Review by Andrea Millicent
Big Chill Figure
When you wake at 6.30am to the sound of “Mum, Tom’s wearing a tutu and fairy wings” you know you’re at a festival – but which one?
Gone are the days of falling into bed with alcohol breath at 6.30am and trying to grab a few hours’ kip before the tent gets so hot you can’t breathe. Festivals with children are a totally different ball game but for me equally enjoyable.
This was to be my family’s first trip to the Big Chill festival, affectionately known as the Big Hill, at Eastnor Castle in the beautiful Malvern Hills, Herefordshire.
After an eventful journey with a blow out on the M4 we finally arrived and were greeted by some of the friendliest and most knowledgeable stewards we have ever encountered at a festival. Luckily we were directed to a flattish bit of ground making levelling the camper quite easy – although most of the field was on a high slope.
Keen to explore, it was on with the wellies and off into the mud. Friends who had arrived the day before warned us that it had rained all day on the Thursday and that the ground was soggy in places. A festival just wouldn’t be a festival without some mud.
We clocked the nearest loos and water pipe on our way into the festival site and were extremely glad that we had our faithful bucket – an essential when camping with children. The thought of traipsing a quarter mile through a dark field in the middle of the night with a child desperately wanting to pee (or poo) horrifies me.
Big Chill camping adventure
By now it was early evening and the stewards we encountered just outside the entrance were very confused as to where the press office was, even after consulting their map, and sent us off in completely the wrong direction. Maybe they had sun-stroke as it had been a glorious day. After walking for two hours our 11 year old daughter and her friend both had blisters and were not happy!!! Off to First Aid – it’s marvellous what plasters can do.
This was to set a precedent for the whole weekend – we had completely underestimated the size of the site and how far it is to walk anywhere. Not a problem with just the two of you, but with kids and pushchairs in tow it could become quite exhausting. Although most of the site is fairly level, there are some stages and entertainment areas up and down the hills which I’m sure some toddlers would find a challenge. We only saw one person using a wheelchair and a couple of people on crutches all weekend.
We did manage to catch a brilliant set from Basement Jaxx before the big climb back up the hill. The view from the top of that hill was spectacular with the whole festival laid out before us – a great end to an exhausting day.
Day two dawned and we were eager to experience all that The Big Chill has to offer. We’d had a lovely quiet night snuggled in the camper van but the girls, who had been outside in a tent – through choice – had been cold and decided that they were chucking us out of the camper tonight.
Festival girls!
After breakfast at camp we headed onto site just before midday. Not too many people around as most had been partying the night away and were still sleeping in those horrid sweaty tents. The sun was beating down which was lovely after last season’s wet and muddy festivals – no wellies needed today.
The girls decided that their first stop was to be the Ferris Wheel and the fairground. All the rides were reasonably priced at £2 per person which compares with most fairs but would soon become expensive if you have more than a couple of kids. Next it was off to the circus and the welcome shade of the Big Top. The girls sat open mouthed watching the acrobats – we were just glad to be sat.
We stopped by The Coop dance tent and felt the ground pump beneath our feet before following the art trail, a magnificent helter skelter sculpture in the middle of the lake and delicate umbrellas suspended from oak trees. A 20 metre high zombie dominated the site in keeping with the un-dead theme. Next it was onto the cinema and drive-in complete with brilliantly graffitied cars.
By now it was mid afternoon and we still hadn’t found the Kids Zone. Where does the time go at festivals? When we did find it, after a quick lunch at the noodle bar, it was a bit of a disappointment. A very small area compared to the rest of the festival and slightly cramped. There was plenty to do for the little ones but not much for the over 10’s. A percussion workshop, trapeze area, little big top theatre, arts and crafts, drum making and a wonderful quiet marquee for parents and small babies to relax and chill. We sat in the dappled shade in this colourful oasis and enjoyed a couple of hours watching and listening to the excitement of the tots.
There was still far too much to see and do to sit any longer so once again we were off. Although this is a music festival, so far we’d hardly had chance to enjoy much music. Every time we decided to go and see a band we were distracted by something else. Also, with kids, festivals can be a huge compromise between what you want and what they want – and usually they win!!!
One thing we had all agreed earlier in the day was that we must visit The Enchanted Garden and this for me was my favourite area of the whole festival – my hippy spirit was finally released. After passing the Cider Bus we arrived at a beautiful tranquil place with holistic therapists and some magical inflatable illuminated structures that gently blew in the breeze. By now it was dark and laser beams created holograms in the trees.
We stumbled on a tiny stage in the woods and decided that this was the perfect spot to sit and watch the mass flying lantern release which was happening on the other side of the valley. We lost count of how many lanterns were released but they soon filled the sky and mingled with the stars.
Another day was coming to an end and I don’t think we could have fitted much more in. We wanted to see Orbital but also needed to get the girls snuggled in their beds with hot chocolate drinks – what a dilemma!!! We compromised and heard some of Orbital’s set as we headed towards the camper.
The Big Chill came to an end for us the next day when we packed up and set off to the New Forest for our last night before work the next day. We’d had a great weekend but is The Big Chill really a family friendly festival? I suppose it depends on what you have come to expect and we have been to some fantastic festivals which cater superbly for children so we have very high expectations. The girls certainly had a brilliant weekend which says it all. My daughter’s friend commented “My parents won’t believe me when I tell them everything I’ve seen and done this weekend”.
