Seven Family Friendly Events at Solas Festival
Guest blog by Samantha Paton from Small City Big Personality
Solas Festival - Scotland’s midsummer festival - has been running since 2009. The all-age, weekend-long celebration of music and the arts is designed to entertain, inspire and challenge. Crowned “Scotland’s Most Family Friendly Music Festival” it provides a safe, relaxed, family friendly atmosphere. Last year I had my first “Family Festival” experience at Solas with my then one year old River and I can confirm it’s the perfect festival for those of you who are hoping to dip your toe into the festival circuit with your little ones.
There are plenty of space and toys for your wee ones to play with, as well as participatory activities and performances to engage and excite them!
This year’s Solas Festival has moved to a brand new site at Errol Park, making it even more convenient for those travelling with young families. Only a hop, skip and a short bus ride from both Perth and Dundee, 2019’s line up is bursting with fun family activities. Now without further ado, sit back, grab a cuppa and have a browse over the best family activities for kids of all ages at this year’s Solas Festival. Get planning your summer …
Mr Boom - Saturday mid morning
Are you ready to travel to the moon in your imagination? Mr Boom is the perfect festival performer to give all of the nostalgic feels to both parents and grandparents attending with their kids. Mr Boom’s one man band will be entertaining the morning crowd with all of his songs and stories from outerspace. Find out more on Mr Boom here.
Silent Disco with Silent Knights - Saturday afternoon
A silent disco is the perfect way for kids to let off steam on Saturday afternoon at Solas! With two channels of tunes to choose from on wireless headphones, expect plenty flossing and maybe even some dodgy Dad dancing in the crowd, as everyone is kept entertained with the latest hits and old classics alike. Find out more on Silent Knights here >>
Den Building with Instinctively Wild
Instinctively Wild outdoor and bushcraft activities are a chance for children, teens and families to have fun in the fresh air, and rediscover their inner Ray Mears! All of their activities are based on the Forest School ethos, and run by trained and experienced leaders. The weekends programme involves four workshops on shelter building and nettle string making. Lots of fun for both parents and kids! Find out more on Instinctively Wild here >>>
Bug Walks with RSPB
If anyone else’s children are as obsessed with creepy crawlies as my two year old is then this is an activity not to be missed! Become a mini beast detective by joining RSPB Scotland on one of their bug walks, you’ll get the chance to explore the site looking for bugs and figuring out what it is you find. The RSPB are running three walks on Saturday and Sunday and participants can sign up at the RSPB stand by putting their names on the blackboard. Find out more here >
Little Fawn Caravan Theatre
The Little Fawn is a wonderful, travelling puppet theatre: a 1950’s Cheltenham Fawn caravan is magically transformed into a unique performance space for children and their families, created by Sokobauno Puppet Theatre. The Little Fawn is guaranteed to brighten up the festival with theatre, colour and a true sense of wayward fun! Enjoy Shane Connolly’s Galoshans play in the caravan, one of the oldest Scottish folk dramas magically transformed for this tiny but perfect stage. Find out more here >>>
Fischy music – Kids Sessions
Do your kids love a good sing-a-long? Then you need to plan the Fishcy music workshops into your festival weekend. Fischy want children to feel good about themselves; recognising, expressing and managing their emotions effectively. Fischy Music is a charity founded in 1998. Their Health and Wellbeing songs and resources are inclusive and appropriate for all children regardless of outlook on life or religious belief. Find out more here >>
The Bean Counter – Kids Theatre
The Bean Counter is a hilarious interactive kids theatre show by Alice Mary Cooper. The Bean Counter tells the story of an official of a jelly bean counting competition. It is a character comedy about a ‘jobsworth’ who uses some unusual counting methods to count how many beans are in a jar. Find out More >>