About Us

Family Fest was established in 2018!

Since 2018, Family Fest has been welcoming thousands of families to one of the best family festivals that takes place in Wimborne annually.

We welcome a selection of offerings for the whole family across our 12 acres of working farmland including local businesses, produce and fresh food, live music, family activities, children's shows, funfair and loads more.

The festival is curated and delivered by a small team of festival creators, the festival has grown year after year, creating magical memories for families, with the festival bringing over 11,000 people together across six main live festivals and 10,000 people together across one virtual festival, with visitors from across the UK, USA, Ukraine, France, Spain and the world.

The Beginning - 2018 Festival

2018, Family Fest was born, previously known as Spring Arts Fest until 2020.

Our first festival took place at Branksome Recreation Ground in Poole, Dorset. In partnership with Branksome Centre, we supported local charities YMCA Bournemouth and Amelia's Rainbow. The festival began as Spring Arts Fest, and the festival included 30 traders, a small children's funfair, and live music from local artists.

The festival welcomed hundreds of local families and was supported by local bus operator morebus. We raised a total of £500, with £250 each going to our event charities, YMCA Bournemouth and Amelia's Rainbow, and this is where the Family Fest road began.

Our Second Festival, 2019

Back again after a successful first year at Branksome Recreation Ground in Poole, Dorset, in 2018, our second event, now upgraded to a small festival, grew further, taking place at our new home at Kings Park, Bournemouth, Dorset.

Once again supporting YMCA Bournemouth and Amelia's Rainbow, this time with the money raised going directly to Amelia's Rainbow and supporting YMCA Bournemouth in different ways, the festival included over 30 traders, a small funfair, live music across the day, food from around the world and more.

The festival welcomed hundreds of local families and was supported by local bus operator morebus as well as Absolute Music Trust. We raised £300, going directly to Amelia's Rainbow, and our first official one-day festival was as much a success in 2019 as it was in 2018.

Going Virtual - Virtual Fest 2020

2020! Where do we start? After planning our biggest festival yet, with the plans due to be across two days for the first time, our plans were suddenly put on hold due to the pandemic and halted until 2021, but we thought outside the box and brought together an online festival, called Virtual Fest, live across Facebook and YouTube.

The virtual festival took place over two days in August 2020 and included live and recorded music from local musicians, gym sessions, demonstrations, and a whole host more. Partnered with morebus and Wimborne BID, our virtual festival was a huge success.

We welcomed over 10,000 people across two days, from across the world, and raised over £300 for our festival charity, Amelia's Rainbow.

A New Chapter, Our 2021 Festival

A new chapter for our festival, and continuing to grow, our 2021 festival saw us move onto our new festival site, 12 acres of working farmland, at The Meadows (Julians Field), Wimborne, Dorset.

Our festival took place later in the year, due to lambing season changing due to the pandemic in 2020, and took place in July 2021, where we settled in nicely in the sun (and rain at times too), with over 30 traders, live music across two stages, family funfair, eco hub, food and more across two fun-packed days for the whole family.

Partnered with local bus operator Yellow Buses, local radio station HOT Radio, bike provider Beryl, stretch tent provider Titan Tents and Waterside Emergency Medical Services, supporting our new festival charity, Cherry Tree Nursery, we raised just over £850.

Our Second Year in Wimborne, 2022

Continuing to grow, the fun came back again in 2022! July 2022 saw over 40 traders, local musicians, charities, mascots and more all come together at our home in Wimborne, Dorset.

Partnered with local bus operator Yellow Buses, local radio station Radio Wimborne, stretch tent provider Titan Tents, Total Guide to Poole, Wimborne BID and Waterside Emergency Medical Services, we continued supporting Cherry Tree Nursery and raised over £1,000.

Settling Further Into Festival Life, 2023

2023 saw a continued uplift into the festival, welcoming special family members from the USA, continuing at our home in Wimborne, Dorset.

We developed the shows available, including falconry displays and Punch and Judy, as well as having an on-site petting farm alongside over 30 traders, other activities, food, bar and more across two days.

Partnered with local coach operator Damory and Excelsior, stretch tent provider Titan Tents, bike provider Beryl, Total Guide to Dorset, Pitching It and Wimborne Bid, we continued supporting Cherry Tree Nursery, and once again raised over £1,000, taking our total to £2,850 over three festivals.

Growing and Developing, 2024

Our biggest festival to date took place in 2024, still across two days at our home in Wimborne, Dorset, welcoming thousands to our growing and developing festival.

2024 once again saw an extension to what was on offer, including bike stunt shows and family crazy golf alongside a continuation of family shows including Falconry Displays, Punch and Judy and magic shows, our petting farm, over 30 traders, two bars, food and more across two days.

Partnered with continued partners Wimborne BID, Total Guide to Dorset and stretch tent provider Titan Tents, 2024 saw new partners including Wyvern Cargo, local coach operator Burrows Coaches and new local radio station Bournemouth One, and we raised £1,352.39 for our festival charity, Cherry Tree Nursery.

Expanding Further into Festival Life, 2025

Further details coming soon

Relaxation and Further Building, 2026

Further details coming soon.

award-winning small festival • 25th to 27th June 2027 • Wimborne, Dorset