15 Music Festivals You Won't Regret Taking Your Children To
The fact that music festivals have loud, often rowdy, crowds is an understatement, but that doesn't mean there aren't family-friendly options too. The right festivals will have a great mix of bands as well as engaging activities for children. We researched 15 options ideal for the whole family to enjoy so both parents and kids can rock out for the weekend.
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1. Taste of Country Music Festival: Country-lovers who want to share their musical tastes with their children should check out this annual festival in the Catskills. Families can camp near the concert stages in tents or RVs, and there's a children's playground where kids can ride the SkyRide, hop on a pony, or visit the petting zoo.
2. New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival: For families that want to indulge in Southern comfort food and listen to popular Jazz artists, this festival is the perfect minivacation. For kids, there's a tent with child bands and kid-friendly storytellers that the whole family can enjoy.
3. Joshua Tree Music Festival: The Joshua Tree Music Festival is the definition of a family event. Kids 10 and under get to go in for free, and once you're inside, there's a Kidsville, where activities like face painting, mural painting, yoga, and clay play are available all day long. Located Joshua Tree, CA, the festival is suitable for both adults and children.
4. Lollapalooza: Within Lollapalooza is Kidzapalooza, a festival for parents who want to share their experiences with their children in a kid-friendly environment. The space is opened from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and offers musical activities, arts and crafts, and more. Best of all, children 10 and under get in for free.
5. Summerfest: Dubbed the world's largest music festival, Summerfest in Milwaukee, WI, spans over 11 days. Some popular headliners are The Rolling Stones and Kings of Leon. This place isn't just for adults, however; children can enjoy the Theater and PlayZone area, where there's a lot of family-friendly entertainment. Performances from magicians to jugglers and puppets can be enjoyed throughout the day.
6. Musikfest: An annual 10-day festival in Bethlehem, PA, Musikfest can be enjoyed by parents and kids alike. There are tons of crafts and food vendors to try, and children have a special area to themselves inside with games, music, and kid-friendly food like chicken fingers.
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7. Bonnaroo: The venue may seem too rowdy for kids, but the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival in Manchester, TN, is secretly family friendly. The Kidz Jam section of the festival offers performances, games, sports, and recycling art projects for children of all ages. When you get tired of dancing, you can take your little one to his jam session.
8. Bumbershoot: An annual international music-and-arts festival in Seattle, WA, Bumbershoot is full of fun family activities. The festival itself offers a Youngershoot Kids Zone, where children age 10 and younger can take part in hands-on activities.
9. Austin Kiddie Limits: The Austin City Limits Music Festival offers child-friendly activities like the DrumZone and the Little Yoga House. Parents can enjoy bands like Foster the People and Capital Cities but just as easily hop on over to paint some pottery and mosaics with their kids.
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10. Stagecoach: California's Country Music Festival offers unique family activities like a live petting zoo and desert sand sculpting in addition to performances from country artists like Blake Shelton. The Half-Pint Hootenany, where all the kid-friendly activities are located, is the perfect place to take a break from dancing to your favorite bands.
11. Mountain Jam: Young jammers will love Mountain Jam. There's a cozy kids corner where children and parents can relax in hammocks and enjoy the view of the hillside. There's also plenty of child music performers and an interactive painting installation to get your little one's creativity flowing.
12. Clearwater Festival: Children and families will enjoy designated family-friendly places like the Family Stage and Children's Area. Aside from performers at the festival, there's also a musical petting zoo, puppet theater, and beach combing for sea creatures to keep kids of all ages entertained throughout the day.
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13. Lucidity: Lucidity is an annual three-day transformational festival in Santa Barbara, CA. Similar to Burning Man and Coachella but more kid-friendly, Lucidity offers attractions like a Sunday parade where kids can dress up and act out their imaginations.
14. Jiggle Jam: This family music fest features over 25 different bands and entertainers and is great for parents, children, and even grandparents. There's a garage-band tent, face painting, bouncy land, and train rides to keep everyone busy throughout the day.
15. Nelsonville Music Festival: For a guaranteed good time, The Nelsonville Music Festival in Nelsonville, OH, offers a variety of bands and local foods and artisans. There are fun activities like a kids mural and photo booth where the entire family can take silly photos with props to remember the day.