Kokova Magazine

As summer hots up and the festival season gets underway, how about treating yourself this August bank holiday 26 - 29 August to a weekend of ‘glamping’ in the comfort and luxury of a tipi or yurt at the brand new West Dean Festival.

Bring your own tent or pre-order a luxury yurt or tipi, complete with furnishings and bedding. There will also be some accommodation available in the 19th century Grade II* listed flint-faced mansion, which is now home to West Dean College.

This family-friendly festival is an intimate festival, celebrating all aspects of the arts; a festival at which people can come together to share their love of making, music, ideas, performance, dance, film, storytelling, cooking and eating. All taking place in the beautiful West Dean Parkland within the heart of the South Downs near Chichester.

This is the first time ever visitors will be able to camp in the parkland at West Dean, with its wide open spaces and gorgeous views. There will be stylish, accessible camping pitches, yurts and tipis, where you can camp with your friends and family, all within minutes of the performance and making areas - ensuring that you can immerse yourself in this creative and inspirational Festival.

What you can see, hear and do…

Activities will be running from midday on Friday 26 August through to 11.30pm Sunday 28 August but there’s no need to rush off, as you can stay until the Monday.

Music: for those who want to kick-back and listen to some great music we have the main Big Top which will present a variety of singers and players performing every style from folk to ska, rock’n’roll to soul, classical to blues. This mix of established and up-and-coming performers is being programmed by Music Directors Marlon Richards and Chris Sullivan.

Get Writing: with poetry, film, dance, street theatre, the art of storytelling will be explored with performances, readings, workshops and slams.

Get Making: at the heart of the Festival are a myriad of opportunities to ‘get making’ in a series of 1 to 1 ½ hour workshop sessions run by passionate and creative artists and craftsmen whose own work will inspire and enthral all. (All materials are included in the ticket price). From kite making to lino printing, making funky skirts out of frumpy ones, to learning to draw in an hour, there are plenty of opportunities for everyone to leave with something hand made.

Get Cooking: there will be food demonstrations and practical workshops for both children and adults throughout the weekend.

Explore: full access to the extraordinarily beautiful West Dean Gardens, Parkland and Arboretum situated in the rolling folds of the South Downs National Park. The Gardens offer a stunning showcase for variety in planting and excellence in presentation with many architectural delights, where festival goers can wander, and will offer sensational settings and backdrops for artists, comedians, musicians and performers to create a theatre of the imagination.

Get Active: there are plenty of opportunities to keep active over the weekend with ballroom dancing workshops, mountain boarding, yoga, pilates and Tai Chi classes and acres of walking around the St Roche’s Arboretum and surrounding countryside of the South Downs National Park.

Children’s Area: an exciting and family friendly place to delight and engage the focused attention of children and teenagers. From cooking and rock band workshops, to mountain boarding, ferret racing and storytelling, we’ll keep them occupied and inspired throughout the weekend.

Eat and Drink: delicious food will be a feature of the Festival. Come and dine in stylish cafes and bistros. Locally produced and organic food will be to the fore and watch out for the cooking demonstrations too. Licensed bars will serve a full range of drinks and a late night café-bar will be open into the small hours featuring intimate cabaret and music.

Altogether, the first West Dean Festival promises to be a memorable and fun celebration of relaxed creativity in a truly beautiful setting.

Friday 26 August - Campsite opens 8am Programmed activities from midday to 1.30am

Saturday 27 August Programmed activities from 10am – 2am

Sunday 28 August Programmed activities from 10am – 11.30pm

Monday 29 August Breakfast and Shopping open until midday Vacate campsite by 3pm

Tickets can be purchased online from www.westdeanfestival.org.uk
Chichester Tourist Information Centre, 29a South Street, Chichester PO19 1AH
01243 775 888 chitic@chichester.gov.uk
Midhurst Tourist Information Centre, North Street, Midhurst, GU29 9DW
01730 817 322 midtic@chichester.gov.uk

Camping Tickets
Weekend Adult (inc. camping) £110
Weekend Child (inc. camping) £55
Day Tickets
Friday 26 August Adult/child £30/£15
Saturday 27 August Adult/child £40/£20
Sunday 28 August Adult/child £40/£20
Note: Child: 5 – 15. Under 5s Free

Accommodation options.
Camping (own tent/camper van) Free
Camping (yurts/tipis) Booked through Hearthworks (www.hearthworks.co.uk)
West Dean House per adult £600 for 3 nights full-board