The new family-orientated Wild Child Festival, in leafy Dulwich, offers the best in kiddy workshops and entertainment. I’d have loved to see even more of the wacky and wonderful, but it’s a great way to access the arts and a lovely family day out.
A new family festival set in leafy Dulwich, Wild Child is designed by mums and dads – and made for kids. Founded by London mum Hayley Byfield, it celebrates the best in kiddy workshops and entertainment with some tech and crafting thrown into the mix too. So off we trekked on a muggy Sunday morning, in the hope of entertaining our nearly two year old toddler (who only sits down for Paw Patrol and popcorn) for the entirety of the day.
First, the boring bit: practicalities. For parents of a feral child, a key plus of the day was a compact and neat layout featuring pitches in a circle around a grassy centre piece. Less chasing than in the park. For lunch, we bought a picnic but the food vans didn’t seem busy – and, although not particularly varied, were child friendly and good value. I did think they could’ve provided a tap for water, especially as all the loo sinks were out of order. Talking of, the loos could have done with a bit of a clean – but weren’t as bad as the experience that still haunts me from Reading ‘08…
Second, the important bit: did we all have a nice time? Yes, we definitely did. The workshops and performances managed to cater for a varied age and sensibility and left us laughing, dancing and thinking. Fun DMC in the Harmony Hideaway was a real highlight. Some old school Hip Hop tunes, and a MC handing out gold chains, balloons and running a flossing competition was a Summer 2018 high for us and our toddler. Also good were: some very sweet ballet in the Bop Along Ballroom, a whistle-stop and interactive tour of palaeontology in Dino-Land and some hilarious Drag storytelling from Mama G.
Would we go again? Wild Child Festival was a great day experiencing the arts, so yes. Was it the full festival experience for kids? Not quite. I would’ve loved to see some more of the wacky and wonderful – some crazies on stilts, for instance, and some more fun. But I suppose we’ve got Glasto for that.
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