We have a few exciting changes in 2023!
Every year we strive to improve the Elderflower Fields experience and it’s important to us to listen to feedback from everyone. After all, many of our younger guests have grown with the festival over the last 11 years. It brings us such joy to welcome back the same faces each year but we know we also say hello to lots of new families.
If you are new to Elderflower Fields, the following may make no sense at all. But for those who return each year, we’re outlining a few exciting things that might look a little different.
EXPANDED CAMPING
Like our guests, much has grown at Pippingford Park and something we understand from feedback that you all enjoy is the open space we offer. Feedback also showed that our families appreciate a good nights sleep. Things started to get a tincy wincy bit crowded in some of our areas so we are making room for more camping that will be quiet in the evenings. This means that the main family camping field will extend to the whole area down to the Woodland Spa and our second stage (what was The Woodland Stage) is no longer located in that field. We hope this will reduce noise in the campsite and also give kids more space to play. The Woodland Spa will remain in the quietest, farthest corner of the campsite.
BRAND NEW STAGE
We’re super excited about our new Moonshine Fandango Stage which will be located deeper in the woods away from camping and replaces what was The Woodland Stage as our second live music venue. Performance on this stage will be wide and varied with everything from beatboxing workshops to wild fitness and middle-aged raves! Visit the programme page for a taste of what’s already planned.
LEAPFROG LAWNS
It’s hard to believe this area was an unusable furrowed field of mud just a few years ago. Now home to some of the festival’s most creative experiences, Leapfrog Lawns will also welcome more of the Arts with the arrival of Wow Pow. This is where you can hear storytelling and spoken word. The Science Dome and The Hop venue returns and kids can take part in our supervised Arts Camp again. With so many new craft activities and fun games to take part in it’s going to be busy on the lawns!
BIG FAMILY DANCE OFF
We think we might have outgrown the tent last year?! Those that love to dress up and get silly will be delighted to hear Sunday’s Big Family Dance Off is getting even bigger. Moving to Dragonfly Hill so more people can watch or join in, the contest will take place after our family picnic in front of the stage. We have no idea how this is going to work… should be fun though!!
BARS
Our brilliant bar staff work really hard to bring some of the best drinks to partner the food on offer at Elderflower Fields. Our main bar on Dragonfly Hill will be complimented by the new Moonshine Fandango bar in the woods with a full range of beer, ale, spirits and cocktails. We’ll open a little earlier after several requests for morning Bloody Marys so there is no need to bring your own! Last year our bar staff got a little lonely at times… Guests remain welcome to bring a little alcohol to enjoy at their campsite but to keep our adventure possible, this year we ask this is not bought into the festival. Thanks for supporting what we do.
In an effort to reduce waste on site even further, we ask guests to bring your own coffee cup and reusable bar cup if you have one. They will be available but you’ll save money and waste using your own. We are working with Wynsdale Waste Management on minimising our impact on the environment, read more and support us here.
