We live in a confusing nation. We extol the virtues of getting healthy and playing sport. But fast food joints litter the streets and judging by the growing list of ingredients on our food labelling what we eat isn’t as good as it professes to be.
The question is, how does this impact our kids?
As a parent I want to raise kids with a healthy approach to food and sport. They have as a default competitive nature that has been inbred from myself and he who helped create them. But we want to ensure sport is fun and accessible as well for my girls as well as my son.
I want my type 1 warrior to know no barriers and for her to continue to be passionate about running and jumping around. I want all my children to try as many outdoor activities as possible and for sport to be a natural ingrained part of their lives.
So…..
This summer we are going away for an extraordinary weekend. We are camping at a festival. It is a festival of sport, aimed at families, designed to enthrall the kids.
We are joining sporting legends like Martin Johnson, Andrew Strauss, and Sarah Thomas at SportFest 2014. And after speaking to one of the founders, Clare Barton, I can guarantee we are in for a belter of a weekend.
What is SportFest?
SportFest is a weekend for families to come together and have an incredible weekend all based around sport.
It is a chance to build long lasting memories, to explore new sports, and be coached by some of Britain’s finest athletes.
It is not about pushing the talented or striving to win. It is a weekend designed to celebrate the fun in playing a variety of sport, and show the kids that they can have a go at anything.
It is going to be Epic.
Where and when is it?
SportFest is held against the beautiful back drop of the Getty Family Estate in Wormsley. It is on the 2nd of August, with gates opening at 7am and the fun lasting until the following Sunday afternoon.
The activities are held on Wormsley cricket ground which has a reputation of being one of the most picturesque grounds in England.
And the order of play?
It is a fun filled schedule, designed to keep both parent and child busy.
After arriving and pitching your tent on the Saturday (you can also glamp if preferred), it will be time for the sport bonanza to begin.
Each session is headed up by a sporting legend, whose role is to teach more about the intricacies of the sport, whilst also learning the key values of teamwork and respect.
Every child joins in each session, SportFest is all about inclusion and giving everyone a chance.
Saturday evening has a serious treat in the form of a 20\20 cricket match where the teams are made up of the sporting legends.
Rumour has it that they all take it very seriously.
Post cricket is Jamie Oliver grub and music all night from X Factor star Luke Friend and DJ Dom Maker.
Then it is sleeping under the stars (surely the kids will be exhausted) before tucking into a hearty breakfast on Sunday before starting getting active again.
Sunday is a mix of cricket, fun runs, Zumba, playing dodgeball against the stars. Plus more coaching sessions for the children.
Can you imagine spending the weekend enjoying a volley with Pat Cash?
Or getting into a scrum with Will Greenwood, Martin Johnson and Austin Healey?
In August, my whole family will be reveling in those dreams.
And for the little ones?
SportFest is an event for the whole family. Children aged 1-5 have entertainment all weekend, from kids entertainers to a fully supervised creche.
Every detail has been thought of.
Anything else?
There is so much to tell you that it is impossible to fit in one article. We all have bits that we are looking forward to.
I am in training for the parents vs legends dodgeball. Him indoors fancies a bit of 20\20 cricket against the greats. My son wants to learn some martial arts, my eldest girl is desperate to pick up some Netball tips.
Not forgetting my youngest who wants to dance the night away and play with Sharkey and George (award winning childrens’ entertainers.)
How much does it cost?
For a weekend pass for one adult and one child costs £299, with £99 for each additional adult and child 5 years and over.
Included in the ticket price is:
Where can you sign up?
Full details are here and you can read much more about the weekend. We will be providing a full review after the event and are counting down the days until SportFest arrives!
Until then we just have to cope with watching the highlights of SportFest 2013 (at least once a day!)
Disclosure: we have been given a family pass for the event, and cannot wait to go and tell you all about it!
If you want to join us please check out the 15% discount code FRIENDSFAMILY at the checkout and get ready for an excellent weekend!
What a great idea for a festival. I can just see you trying to drink Pimms whilst getting your zumba freak on! Seriously though, this looks fab, and so good for families to be together getting sporty.
what a great idea! my kids are really active and we rarely eat fast food/junk food so it’s not something that i worry about.
Wow, what a very different festival! I hope you have a wonderful time! x
What an amazing sounding festival – it really sounds like it makes sports completely fun for all 🙂 x
Sounds ace! As you will see from my post today I have been bemoaning the lack of fun in school sports, and this sounds the perfect antidote!
That sounds an amazing festival, great fun. I wish school sports were more competitive too!
What a fantastic idea!! That sounds like an awesome festival and will certainly get everyone up and taking part! We too are taking the kids camping to a festival this weekend, it will certainly be interesting! 🙂 Have fun! x
This sounds like such a good idea and so fun too! I keep suggesting we go camping however my OH really isn’t keen! Hope you guys have fun!
What an original idea for a festival! Sounds amazing and personally I’m jealous you’ll get to hear Luke Friend again – I loved him!
Looks brilliant, hope you all have a wonderful time 🙂
Oh wow what a great idea! Hope you have fun!
Wow this looks awesome Jane! It’s great to see something that is aimed at families of all ages. Mind you, I’m not sure that my older two would join in but my son certainly would. I bet you’ll all have a blast 🙂
Sounds great. I have to be honest that I’m much less sporty now that I’m old but my kids are very active and put me to shame!
wow what a fabulous post, looks great, would love to get on my bike again x
Wow this looks great, something a bit different, but it looks like it will be so much fun x
This looks like a brilliant idea for a festival and really well thought out too. You’ll have a brilliant time! X
Looks like something my boys would love. I dont have to encourage them to do sport at all, both play competitively and today Maxi went through to the county athletics tournament.
That looks amazing – my two never stop but it’s not necessarily sport as such with them just general activity constantly x
This looks brilliant and I love that food by Jamie Oliver is included…I’d be there for that alone…which actually probably isn’t the point of Sportfest is it?!
Wow that will be an amazing weekend – what a wonderful idea!
This sounds like great fun. Definitely something for us to look into when the girls are a bit older.
Wow! I’d need the next weekend in a spa after all that! Sounds awesome, have a great time 🙂
Oh wow, what a brilliant idea for a festival! I’m totally sports-phobic but it even sounds appealing to me. Hope you all have a brilliant time, I can’t wait to read about it after your visit x
Oh this sounds fantastic!
I like the idea of a sports festival! Its amazing that is for families too!
What a great family activity to do! love it.
i would definitely want my child to be fit and healthier than me and would try to support her and help her with that
This sounds like an amazing idea and a great weekend. I would love to attend this with our family, hope you have a great time
I’ve never heard of this before, what a great idea! Maybe it’s something for us to try out next year when the newborn is a little bigger
What a fabulous idea – mine love sport and I would love to get back into it again. BTW – you are looking FABULOUS lovely lady xx
Thanks
Thank you for your kind words!! Can’t wait to see you all there – come and say hello!!! Ed
We were privileged to go to SportFest last year and it was absolutely fabulous. My three are still talking about it…”remember at SportFest when…” So many memories. And is not all for the kids either. You have to sign up for the parents touch rugby, and the dodgeball is a must – so surreal lying on the grass after being floored by Tim Henman, or standing in between Will Greenwood and Austin Healey trying to hit Matthew Pinsent or Martin Johnson on the other side (I did say it was surreal!!) An absolutely amazing weekend full of memories that will last a lifetime. Have a fabulous time!
We were also there last year and our 6 and 4 year old had the best weekend EVER. They talk about it often and we will be there with bells on again this year. It was really well run, the superstars were so lovely and made everyone feel great. We met some lovely families, a few that we’ve kept in touch with. I’ll see you there x
Sounds like it will be a fun packed event with lots to enjoy.