Knowing what’s on offer in the surrounding area will always be an important consideration when you’re choosing the right campsite. One such instance is if you’re thinking of camping at a music festival or joining a book, walking or mountain festival – in such a case, you’ll want to make sure you find one of the best caravan parks to stay at to accommodate you and your van.
In this guide, we’re looking at some upcoming spring festivals and sharing our top site recommendations, including one which is a music festival with camping onsite.
Upcoming Spring festivals
Love Supreme Jazz Festival 2023
30 June – 2 July 2023
Looking ahead to June, the Love Supreme Jazz Festival 2023 is returning to Glynde Place in East Sussex, and has announced a prestige line-up. This year’s event includes headliners Little Simz and the glorious Grace Jones. Other artists due to take the stage are four-time Brit Award winner Emeli Sandé, multi-instrumentalist extraordinaire FKJ, and drummer and bandleader Yussef Dayes. You’ll also be able to see one of the most celebrated jazz musicians of all time, Courtney Pine CBE.
Tickets for the event start at £63 (with a choice of day, weekend, camping, Supremium and glamping tickets available). If you’re thinking of camping at a music festival then there is a special Supremium Live-In vehicle area. This is specifically for those who wish to bring their own tow car and caravan, or ‘live-in’ vehicle, such as motorhome or campervan, so pull up to the bumper, baby!
May Events
Arran Mountain Festival
12-15 May 2023
Outdoor enthusiasts should head to Scotland for Arran Mountain Festival, a superb hillwalking and mountaineering event. You’s find a choice of walks and climbs that range from moderate to extreme. Be aware that some moderate walks involve easy scrambling, elements of exposure and some rough terrain. This is very much a connoisseur’s festival. You’ll also be able to enjoy talks and a ceilidh at social events open to all. Events and walks are individually priced.
Stay at: Lochranza Caravan and Camping Site
Bath Festival
12-21 May 2023
Bath Festival is a great celebration of music and books, and the theme of this year’s is ‘Opening Up’ . Visitors can enjoy a variety of entertainment throughout the city, with the focus on Bath’s Guildhall. See award-winning writer Joanne Harris, of Chocolat fame, in conversation or enjoy a walking tour of ‘Bath on Screen’. Y0u can also listen to Bath Festival Orchestra in rehearsal. Events are individually priced.
Stay at: Bath Chew Valley Caravan Park
Norfolk and Norwich Festival
12-28 May 2023
The east of England’s flagship cultural festival is a brilliant combination of music, theatre, literature, visual arts, circus, dance and outdoor events. Highlights at Norfolk and Norwich Festival include Vincent Gambini’s ‘This is not a magic show’, and Action Hero’s ‘Oh Europa!’ about travels across Europe (pictured). There’s also the Ragroof Tea Dance at the Spiegeltent. Events take place across the whole region and are individually priced. Includes a large number of free performances.
Stay at: Norwich C&CC Site
Dumfries & Galloway Arts Festival
20-28 May 2023
This performing arts festival prides itself on offering rural areas the opportunity to enjoy world-class performing arts. Catch a performance of ‘Hebridean Treasure: Lost and Found’, which blends song, dance and storytelling with live Scottish and South Asian music. Or share a laugh with Scotland’s favourite Kilty Pleasure, Craig Hill. All events at Dumfries & Galloway Arts Festival are individually priced.
Stay at: Newbridge Country Park
Hay Festival
25 May – 4 June 2023
Based in the iconic ‘booktown’ of Hay-on-Wye, in Powys, Wales, Hay is among the UK’s leading literature and arts festivals. Guest speakers at this year’s event including journalist and former Downing Street press officer Alastair Campbell and renowned adventurer Bear Grylls. The joint chief curator of Historic Royal Palaces and chief executive of the Heritage Education Trust, Tracy Borman, will also be attending. The festival takes place at Dairy Meadows, a five-minute walk from the centre of Hay. It’s free to enter the festival site, but you will need to book individual tickets for each of the events that you would like to attend.
Stay at: Hay-on-Wye Caravan Park
Bluegrass Omagh
26-28 May 2023
The Appalachian Mountains will be coming to Omagh and the Ulster American Folk Park, in the shape of Bluegrass Omagh, a celebration of bluegrass music. A nod to the many emigrants from Northern Ireland who made their home in Appalachia, in the eastern US. A fabulously eclectic line-up includes The Honey Dewdrops, from Baltimore in Maryland, Truffle Valley Boys, from Italy, and Blue Grass Boogiemen, from the Netherlands. Choose from a range of ticket types, including weekend passes, one-day and family tickets.
Stay at: Glenpark Caravan Park
WalkFest 2023
27-29 May 2023
WalkFest is a popular walking festival, and is celebrating 2023’s Year of the Coast, providing an excellent programme of guided, themed walks. It includes parts of the 110-mile Cleveland Way National Trail. Walks during the event include the following routes: Whitby Abbey to Ravenscar (10.25 miles); Robin Hood’s Bay to Sandsend (10 miles); and Saltburn to Staithes (nine miles). Tickets cost £8 per walk.
Stay at: North Yorkshire Moors CAMC Campsite
1940s Weekend
27-29 May 2023
Enjoy a trip down memory lane as the East Lancashire Railway heritage line hosts a brilliant 1940s-themed weekend. The full programme of events is still to be announced. However, you can expect to be able to enjoy music, living history displays and plenty of period fashion. If you want to get yourselves fully ‘in the mood’ you could also download and submit a Re-enactor Application Form and/or the Vehicle Display Form. Tickets to the festival cost from £16.50 to £89.50.
Stay at: Burrs Country Park CAMC Campsite
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Headliners include British rapper Little Simz and the glorious Grace Jones
