We find out what’s in store at the Wild Wood Rumpus, June’s magical family festival
A day of music, magic and adventure in the woods, The Wild Wood Rumpus returns to the Cambridgeshire countryside on 8 June. The latest offering from the endlessly creative brains behind My Little Festival, you’ll find this family-orientated event at Horseheath Racecourse, aka the Wild Wood: a green and glorious site around a half-hour drive from central Cambridge.
The organisers are promising surprises and wonder at every turn, with art installations, enchanting activities, live music, woodland crafts, den building, a bubble disco and plenty more to explore.
“Last year, we were so delighted to see our vision become a reality and see so many happy children running around the beautiful woodland,” says Vicky Fenton, Rumpus co-founder. “We had such positive feedback from parents who attended the event. They were delighted their kids had the chance to spend a day in nature, joining in with so many great activities and burning off loads of energy running about. There were many exhausted children and happy parents left at the end of the day, and the groups that stayed on site to camp got to experience a bit more magic.”
The little sister event of Wild Wood Disco, the grown-ups’ party which takes place at the same site a fortnight later (more on page 41), this year’s Rumpus line-up includes the ever-exuberant Brass Funkeys. Known for putting their brassy spin on hits by everyone from Clean Bandit to Rage Against The Machine, they’ll be performing, as well as running a music workshop. Also delighting ears will be The Alley Kats, a vocal-led jazz band playing Disney songs and other childhood movie classics, plus funk fusion band Release The Chimps.
Venture deeper into the woods and you’ll find the Wildlings Craft School, a place to make and create before joining in with a big, colourful parade at the end of the day. And that’s not all, the Fairyland Trust is demonstrating how to make a crown that’s fit for a fairy king or queen, while Nod at the Fox theatre group is bringing its trademark storytelling and puppetry.
For something a little quieter, there’s yoga and mindfulness sessions for families and teens, plus local bookshop Heffers is offering author readings in the literary tent, with writers including Helen Moss, Gillian McClure and Sarah Finan.
Elsewhere, head to the face paint and glitter station, and then get your dancing shoes on for a disco: the Early Night Club is bringing its usual hands-in-the-air, good-time vibes to the main stage later
in the day.
If all that sounds like hungry work, you’ll be pleased to discover that the food on offer is every bit as exciting as the entertainment, featuring some of the top traders in the area. Feast on gourmet burgers from Steak & Honour, gooey mac and cheese from The Mac Daddy, artisan wood-fired pizzas from Fired Up and sweet treats from Jack’s Gelato and the Churros Bar. The Spirited Mare, a bar in a horsebox, is serving cocktails, Bloody Marys and prosecco.
The event runs from 11am to 10pm and tickets are available now, priced at £65 for a family (two adults and two children), with free parking available on site. If you want to make a night of it, camping tickets are available, too – and with marshmallow toasting and campfire songs included, it sounds like the perfect end to a perfect day!
thewildwoodrumpus.com
