Goren Farm – A Family Music Festival
As the nights draw in again, I am looking back wistfully at the lovely weekend we spent at Goren Festival which take place in East Devon during early July. It’s the perfect small family friendly music festival.
“A small un-commercialised music festival, with a laid back atmosphere. Perfect for families with younger children where everyone can relax and unwind surrounded by beautiful countryside.”
Starting at the begining – like most festivals you can’t park very close, so be prepared to make a couple of trips with your gear if you are camping.
Fortunately there was transport provided.
For me that was a plus point.
A Huge Range of Music
Children’s Entertainment
Local Bar and Food
Camping or Glamping
Free Range Children
Nature Walks
A Relaxed Laid Back Atmosphere
A Handful of Craft and Trade Stalls
Live Music – Grace Gillan and Jake Miller performing with Jess McCallister
Great Fun for the Children – Organised as well as Free Range Activities
To Camp or Not To Camp
We were extremely lucky with the weather making camping a great choice for the weekend. If you go with a small group you can easily pitch up together in the meadow. Facilities are basic – portaloos and a cold water tap. However you can upgrade to glamping which was provided by Devon Belle Tents and looked lovely.
There was not a huge amount of food on offer at the festival compared to some, so you may want to take some extra supplies.
There was a bacon butty van open in the mornings (which sadly I missed in the first day when we needed it!) and some meals and snacks provided from the farmhouse. The Rusty Pig had a food van for the afternoons and evenings which was very nice, Lemon Jelli offered coffee and pancakes and Branscombe Brewery provided the bar.
Take a look at my little video of the festival.
What’s On Offer
There was a range of live music on Friday night and all day Saturday with a great headline band that got everyone up dancing.
During the day you can chill out, wander the meadows and relax. Children can play free range, there was a fun run organised, story telling, circus skills and a toddler zone which also doubled as kids disco.
There were nature walks and a fun portrait area with picture frames and dressing up clothes.
Being less commercial than most festivals there were not lots of trade stalls, just a few nice ones.
Future Events
Check online for dates for Goren Festival future events – usually held the first weekend in July (camp overnight Friday and Saturday and head home on the Sunday). It is held in the Blackdown Hills, near Axminster in East Devon. If you want to find out more about the location in advance you can head along to one of their Open Meadow Days which are run as part of the National Garden Scheme from June – you can enjoy a guided walk round the gorgeous wild flower meadows and beautiful the scenery.
Money raised during the festival is shared to various charities and the entrance price is very reasonable.
Interested to know about other Festivals? Take a look at this list for Devon Festivals that I have published. We are hoping to go back to Goren Farm again next year. We loved Livestock near Tewkesbury but that has stopped running. I’ve also got Glasdenbury and Beautiful Days in my line up – I’m delighted my girls have found they enjoy festivals as much as me!
Do you and your family enjoy festivals – let me know your favourite as I can feel a summer of fun coming along next year!
Hi! I am Clare and I live in glorious East Devon with my family.
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That looks a fun festival. Music-wise I usually only want to (or can afford to) go if there’s bands I know, so will keep an eye on this one. We have one locally in Carshalton with local bands and so much other stuff going on, but that’s local bands there so often they just seem to do covers or are tribute bands… the other activities look fabulous and loads of fun! #countrykids
This one was good value compared to most and it included camping. There were some great local bands performing their own music, such talent so it felt worth it.
Big festivals freak me out a little so this sounds right up my street. OK so I don’t have small children but this really appeals to me. The low key events, chilled atmosphere and not too many trade stands sounds perfect to me. May be I should consider it for next year, it’s almost doable for a day from here. Looks like you had a lovely time.
Thank you for sharing with me on #CountryKids
I love the sound of that, especially since it’s an uncommercialised one. That definitely sounds like my idea of a good-family-fun-filled festival. Will definitely watch out for this one in the future 🙂 #countrykids
Looks like the perfect festival for families. The whole festival scene seems to have passed me by but maybe this is one that would be worth going to with my twins. Many thanks for the info x
I like the sound of a mini version of the big festivals. I always think they sound wonderful but then see the pictures and all those people freak me out a bit. Perhaps this is one for our family to try. Mich x #CountryKids
I love small family festivals and it looks like you had a great time. #countrykids
I do love the idea of small family festivals, I’ve not been to one yet though.
#countrykids
I love this idea. I have never been to a festival myself, but this looks so much fun #countrykids
We’ve been lucky enough to attend really large festivals like Camp Bestival and Glasto and really small festivals. Must admit that sometimes the smaller un-commercialised festivals can be a bit more chilled. Looks like you had a lovely time. Popping over from #CountryKids
I have not had the courage to take my children to the larger festivals so this was a great compromise.
This sounds like a really cute little festival that had lots of family friendly things to do. Really like the fact money raised during the festival is shared between local charities. Will look into this for next year so thanks for the heads up 🙂
It looks lovely Clare. I really enjoy smaller festivals… still looks like there was plenty going on. Sarah #ExplorerKids
That sounds lovely! I have a problem with HUGE fairs and festivals as I find the crowds overwhelming; but this sounds like something even I could handle with lots of open space and free time to relax and enjoy.
This looks like a lovely family festival! I love how the proceeds are given to various charities, I know my boys would love the planetarium!
#ExplorerKids
This looks absolutely fantastic really laid back I’m really hoping to take my little one next summer thanks for sharing some great tips!
Mandy xx #ExplorerKids
It looks like a great family fest and it seems to me, I must live in the wrong place. The first three #explorerkids entries are all super cool festivals and camping stuff!
This looks like a fun Festival. We also went to our first family camping festival this year, but we didn’t luck on our side. We had rain all weekend. I like the sound of the children’s toy that turns into a children’s disco, that must have been fun for the kids. I like that the festival is at reasonable price that helps local charities. What fantastic idea! I’ve never been to Devon with my family before so perhaps I will look into it. Thank you so much for liking up with as on #ExplorerKids