As heatwave comes to Cornwall, so too does family fun festival Holifair.
The weather in Cornwall is set to be a scorcher this weekend, with reports of the Spanish Plume coming to the most southerly peninsula. There, nestled in the estuary sits Holifield Farm Project, which is getting ready for its annual family festival Holifair. From humble beginnings as a barn dance with a hot tub, Holifield festival is now in its 9th year and is set to be meaner, greener and cleaner than ever before.
2016’s exciting musical line up is the biggest yet; including Cornwall’s own home grown talent Luke Vibert; festival favourites 3 Daft Monkeys; Jazz World lovelies Mankala and Cornwall’s most baddass horn sound and 8 piece leviathan of funk Antimatador! With more stages and a huge line-up this year, Holifair aficionados Tim and Athene from frenetic folk outfit 3 Daft Monkeys will be some of the many acts bringing their children to the family based fun!
This year’s festival offers way over 30 live acts in total, and the weekend offers music to suit all tastes as well as an on-site bar with reduced plastic policy; cabaret; barn dance; talks; a dance tent and walkabout acts. Families can benefit from the dedicated kids area; storytelling; craft and wellbeing area; a valley view fire pit with spoken word and workshops for a variety of ages.
I once went to Holifair, back in the Gweek Barn Dance days and ate melon next to a man I described at the time as my ‘soulmate’! As the sun came up in the morning, I realised he was perhaps more of a wandering melon man, and yet I have returned every year I’ve been in the country to a festival that is comfortable, varied and eco!
One of the best things about Holifair is that it power of the music will be matched by a range of renewable energy sources: solar panels harnessing sunshine; a wind turbine capturing the Cornish sea-breeze and flower-powered biodiesel. Having initiated the fundraising element, the organisers hope to harness finances to improve the sustainability for next year.
Holifair’s holistic approach to sustainability doesn’t stop at energy. Recycling facilities and composting toilets keep waste to a minimum, and the event organisers provide lists of public transport and car-sharing opportunities for festival goers to go even greener.
With tickets for this all round family festival; set within the stunning Helford estuary costing just £65 per adult and £15 per child for the whole weekend including camping, it’s an affordable small festival of around 3000 revellers. Local sustainable and vegetarian food stalls abound and a friendly, supportive environment make this slice of Cornish life a great choice for a lower key family getaway.
See you in the field!
Where is it?
Holifield Farm Project
Bonallack Lane
Gweek
Cornwall
TR12 6UJ
Gates open 11am to 9pm each day.
Where can I get me a ticket?
Seemingly online sales have now closed, but live on the gates you can snap one up for just £65 – making it one of the cheapest and friendliest festivals on!
Where can I find out more?
They’re super efficient on facebook and you can call
01326 221017 or
Mobile: 07973 268437
Full line up and info at www.holifair.co.uk