[Ad-gifted] Full of surprises and as magical as ever. The Wild Rumpus Team behind Just So Festival and the menagerie of incredible performers ensured the weekend was a jam packed, whimsical adventure. Libby Dallimore from Yeah Lifestyle was there with her family to experience the wonder of it all.
Whether you’re old, young, a lion, a fox or a bee (more on that in a moment), Just So is a festival like no other. Set in the grounds of Rode Hall, Cheshire, it’s an ethical, imaginative adventure that is truly unique and offers something for everyone.
You can camp, visit for the day, plan your ‘must-see’ performances or simply wander around the various quirky zones and stumble upon something magical Ticket sales are capped at 5000 too so it doesn’t feel crowded, it feels safe and the site itself is very accessible for pushchairs and wheelchairs. However you choose to spend your time at Just So, doing it dressed as one of the seven animal groups makes it extra special. Though of course not compulsory, revellers are invited to join and dress up as either a bee, fish, fox, frog, lion, owl or stag as you compete for the ‘Carnival Cup’. The winner is the group with the most golden pebbles which can be earned by embodying the ethos of the festival. Recycle, play nicely with new friends, tell jokes and stories and if spotted by a volunteer or vendor, your good deeds might be rewarded.
My children, aged 6 and 10, absolutely love this element of the festival. They delight in spontaneously receiving a pebble and it really does encourage good behaviour and participation. We do occasionally have to remind them not to badger the vendors too much though!
If dressing up and darting around the site for pebbles isn’t your bag, there is so much to explore and experience. A favourite part of the festival for us is listening to wonderful storyteller Ian Douglas under the twinkly fairy lights in the Spellbound Forest. Here you can also toast marshmallows, build dens and bake mud pies in the delightful woodland kitchen.
Venture a little further into the trees and follow the lanterns down to the Blue Jay Stage and boogie your cares away to musical performances by day and woodland DJs by night. We caught Anna Whitehouse aka Mother Pukka DJing on Friday night and had a loads of fun dancing with the kids beneath the trees.
Other highlights from Friday included spending time exploring the site and catching glimpses of the various weird and wonderful acts and performances. We didn’t have a programme at this point but we were happy enough interacting with games and activities at the Hop, Skip and Jump area and in the afternoon, our friend and talented ceramist, Alice Thatcher held a clay workshop in the Peekaboo enclosure. This area is for under 4’s and though ours are a little too big to take part, they made excellent assistants and helped Alice by handing out tools, clay and helped to clean up following the clayhem! They earned a few golden pebbles and a hot chocolate from the Cocoa Caravan for their stellar efforts too.
Over at the Footlights stage, we loved The Rin Tins high octane gypsy swing and not even the threat of rain could dampen our spirits. After a huge helping of churros from Los Churros Amigos and some delicious Pip organic fruit juice – who am I kidding, I had a frozen margarita from the Dept of Liquor & Social Affairs. We went to bed excited to see what the rest of the weekend would hold.
Saturday morning saw the arrival of everyone’s festival favourite – the sun! We got our fish costumes on and went off to explore and enjoy a day of mischief and mayhem. We loved Peculiar Portraits at the Colourado craft tent where we made cardboard self-portraits and outside caught the fabulous Tape That perform acrobatics whilst constructing a world using colourful duct tape. It sounds odd, I know, but it was hugely impressive and entertaining.
Watching the incredible Family Catwalk Extravaganza from Manchester’s Ghetto Fabulous was not just a Saturday highlight, they were the act of the weekend for us. We saw them last year and have been obsessed ever since. Their blend of inclusivity whilst promoting agency and celebrating uniqueness all while dancing and looking fabulous is just superb. What was truly lovely though was seeing how inspired our children were, so much so we held our own family catwalk and shablamed the house down back at the tent much to the delight of campers around us. A truly beautiful moment that captured the magic and community that Just So entails.
Other festival highlights from Saturday and Sunday included watching The Bobbysocks, a close-harmony alt-country band who play feel-good covers and originals. We also loved catching Just So favourites Thingumabob & The Thingumajigs who you can always rely on to get the party started.
We did a lot of ‘going with the flow’ this year due to the size of our group which unfortunately meant we missed quite a few acts and performances so my top tip would be to ensure you get a programme early. You can buy them from the Just So website and they are posted to you a couple of weeks before the festival itself or you can buy one on-site.
Regardless of how much you pack into the weekend, the biggest joy you’ll experience from this festival is how much your children enjoy it. It’ll become a mainstay on your family calendar and the magical landscape will ignite their imaginations for years to come. As for the grown-ups, where else can you spend the weekend playing all day, dressed like a fox? You’ll find you love it just as much as the kids.
Will Just So Festival return next year?
Yes, Just So Festival 2024 takes place on 16/17/18 August 2024 at Rode Hall in Cheshire.
Weekend tickets include camping Friday, Saturday & Sunday nights inclusive – bring your own camping gear or book boutique camping directly through the Just So website.
Day ticket (Saturday or Sunday) entry is from 9am till late.
How can I get tickets?
Tickets for Just So 2024 are on sale now and can be purchased from www.justsofestival.org.uk rel=”nofollow”, with a special Early Bird price available until September 15.
How much are tickets?
Adult weekend camping tickets are currently on sale for the early bird price of £145.
Child weekend camping tickets are £45.
Adult day tickets are £45 and children’s tickets are £20. Under 3’s are free.
Local residents living in postcode areas ST7, CW11 and CW12 are eligible for the following discounts on tickets:
£15 off adult weekend camping tickets
£10 off child weekend camping tickets
£10 off adult day tickets
£5 off child day tickets
Where does it take place?
Just So Festival takes place at the Rode Hall Estate at Rode Heath, near Alsager. The full festival address is Cricket Ground Entrance, Rode Hall Estate, Scholar Green, Cheshire, ST7 3QT. The nearest railway station is Kidsgrove, three miles away.
About Just So Festival
Just So Festival is an internationally-renowned arts festival dedicated solely to families. With a love of stories and childhood escapades at its heart, it is a wonderland of literature, arts, theatre, dance, music, comedy and creative pursuits.
The festival is produced by Wild Rumpus CIC, a social enterprise based in Cheshire that produces large-scale outdoor arts events for families in mostly natural landscapes.
About Rode Hall
Rode Hall is a Georgian country house that has been owned by the Baker Wilbraham family for 350 years.
Review by: Libby Dallimore
You may also want to read this:
Review: Just So Festival 2022 at Rode Hall in Cheshire
Review of Just So Festival 2019 at Rode Hall in Cheshire
Restaurant Review : The Bridge in Prestbury, Cheshire
Photo credit: Some photos have been provided by Just So Festival
*We were provided with free entry passes to Just So Festival 2022 in return for a review. All opinions are our own.
23 comments
Sounds like such a fun eclectic festival, and I love seeing any the fancy dress. So much to see and do, love it x
I agree, plenty of activities which kept us busy
Embracing Whimsy and Wonder! The Just So Festival is truly an enchanting experience for all ages. It’s heartwarming to hear how families like yours embraced the magic. From lions to bees, everyone finds their place in this imaginative journey. A true celebration of uniqueness and togetherness.
Thank you Sue, perfectly worded
Love your review! Looks like you all enjoy the festival, seems like it’s super fun.
It sure was fun, we loved every bit of it
That is so so cool! I would love to experience a festival like this one with my family, that would be amazing.
This looks like an interesting festival, something different to check out. It would be fun to check it out. Love the pics!
Thank you, yes it was a fantastic experience
That looks like so much fun honestly! I love that everyone can be a part of it…festivals are great and a wonderful way to enjoy the warmer days.
They sure are the best, it rained on the first day but we still had so much fun
What a captivating account of your Just So Festival experience! Your vivid descriptions transport readers into the whimsical adventure, complete with heartwarming family moments. Your enthusiasm for the diverse activities and performances shines through, making us feel like we were right there with you. An inspiring and joyful read!
Thank you for your lovely comments Monidipa, it was definitely a wonderful experience for us
This festival sounds so fun. Its very unique. I will make sure to join next year 🙂
Hope you do Beth
This is so cool. Ive never experience something like this. Its time to try something new. Will definitely join next year!
Hope you do, book as early as you can
Wow, it’s been in the family for over 350 years! That’s a wonderful legacy to continue carrying on.
Agree, and a festival we love returning to
This is quite a Festival! So many activities and amazing experiences! Wonderful memories you’ve made.
Yes indeed, one we would remember for life
This looks like a cool event. There are so many activities. I would love to go there
A fabulous event worth going to as a family