Easter Fun with the Big Little Tent Festival 2021

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The Easter weekend is fast approaching and like many parents across the UK, we have been looking for ways to make the long weekend fun and exciting, whilst still being somewhat limited in terms of days out and entertainment. The girls have coped so well with home schooling and readjusting to their first term back at school, so it definitely feels like cause for a celebration. Having booked a few days off work, I am looking forward to forgetting about the work juggle for a while and enjoying their company without any of the pressure!

Whilst normally we might be considering heading off for a half term holiday, including visiting some of our favourite beaches or heading off to a local campsite, this year we are embracing the Easter Staycation instead, determined that we wont let COVID restrictions stop us from having a good time!

This Easter weekend is also the weekend of my birthday (turning older than I care to mention!), so to get into the party spirit, we are praying for some sunshine and have decided to create a fun festival style atmosphere by joining in with the Caravan and Motorhome Club’s annual Big Little Tent Festival (BLTF) which is all about embracing camping in the comfort of your own gardens and homes this Easter.

The Big Little Tent Festival is all about encouraging would-be campers to try a night out under the stars, pitching their tents in the garden or even using a pop up tent inside, enjoying all the excitement that camping has to offer until the days when we are able to camp out a little further afield!

If you’ve not heard of the Big Little Tent Festival before, here’s everything you need to know in order to join in!

What is the Big Little Tent Festival?

This Easter weekend (3rd and 4th April 2021) dust off your tents, teepees or ben linen dens, decorate and string out the home made bunting or fairy lights and pack a bag of your favourite camping essentials to celebrate with The Big Little Tent Festival at home.

The Big Little Tent Festival started in 2015 as a fun way to introduce youngsters to the world of camping whilst providing the reassurance and comfort that can be found by staying close to home. For younger children, the prospect of camping outside in the dark can be a little daunting, and so having that first experience in the garden can be a great opportunity to showcase just how exciting camping can be, improving their confidence for when they do finally take that first camping experience away from home.

This year the Big Little Tent Festival is pretty topical, with social distancing and covid restrictions meaning that our options for camping further afield are limited!

On the 3rd and 4th April 2021, the Big Little Tent Festival is coming to back gardens and living rooms all across the country and with a jam packed entertainment line up too, it offers everything you need to create a fun filled 24 hours camping at home with your little ones.

How do we get involved?

First up, check out www.camc.com/bltf for your very own downloadable BLTF pack. The free downloadable pack includes camping checklists, games and suggested activities to help bring the adventure of the Big Little Tent Festival to life and create some fun memories with your children.

The pack also includes printable materials for children to colour and create, including their very own BLTF Wristbands and bright and colourful bunting to help bring your festival to life.

The Big Little Tent Festival Itinerary

The Big Little Tent Festival event will take place over the Easter weekend of 3 and 4 April and includes a fun-packed festival schedule line up. Join the Zoom party to meet The Mermaid Princess and the Friendly Neighbourhood Hero for games, superhero training, and a campfire song, take part in a Facebook live children’s quiz, enjoy bushcraft…plus so much more! You’ll find all the information you need on our Facebook page – Big Little Tent Festival but a summary of the main headlines is below:

Saturday 3rd April 2021

The Caravan and Motorhome Club is encouraging families to share photos from their experience for a chance to appear on its social media pages and website.

There is also chance to win prizes galore! Visit camc.com/bltf for a chance to win a Vango Tryfell tent worth £220, courtesy of Cotswold Outdoor, or one of two children’s bikes, courtesy of Raleigh, worth £350 each! Perfect prizes for families who want to embrace a love of the great outdoors!

When restrictions are lifted..

If your kids enjoy the camping experience during The Big Little Tent Festival, its worth remembering that when restrictions are lifted, anyone can access the Caravan and Motorhome Club tent camping sites! They have over 80 tent camping sites across the UK to choose from, from the Scottish Highlands to Devons Jurassic Coast. Prices start at just £8.40 per night, with electricity and hot showers included when booking a pitch, meaning there is always somewhere new to discover without a hefty budget!

For the here and now however, lets Pitch, pack and party – and get ready for #BLTF21 at home by visiting www.camc.com/bltf and join them on the dedicated social platforms @BigLittleTent on Twitter, @BigLittleTentFestival on Instagram and Facebook. #BLTF21

Our Camping Favourites

As big fans of camping, the one thing that the girls will say is an absolute must is making gooey, melted s’mores on the bbq before bed. If you’ve never had s’mores before, here’s everything you will need to make the ultimate camping treat:

• Rich tea biscuits (or similar)
• Large marshmallows
• Chunks of your favourite milk chocolate (or more extravagant chocolate if you’re feeling adventurous!)
• Tin Foil

Simply pop a marshmallow and approx 2 chunks of chocolate on to a rich tea biscuit, and place another on top as a lid. Wrap tightly in tin foil and then pop on to the bbq (for roughly 2 mins a side)

Allow to cool slightly when taken off the heat before unwrapping and then scoff the lot! HEAVEN!