A music, arts and kids summer festival set just a few miles from the A1(M), Deer Shed Festival debuted in July 2010 and returns this summer to build on the huge success. Having quickly sold out all 2000 tickets and receiving a nomination for the Best New Festival at the UK Festival Awards last year, the organisers have set the bar very high for 2011 including increasing the capacity to 5000 and developing their format of differently focussed days to include a Friday night programme. Instead of a weekend of wall-to-wall music, the festival offers three varied days to keep attendees of all ages happy.
The Deer Shed Festival gates will open on Friday 22nd July for an evening of cabaret including circus and comedy performances in a big top tent. Taking place on the first weekend of the school summer holidays, families can make a weekend of it and settle into the picturesque surroundings of Baldersby Park before Saturday’s programme of music across three stages. Culminating in what will no doubt be an exquisite performance by the wonderful I Am Kloot headlining the Main Stage, festival organisers will be announcing further acts for the day of music shortly. Sunday is the Deer Shed Festival ‘long goodbye’ – chilled music, coffee, newspapers, organised kids sports, nature trails and a Sunday morning market. A perfect end to a perfect weekend.
Run by organisers and husband-and-wife team Oliver and Kate Jones, the Deer Shed Festival was originally born out of the frustration that no good value-for-money family music festivals existed in the North of England with compelling line-ups. Oliver explains:
“The festival team are massive fans of contemporary music and arts in general and we all have kids. Over the years we’ve got increasingly fed up with paying a small fortune to get our families into various festivals only to be disappointed in the music or in the entertainment, facilities or vibe for the children. The Deer Shed Festival is our long considered response to this. It won’t cost you an arm and a leg to come and kids are not second class citizens. Saying this, we will not compromise on what’s on just because we are ‘family-focussed’. If you don’t have kids, you will still find a lovely chilled atmosphere in which to enjoy a weekend of high quality entertainment.”
With over 96% of the surveyed 2010 audience saying that they would consider returning to the event in 2011, the Deer Shed Festival promises to yet again be great value for money with all the kids activities and workshops free of charge and children under five going free*. Tickets are available now through www.deershedfestival.com/tickets, prices as follows:
Adult (16+) weekend ticket (Fri-Sun) £59
Adult (16+) Saturday & Sunday only ticket £45
Child (6+) weekend ticket £15
Weekend campervan & caravan pass £15
* Please note children under five will require a FOC ticket obtained through the ticket sales outlet.
For all the latest information and up to date news, please visit www.deershedfestival.com