you have got this far and no doubt are dying to join in with all the Lakefest fun, here's the code you need:
MMO7LF25
Use that when you book online and get a whopping 25% off!!!!
The long range weather forecast (which might change but fingers crossed) is for temps in the low 20's with some nice periods of sunshine so pack your hat and dancing shoes and I'll see you there....