eFestivals guide: festivals on a budget for 2012 (updated 20/04/12)

camping over three days or more for under £100

By Scott Williams | Published: Wed 18th Jan 2012

budget festivals 2012

With gloomy economy forecasts coming in daily, festival goers can expect less money in their pockets next year.

So to help out, eFestivals brings you the family friendly festivals already announced for 2012 we have currently listed, that are currently offering an adult weekend ticket for music and camping over three days or more for under £100.

We do realise there are still festivals yet to confirm their ticket prices or dates for next year, so this is not a definitive list of suggestions.

The festivals below are festivals taking place in the UK excluding Northern Ireland. We have divided the festivals into price bands, and some of the events have been divided into certain alternative music genres.

Quick links:

You can click the links below to go straight to the events we suggest in the categories below:

free festivals
festivals under £40
festivals under £50
festivals under £60
festivals under £70
festivals under £80
festivals under £90
festivals under £100
dance festivals under £100
metal festivals under £100
tribute festivals under £100
country music festivals under £100
folk festivals under £100

Last updated on Wednesday 18th January 2012.

FREE FESTIVALS


You can't beat a free festival for value, and there's a few free three day events already announced for next year.

Willow Festival
Friday 25 May until Sunday 27 May 2012
Location: Peterborough, Cambridgeshire
Cost: FREE
One of the largest free festivals is making a return in 2012 after a nine year absence, returns to Peterborough, in Cambridgeshire from Friday 25 May until Sunday 27 May 2012. Although there will be an additional charge for camping which has not yet been announced.

WoodFest
Friday 7 September until Sunday 9 September 2012
Location: Hatfield Forest, Takeley, Essex
Cost: FREE charges for parking or camping
A much smaller free event which only charges for camping or parking. One of the first festivals the National Trust has run. The Festival in the Heart of the Wood celebrates the woodland location through music, song, workshops and traditional crafts. The festival offers childrens activities, sale of timber and woodland produce, stalls and locally sourced food and drink.

BunkFest
Friday 31 August until Sunday 2 September 2012
Location: Wallingford, Oxfordshire

Cost: unknown possibly FREE
BunkFest was FREE last year to celebrate it's 10th anniversary, and there's no confirmation yet whether the event will be free next year.

FESTIVALS UNDER £40


Summer Breeze
Friday 13th until Sunday 15th July 2012
Location: Warren Farm, Liddington, Nr Swindon, Wiltshire

Cost: £35 weekend, youth £25, £5 for camping.
Buy link: click here.

This family based festival has grown naturally and sold out for the last two years. It offers loads for the kids to do and overnight camping. In 2012 expect new music, more performers, a new stage, childrens workshops and musical comedy, all coupled with more food, and real ale.

V-Dub Island
Thursday 2nd until Monday 6th August 2012
Location: County Showground, Northwood, Isle of Wight

Cost: £25 adult weekend ticket (including camping). Under-14s go free to V-Dub Island (up to a maximum of three children per paying adult) All Under-18s must be accompanied by a responsible adult.
Buy link: click here.

A family-friendly enthusiasts event on the Isle of Wight offering attendees live music and a chance to enjoy all things Volkswagen.

Chalgrove Festival
Friday 3 August until Sunday 5 August 2012
Location: The Moors Field, Mill Lane, Chalgrove, Oxfordshire

Cost: expect around £20 for the weekend + £5 for camping
The Help The Heroes festival cancelled last year supports new and up-and-coming bands with over 20 live bands performing on stage the festival has a real ale tent, stalls, food outlets, acoustic jam tent, dance tent, camping, street performers, children's area and more.

Tolpuddle Martyrs Festival and Rally
Friday 13 July until Sunday 15 July 2012
Location: Tolpuddle, Dorset

Cost: expect around £24 for weekend ticket, child (5-15) £5, unders 5s free. Add around £15 for a tent, and £25 for a campervan
Organised by the TUC, this festival takes place in the village of Tolpuddle, and offers seminars, and talks during the day, and some smaller music spaces, with the main music happening in the afternoons/evenings. On the Sunday there is a large processional march from the festival site to the nearby village of Tolpuddle, followed by a few major music acts and speeches.

Bentworth Blues Weekend
Friday 17 August until Sunday 19 August 2012
Location: The Star Inn, Alton, Hampshire

Cost: expect around £28 for weekend tickets, plus camping at £7.
Grown annually from an afternoon to a three day event. Expect the return of two outdoor stages offering live blues acts outside the pub.

Nice & Sleazy
Friday 1 June until Sunday 3 June 2012
Location: Morecombe, Lancashire

Cost: Early bird tickets are priced at £30, until 31st October 2011, and optional camping is free for the weekend. Up to 2 under 13s can go for free as long as they are accompanied by an adult ticket holder. Camping on Thursday is priced at £5 per person
Buy link: click here

This small, friendly, maximum punk/ska/new wave festival based at the Trimpell Sports and Social Club has three music stages, two of them indoors, two bars, free wifi, on-site ATM, large screen TVs, food stalls, merchandise stalls, games room, smoking/sun terrace, tattoist, kids zone, and offers a lot more alternative stuff including comedy.

FESTIVALS FOR UNDER £50


Cragfest Festival
Friday 25 May until Sunday 27 May 2012
Location: Kilnsey Showground (near Grassington), North Yorkshire

Cost: adults £40 for the weekend, children £20, under 5s free.
Buy link: click here

The inaugural Cragfest is set beneath the iconic Kilnsey Crag in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales. As well as the music and entertainment there's a full licensed bar with a selection of real ales at pub prices, good catering from local suppliers, children's entertainment, holistic therapy, light show with lots of other attractions nearby from fishing to riding or just enjoying the location.

Alchemy Festival
Friday 21 September until Sunday 23 September 2012
Location: Scholey Park, Lincoln, Lincolnshire

Cost: Super early bird tickets are available priced at £40 for an adult weekend ticket. An under 16 ticket is priced at £12. Under 5's are free and don't require a ticket. A car parking ticket is priced at £8, and a live in vehicle pass is priced at £20. Dog pass (limited) £20.
Buy link: click here

A green festival where every day is dress fancy day programmed with most music tastes catered for someplace or other, with works of art and sculptures, stalls, circus area with fire shows, jugglers, poi, tarot readers, wandering randoms, shows, talks and performances, communal fire pits, and childrens area.

Small World Music Festival
Friday 17 August until Sunday 19 August 2012
Location: Badger Farm, Asterby, Louth, Lincolnshire

Cost: early bird £40, teen 12-17 £20, under 12s free
Buy link: click here

Formed in 1996 to produce a weekend Arts Festival/Solstice Celebration, focusing on a community audience and encouraging the creative use of reclaimed and restored resources. As well as music there's an opportunity for people of all ages (and abilities) to participate in workshops in a variety of art forms.

Sheep Music
Friday 20 July to Sunday 22 July 2012
Location: Wentes Meadow, near Presteigne, Powys, Mid Wales

Cost: Early bird tickets are priced at £45 for an adult weekend ticket (full price £60). Young People (16s and Under) must be accompanied by an adult over 18 (Photographic ID might be required to gain entry). Children 13 or under can enter free but must be accompanied by a ticket holder over 18. A campervan/live-in vehicle pass is priced at £25.
Buy link: click here

Now in its 21st year, Sheep Music's current site at Wentes Meadow, Presteigne, has been its home since the mid 90s when it evolved into a fully fledged international music festival. In addition to its numerous music stages, Sheep Music welcomes all interests, offering a diverse range of workshops, crafts, local food and ales.

Plymouth Volksfest
Friday 1 June until Monday 4 June 2012
Location: Newnham Park, Plymouth, Devon

Cost: Early bird adult (17+) ticket is priced at £35. Festival teenager (13 - 16 yrs) ticket is priced at £20, a festival junior (6 - 12yrs) is priced at £5, children aged 5 years and under have free entry. All children under 18 must be accompanied by a ticket holding adult. Tent/family camping £5, Classic VW camping (includes T25, T4 & T5) is priced at £2. Motorhome over 28ft pitches are priced at £60, and under 28ft/caravan camping is priced at £40.
Buy link: click here

A VW themed weekend not exclusively for VW owners, offering four stages of music alongside a car show, cabaret tent, a film tent, as well as themed areas celebrating the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

FESTIVALS FOR UNDER £60


Kozfest
Friday 27th to Sunday 29th July
Location: Bobbie Watts Farm, near Uffculme, Devon

Cost: Early bird tickets £50. Those aged under 16 can attend for £25 if accompanied by adult. Under 5's Free but must be registered.
Buy link: click here

Kozfest, the new name for Kozmik Kens Psychedelic Dream Festival, is an old skool style festival it will be an intimate affair, with only 350 tickets for sale. A three day festival with two stages, bar, food, chillout, stalls, entertainment, great people, fantastic music, FREE camping, and, in the middle of summer in Devon.

Strummercamp
Friday 1st June until Sunday 3rd June 2012
Location: Manchester Rugby Club, Cheadle, Cheshire

Cost: Early bird tickets now on sale for a limited period. An adult weekend ticket including camping is priced at £50, a child aged under 16's weekend ticket is priced at £25, and children aged under 10 tickets (accompanied by an adult) are free. A family ticket for 2 Adults + 2 Children is priced at £100.
Buy link: click here

Organised by friends of the late Joe Strummer, this is intended to be a celebration and tribute run on a not-for-profit basis. Festival goers can also expect comedy, all day bar/food, toilets and disabled toilet facilities, and more.

The Magical Faerie Festival
Friday 1st June until Sunday 3rd June 2012
Location: Findon, nr Worthing, West Sussex

Cost: An adult ticket is priced at £50, a child weekend ticket is priced at £15, under 5s can attend for free. A campervan pass is priced at £10. An adult day ticket is priced at £20, and a child day ticket is £10. Parking is free.
Buy link: click here

The festival includes 3 days free camping under the stars, live music, workshops, food, mystic market, treatments, therapies and more.


3 Wishes Faery Fest
Friday 15th until Sunday 17th June 2012
Location: Mount Edgecumbe House and Country Park, Torpoint, Cornwall

Cost: An early bird adult weekend ticket is priced at £50, a child (12-15 years) weekend pass is priced at £30, children aged under 12 years can attend for free. An adult day ticket is priced at £25 and a single day child (12-15) pass is priced at £10. A vehicle pass is priced at £5 for cars, and £15 for live in vehicles.
Buy link: click here

Expect guest musicians and bands, a faery procession (on Saturday), a faery craft market with clothes, head-dresses, wings, wands, arts and fairy goodies, and a Fairy Art Exhibition, and the Mermaids & Pirates Ball (Faeries welcome of course).

Willowman Festival
Thursday 21st until Sunday 24th June 2012
Location: Lenthor Farm, Stokesley Road, Brompton, Northallerton, North Yorkshire

Cost: Early bird tickets are priced at £50 for a full weekend including camping (live in vehicles are £15 per vehicle). Other ticket options for youths, campervans etc will be available at a later date.
Buy link: click here

The Willowman Festival promises a top line up for 2012 and will host main stage acts to suite all tastes, an acoustic stage, Reggae Sound System Tent and loads for the kids to do. There is also quality trade stands a wide variety of international food stalls and a Real Ale Beer Tent. The site also hosts 'Sentry Circle' a Pagan stone circle used regularly by visiting Pagans. With Summer Solstice that week festival goers could all be dancing in the moonlight.

Bellingham All Acoustic Music Festival
Thursday 3rd until Sunday 6th May 2012
Location: Riverdale Hall Country House Hotel, Bellingham, Northumberland

Cost: Adult full weekend £38, children (10-16) £19, under 10s free. Camping an additional £5 per night.
Buy link: click here

The festival offers two covered stages, comedy song special, real ale bar, student concert, open mic, pub sessions, stalls and more.

Doune The Rabbit Hole
Friday 24th August until Sunday 26th August 2012
Location: Doune Castle Castle Road, Doune, Stirlingshire, Scotland

Cost: Early bird tickets now on sale for a limited period. A weekend ticket with camping (from Friday - Sunday) is priced at £58 (£48 without camping). An early bird child (under 16) with camping weekend ticket is priced at £48, or £38 without camping.
Buy link: click here

The festival aims to be a fun, frolicsome weekend for kids and adults alike - there will be a great mixture of music, stand up comedy, DJs, children's theatre, art workshops, lectures, poetry, craft stalls, local ale, cider, organic food and much more in a relaxed, festive atmosphere.

Cock Rock
Friday 20 July until Sunday 22 July 2012
Location: Cockermouth, Cumbria

Cost: Expect an adult weekend ticket with camping to be priced around £50, tickets for children aged under 14 half price.
A festival for all ages incorporating three days of music, activities, workshops, dancing, camping and more.

Watchet Live
Friday 24 August until Sunday 26 August 2012
Location: Watchet, West Somerset

Cost: Early bird adult (16+) weekend ticket with camping is priced at £50 or £40 without camping. Family weekend ticket with camping for 2 adults & 2 youths is priced at £110 (with out camping £90). A youth, aged 13-15 years, weekend ticket with camping is priced at £30 (without camping £20). Accompanied children aged 12 years and under can attend for free. A live in vehicle pass (purchased with a camping ticket) is priced at £20 per vehicle, no caravans or trailer tents.
Buy link: click here

A family friendly festival offering on site camping, 2 Stages including the famous Croissant Neuf venue along with Open Mic Tent, The Something Else Tea Tent, food court, workshops, festival market, real ale and cider bar, and free kids corner.

Brownstock Festival
Friday 31 August until Sunday 2 September 2012
Location: Brown Farm, Chelmsford, Essex

Cost: An adult weekend camping ticket (16 years and over) is priced at £52.
Buy link: click here

An independent boutique festival offering music and an array of other activities to fill the weekend. Free running, skateoarding, comedy shows, story telling, silent disco and an art camp.

Off The Tracks Festivals
Spring - Friday 25 May until Sunday 27 May / Summer - Friday 31 August until Sunday 2 September
Location: Castle Donington, Leicestershire

Cost: Early bird tickets are priced at £55 for an adult ticket for the weekend with camping, and £30 for a youth (aged 12 to 16 years) ticket, children aged under 12 go free and do not require a ticket. A campervan/caravan ticket is priced at £25, and a car parking ticket is priced at £5.
Buy link: click here

These two popular family-friendly festivals takes place in and around the courtyard of a farmhouse and offers folk, roots, dance and fusion on three stages, accompanied by real ales and ciders, acoustic sessions, stalls, workshops and therapies, kids activities, and atmospheric surroundings. These events both allow dogs.

OsFest
Friday 1 June until Monday 4 June 2012
Location: Oswestry Showground, Shropshire

Cost: Early bird £57.50 for a full weekend camping ticket or £55 without camping. Children (aged 11-16) camping tickets are priced at £47.50, or £45 without camping. Children aged under 10 years tickets are free.
Buy link: click here

Offering a range of music and dance acts, both well known and emerging talent on a 37 acre Showground site transformed into a Festival Village with several camping areas, a food village, funfair, music workshops and many other attractions aimed at a wide and varied audience.

Deer Shed Festival
Friday 20 July until Sunday 22 July 2012
Location: Baldersby Park near Topcliffe, North Yorkshire

Cost: Early bird adult (16+) weekend ticket is priced at £59, child (6 -15) weekend ticket is priced at £15, weekend campervan & caravan pass is priced at £15, and under 5s go free but require a ticket.
Buy link: click here

Aimed squarely at families with young kids, Deer Shed Festival offers a main stage with second acoustic stage, plus plenty of clean toilets and baby changing facilities. There will be a main bar as well as a cocktail bar, a large food tent with seating and high chairs. As well as the music the event offers vintage art and craft stalls, kids tent and outside play area, and will have a welfare and first aid tent.

2000trees Festival
Thursday 12 July to Saturday 14 July 2012
Location: Upcote Farm, Withington, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire

Cost: Early bird weekend ticket is priced at £59. Children aged 0 to 10 years old can go free but require a ticket and children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Early Entry tickets for Thursday will be priced at £12. Last year's event sold out in advance.
Buy link: click here

This family-friendly festival sells out every year, and raises awareness of green issues and aims to be an ethical alternative to the more mainstream music events. There is a wide selection of music at the festival including something for every taste - featuring rock, metal and indie to folk, pop, DJs, and the downright strange.

FESTIVALS FOR UNDER £70 - continues on page 2... more >>



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