Latitude Festival 2009

www.latitudefestival.co.uk

Lillie - “I want to go away from the music”
Ted - “Look Mummy, cups!”
Lillie - “I love Bestival”

Yes, despite three visits to Latitude Festival Lillie still calls it Bestival. Which is pretty much where the similarities end between the two ‘family friendly’ festivals. As far as The Toddler Review is concerned Latitude wins the competition for best family fest hands down. There’s nowhere else where you’ll find more under tens dancing ’til late than you will tired and emotional teens collapsed in corners. In fact we can’t think of anywhere else where you might spend the morning colouring in unicorns inside a giant toadstool, an afternoon being lectured by fashion’s grand dame Vivienne Westwood and finish your day watching the formidable Grace Jones hula hooping live on stage.

But these are the very things which make Latitude so magical. From the moment you walk in to find rainbow coloured sheep grazing by a lake on which bob oversized lilies, lit up at night, walk through woods hung with art and discover music and plays taken place amongst the trees you realise that this is no Glastonbury. For one thing the family camping facilities are second to none, with warm showers (albeit not enough, I queued for an hour and a half - showers need not take more than ten minutes people!) and ‘proper’ toilets, a welcome reprieve from the awful long drop traps in the arena which every year overshadow the whole event (ask anyone about Latitude and the loos are inevitably number one on their list of discussion points).

As far as Lillie is concerned this weekend’s Latitude was all about the ‘mushroom ride’, a kiddies ferris wheel which she bravely boarded alone, fifty pence piece in hand. In fact the children’s area is wonderful whether you’re parenting a newborn or a ten year old. From free cups of tea served by a local church youth group to pond dipping and bat walks, art workshops and music groups, even puppet shows, story telling and a library, no child or parent can be bored by the place nor fail to be impressed by the effort that is put in by everyone involved.

When you can drag little ones away in to the small (compared to other festivals) arena mummies and daddies will be equally enthralled by a huge range of music - this year from Brighton’s magical The Mummers to Nirvana covers by The Vaselines to electro drama from Pet Shop Boys - not to mention a stunning comedy line up (a mention should go to Ed Byrne who extended his set, impromptu to cover Janeane Garofalo who walked after six minutes) and literature, poetry, theatre, dance, cabaret…whatever floats your boat Latitude has it. And that’s why The Toddler Review crew love it so much.

It’s funny what kids will enjoy but you’ll find it here. Forget toddler play, Ted’s highlights were The Duckworth Lewis Method, cricket themed concept by ex Divine Comedy frontman Neil Hannon, and champion beatboxer Shlomo (the moves that boy can pull) while Lillie was suitably impressed by the somewhat inappropriate for youngsters fashion show by The House of Blueeyes - models walked on water, what more could you ask for? Meanwhile Mummy & Daddy were suitably impressed with the last minute addition of Sir Thom of Yorke to the line up, danced like embarrassing parents to Gossip and pretended to be ‘down with the kids’ by nodding heads along to the likes of Sky Larkin and Bombay Bicycle Club.

Of course festival going with children is never easy, the setting up of tents in small spaces, the long days and the night time noise is always an issue and The Toddlers came up against The Parents a fair few times when those late nights took their toll. Even after three years we’ve yet to get the formula just right…unlike the Latitude organisers.

mummy x