Geronimo – our first kids’ festival

I’ve been to a few festivals over the years – last time I went to Glastonbury I managed to twist my ankle dancing in a mud-stuck welly, less said about that the better – but I’ve never made it to one with the kids.

I love the look of the crazy dressing up at Bestival, have always fancied letting the little ones go wild at Wilderness, but what with one thing and another (I guess we have been kind of busy) we haven’t yet been.

This year, that’s set to change as we have been chosen as ambassadors to the children’s extravaganza Geronimo, held over two weekends in May at Tatton Park in Cheshire and Harewood House, Yorkshire.

Geronimo has so much going on for children of all ages, I’ve been looking through the programme and already don’t know how we will manage to get round everything we want to, because there is simply so much choice.

What’s even better is that we live close enough to the Tatton site to make it home the same day, so there’s no stressing about camping out with kids. I know that’s all part of the fun but I’m just not sure I’m ready for that yet!

The festival has a programme jam-packed with theatre, live shows, activities and adventures to cater for all ages from two to 12 years old.

For Florence, my two-and-a-half-year-old, I can make a pretty good guess as to which attractions she will love. There is a dedicated ‘3ft and under’ section which has a balance bike track and baby ballet – she’ll be first in line for both of those.

My only problem might be keeping Sam still as he knows how much fun he could be having in the circus zone, watching and learning new tricks, or in the arena zone, where there will be motorbike displays and owl and falconry shows.

Throughout the day there are performances from CBeebies’ own Andy Day and Mr Bloom on a stage hosted by presenter Alex Winters. Cook and Line from Swashbuckle will be there with their trademark slapstick comedy – we saw them once at the Albert Dock and they were a massive hit.

It has just been announced that Justin Fletcher will be on stage on the Sunday at Tatton and the Monday at Harewood too – he will be popular with both my little ones, as they really laugh at Justin’s House and Gigglebiz.

There are hundreds of other unusual activities on offer too, like giant Tortoise encounters, stone carving and a crime scene for kids to solve. If that’s not enough, there are treetop adventures, den building, and a zip wire over in the adrenaline zone.

One of the bits I can’t wait to see is the woodland zone, where little ones can make a mud pie or fairy potion, complete a high rope course or try a mountain bike trail.

With live music on stage too, there will be plenty to keep us all busy to say the least. I know my little ones will have an absolute ball at Geronimo and if the reports from friends who went last year are anything to go by, it’s going to be a fabulous day out.

The Tatton Park event takes place on 29th and 30th May, at Harewood House it is 1st and 2nd May.

I wonder how long I can keep it quiet before I tell Sam and Flo where we’re going?

x Julia