Elderflower Fields in the UK: Best Locations to Visit in 2026

The Elderflower Fields is one of those festivals that feels made for a long family weekend outdoors rather than a rushed day out. Set in Ashdown Forest, Sussex, and running from 22 to 25 May 2026, it brings together music and performance, sport and movement, nature activities, art, food, and wellness in a setting designed with families in mind.

This guide looks at what Elderflower Fields is really like, when it happens, what you can expect to see and do, and how to make the most of the experience once you are there.

For families bringing phones, lights, cameras or small essentials for the tent, a portable power option such as a Jackery Portable Power Station can also make the weekend a good deal easier.

Basics of Elderflower Fields

The Elderflower Fields is an independent family festival built around outdoor adventure, creativity and time in nature. Rather than feeling like a standard music festival with a children’s area added on, it is designed especially for families with younger children, with a mix of music and performance, sport and movement, nature activities, art and discovery, food, and wellness across the weekend.

It takes place in Ashdown Forest, Sussex, with the 2026 event listed at Pippingford Park, Nutley, East Sussex, TN22 3HW. That setting is a big part of the appeal. You are not just going for a line-up or a few headline acts; you are spending a bank holiday weekend in woodland and open countryside.

What makes Elderflower Fields feel special is its balance. Children get the freedom to explore, play, make things and try new activities, while adults still get a genuinely enjoyable weekend of good food, live performances and calmer spaces such as the wellness area.

Elderflower Fields Festival 2026

Elderflower Fields 2026 takes place from Friday 22 May to Monday 25 May 2026, over the late May bank holiday weekend. It is held at Pippingford Park, Nutley, East Sussex, TN22 3HW, in the heart of the Sussex countryside near Ashdown Forest. The festival is set up as a family weekend rather than a single-day event, which is a big part of its appeal for parents who want more time to settle in, camp, and enjoy the activities at a relaxed pace.

What’s on at Elderflower Fields is much broader than live music alone. The official programme is built around Music & Performance, Sport & Movement, Nature & Environment, Art & Discovery, Food & Drink, and Wellness, giving families a mix of energetic activities, creative sessions, quieter moments and evening entertainment across the weekend.

On the performance side, the 2026 listings already include acts and events such as Afriquoi, Mellowmatic, Mista Trick Collective, Son Guarachando, The Jive Aces, The Scribes, Gyratory Allstars, and the much-loved Big Family Dance Off.

Away from the stages, there is plenty for children to get involved in during the day. The activity booking page highlights options including tree climbing, animation workshops, sports camp, the Brick Bus, campfire cooking, and other hands-on experiences, while many activities remain simple drop-in sessions.

Elderflower Fields Experiences  

One of the nicest things about Elderflower Fields is that it does not push families into one fixed way of doing a festival. The organisers describe the experience as inclusive and flexible, with activities running all weekend so you can join in a lot, dip in and out, or simply follow whatever mood your family is in that day.

Outside & Inside

A big part of the festival’s charm is how outdoors it feels. Elderflower Fields leans into open-air adventure, woodland spaces and hands-on activities, so plenty of the experience happens out in the elements. At the same time, the festival also highlights covered spaces and sheltered activities, which can be a real help when you want a break from the sun or rain, even if those areas can feel busier.

Nice and Noisy

If your family likes energy, Elderflower Fields has plenty of it. The programme includes live bands, dance-led sets, DJ sessions, family dance-offs, disco-themed events, silly games and interactive shows, so there are lots of moments that feel lively, loud and full of movement.

Calm and Quiet

The good thing is that the festival is not all noise from morning to night. The organisers also signpost calmer experiences for families who want a slower pace, and the 2026 programme includes wellness activities and gentler sessions such as yoga, mindfulness-style experiences, massage, storytelling and the Woodland Sanctuary.

Get Involved

This is not a festival where everything happens on a stage while you watch from a distance. A lot of the fun comes from joining in. The official listings include activities such as tree climbing, sports camp, animation workshops, campfire cooking, kayaking, paddleboarding, hula hooping, songwriting, DIY DJ sessions and the Woodland Tribe Big Build.

Just Watch

That said, you do not have to be busy every minute. Elderflower Fields also leaves room to simply sit back and enjoy the show. Families can watch theatre, music performances, choir appearances, youth showcases, magic shows, storytelling and wandering entertainment without needing to sign up or take part directly. 

Is Elderflower Fields Family-Friendly?  

Yes, very much so. Elderflower Fields is not a general festival that happens to allow children in; it is built as a family festival from the ground up. The organisers describe it as a “perfect first festival for families”, with a safe, welcoming atmosphere where children can explore and parents can relax a bit more than they might at a larger mainstream event.

One of the biggest reasons it suits families is the range of activities. The programme spans music and performance, sport and movement, nature and environment, art and discovery, food and drink, and wellness, so the weekend is not relying on one type of entertainment. That makes it easier for families with different ages, interests and energy levels to all find something they enjoy.

The pace of the event is family-friendly too. Elderflower Fields is sold as a full weekend festival, not a rushed one-day visit, so families have more time to settle in, explore the site and take breaks when needed.

For families who need extra support, the festival has some helpful accessibility measures as well. It offers accessible camping by prior arrangement and free Personal Assistant Tickets for attendees with access needs, including children under 18 when accompanied by a full-paying adult. 

Packing List for Elderflower Fields  

Before you get to the packing side, it helps to know how the ticketing works. Elderflower Fields sells tickets through Citizen Ticket via the festival website, and the festival says there are no ticket sales on the gate. Every ticket has a booking fee shown separately on the ticket page.

For Elderflower Fields 2026, the ticket page currently lists these main options: Adult Weekend – Final Release: £207.30 (£195.00 + £12.30 booking fee), Child Weekend (ages 4–16) – Final Release: £101.30 (£95.00 + £6.30 booking fee), and 0–3 Weekend Ticket: free.

Standard camping is included with the weekend ticket. The same page also lists a car park pass at £13.32 (£12.00 + £1.32 booking fee; £20 on the gate) and a Live-In Pitch at £101.30 (£95.00 + £6.30 booking fee). A Front Row Live-In Pitch is listed at £133.10 and was marked sold out when checked.

Children aged 4 to 16 need a child ticket, while children aged 0 to 3 still need their own free ticket. The festival also recommends keeping your e-tickets on your phone or tablet and even taking screenshots because signal on site may not always be great.

What to Keep in Mind Before Packing

Elderflower Fields includes general camping with weekend tickets, but there is a catch that matters when you pack: unless you have booked a live-in pitch or glamping, you will need to carry your gear from the car park to the campsite, and the festival says there is no trolley hire on site.

The nearest general camping is about 100m downhill from the car park, while the furthest wild camping area is just over 1km away. The site also describes the ground as hilly, rough and wild in places, especially for families with younger children.

Adult Packing List for Elderflower Fields

For adults, the essentials start with the camping basics:

A Jackery Portable Power Station is also a practical thing to bring if you are camping for the full weekend. Elderflower Fields does offer phone charging at the Info Tent for £3 per hour, but having your own portable power at camp is far more convenient for topping up phones, tent lights, rechargeable torches, camera batteries, or a child’s night light without needing to queue or leave devices elsewhere.

Children’s Packing List for Elderflower Fields

For children, you want the same core camping basics, but with more attention to comfort, mud, tired legs and quick outfit changes.

Because the festival says the site is hilly and rough and walking around all day can be tiring for little legs, a sturdy all-terrain buggy or strong trolley is one of the most useful things a family can bring. The site specifically warns that small wheels are not much help on the bumpy ground.

Food & Drink Packing Tips

You do not need to bring food for the whole weekend, because the festival says there are food vendors on site, but it is still worth bringing snacks, breakfast basics and easy drinks for camp. That is especially helpful with children. If you plan to cook, keep it simple and remove unnecessary packaging before you leave home. The festival also has a site-wide glass ban, which is important when packing drinks, sauces or jars.

Reusable cups and water bottles are a smart move too. The festival encourages people to bring back their cups, and drinking water is available from taps around the site.

What NOT to Pack

This part matters just as much as the checklist. The festival says the following should not be brought on site:

Glass

Gazebos or large shelters

Chinese lanterns

Glow sticks and other throwaway single-use items

Excessive amounts of alcohol

Pet

Sound systems

So the smartest Elderflower Fields packing list is one that keeps things practical: travel light enough to carry it, prepare for British weather, plan for dark campsites, and bring the small comforts that help adults and children enjoy three days outdoors. A Jackery Portable Power Station fits neatly into that plan, because it gives you reliable power at camp without overcomplicating the weekend.

Camping in Elderflower Fields 

Camping is a big part of what makes Elderflower Fields work so well. This is not a festival where you rush in for a few hours and leave; it is built as a full bank holiday weekend, with standard camping included in every weekend ticket and family camping at the heart of the experience.

The site offers two main family camping fields with space for groups to camp together and for children to move around more freely, which immediately makes it feel more practical for families than many larger festivals.

• Camping Types: boutique camping, live-in pitches for campervans, motorhomes, caravans and trailer tents.
• Facilities: toilets around the site, free hot showers, hand-wash stations, drinking water points.

That said, Elderflower Fields is best for campers who arrive prepared. The site itself warns that the walk from the car park to camp can be anything from about 100 metres downhill to just over 1 kilometre for the furthest wild camping area, and there is no trolley hire on site.

Practical Camping Tips for Elderflower Fields

Pack lighter than you think you need to. The festival repeats this for good reason. If you are in general camping, you will be carrying your gear from the car park, and that can feel much longer with children, bedding and food in tow. A sturdy trolley or an all-terrain buggy is far more useful than lots of extra “just in case” items.

It also helps to arrive as early as you reasonably can on Friday. The campsites open at midday on Friday 22 May, and the FAQs note that if you want to camp close to friends in the main field, arriving earlier gives you a better chance because spaces cannot be reserved. Late arrival is still possible, but it gives you less choice and adds stress when setting up.

Before you even leave home, make sure your tickets and parking pass are downloaded or saved as screenshots. The festival specifically warns that signal is not always reliable on arrival. If you have booked a live-in vehicle pitch, the arrival page says the pass must be printed at home and displayed on the dashboard.

Food planning is another place where a little preparation helps. The FAQs say you can bring your own food and drink, but there is a site-wide glass ban, and because you have to carry your supplies from the car park, the festival suggests bringing a few essentials and then using the on-site food traders for the rest.

A Jackery Portable Power Station can also make camping at Elderflower Fields noticeably easier. Rather than relying on scattered charging options or trying to ration every phone battery, you can keep essentials topped up at your tent or pitch, whether that is phones, small lanterns, a child’s night light, camera batteries or other low-power camping kit.

Jackery Portable Power Stations for Elderflower Fields 

A portable power station makes a lot of sense at Elderflower Fields because this is a full camping festival, not a quick afternoon event. Families are usually relying on phones for tickets, photos, maps, meeting points and the occasional bit of entertainment for children, and the festival’s own FAQ says mobile charging is available at the Info Tent for a small fee.

Having your own power at camp is simply more convenient, especially when you want to charge devices on your own schedule rather than walk over and wait.

Festival packing is already enough of a job, especially when you are bringing bedding, clothes and food for adults and children. Jackery Portable Power Stations are built for that kind of real-world use.

Jackery Explorer 300D

The Jackery Explorer 300D is the stronger choice for families staying for the whole weekend and wanting one compact unit that can handle several personal devices over the course of the festival. It offers 288Wh capacity with up to 300W output, and It as lightweight portable power for camping, travel and everyday backup.

288Wh Capacity with 300W Output

With its lightweight 2.5 kg design, 3× USB-C, 1× USB-A, and car socket, this power station can deliver 288Wh of energy, which is equivalent to up to nine power banks, and has a maximum output of 300W. It keeps laptops, drones, and other devices fuelled simultaneously for travel, camping, and daily backup.

Continue Your Adventure, Charge Without Limits

Connect the E300D power bank to the small, foldable 40W solar panel for convenient, intelligent recharging on-the-go. It provides consistent solar energy wherever your journey takes you because to its small size, durability, and ease of attachment to a bike or backpack.

Two-in-one cable. Simply grab and go

With the unique 2-in-1 carry-and-charge cable, you can streamline your on-the-go power. You can take this E300D, walk around freely, and keep all of your devices charged and connected wherever you go because it is strong enough to support up to 10 kg and functions as both a durable handle and a 140W fast-charging cable with data transmission integrated in.

Nearly 0 dB. Silent Power

This quiet power station is much more powerful than a typical power bank and much quieter than traditional units thanks to its completely fanless design, which allows for whisper-quiet, nearly 0 dB operation. Take advantage of robust, dependable energy for both day and nighttime use without interfering with your sleep, concentration, or peace of mind at camp.

Smaller. Lighter. Easier to Carry

Just 2.5 kg and up to 56% smaller, the DC Explorer 300D is easy to carry with one hand. It’s up to 64% smaller and 39% lighter than industry-average AC power stations of the same capacity.

Attach the optional shoulder strap (sold separately) for true hands-free convenience. Simply sling your power station over your shoulder to keep your hands free and your power portable wherever your day takes you.

Jackery Explorer 100 Plus

The Jackery Explorer 100 Plus is the better option for lighter packers, day visitors, or parents who want something very small for personal charging rather than a shared family power hub. It has a 99Wh capacity and a 128W AC Pure Sine Wave inverter, and it can charge up to three devices at the same time.

Mini, Yet Mighty Power Station

The Explorer 100 Plus is a portable power station with a 128W AC Pure Sine Wave Inverter and 99Wh capacity. It can charge up to 3 devices simultaneously, with 100W Dual PD Output, and 1 USB-A output. Also, it's lightweight and compact enough to carry, and can be carried on board an airplane.

3 Ways to Charge Quickly

MPPT technology ensures 99% solar charging efficiency. It takes 1.8 hours for a full DC input and 2 hours of solar charging with one SolarSaga 100W Solar Panel. Combined with car charging and other charging methods, Jackery has you covered for all situations, and in power outages!

Long-lasting LFP Battery with 2,000 Charge Cycles

The Explorer 100 Plus boasts a robust and durable LFP (LiFePO4) battery, complemented by a self-developed BMS (Battery Management System) that adds an extra layer of protection. Even after 2,000 charge cycles, the battery level remains at 80%, ensuring an exceptional 8 year lifespan, even when charged daily.

Outdoor Durability, Shock-Resistance, and Fire-Resistance

Explorer 100 Plus is made of UL 94V-0 Rated flame-retardant material, with Class 9 impact resistance, in compliance with UL safety standards, and is protected against drops (3 drops, at 0.9m). This product is also UL Certified and equipped with high-temperature protection at 60°C. Additionally, it features intelligent dual chip protection - accompanied by 5 temperature probes for precise temperature control.

For family camping at Elderflower Fields, the Jackery Explorer 300D is the more practical all-round choice because it gives you more capacity, more ports and more flexibility across a full bank holiday weekend. For lighter use, shorter stays or individual device charging, the Jackery Explorer 100 Plus is the easier option to slip into a bag and carry around all day.

FAQs

The following are frequently asked questions about the Elderflower Fields in the UK.

1. When is Elderflower Fields 2026, and where is it held?

Elderflower Fields 2026 runs from 22 to 25 May 2026 over the late May bank holiday weekend, and it is held in Ashdown Forest, Sussex, at Pippingford Park, Nutley, East Sussex.

2. Is Elderflower Fields good for families with children?

Yes. Elderflower Fields is designed as a family festival, not just a general festival with a children’s area added in. The official site describes it as a strong first festival for families, and the programme covers music and performance, sport and movement, nature and environment, art and discovery, food and drink, and wellness, so there is plenty for different ages and energy levels.

3. Can you camp at Elderflower Fields?

Yes. Standard camping is included with weekend tickets, and the festival has two main family camping fields. The site says campsites open at midday on Friday, asks campers to keep noise low at night, and notes that the closest camping is about 100 metres downhill from the car park, while the furthest wild camping area is just over 1km away.

4. What should you pack for Elderflower Fields camping?

The festival’s own guidance is to pack light and focus on practical essentials such as weather-ready clothing, camping gear, medication, and a torch. Because it is a camping festival and phone charging on site is limited, a Jackery Portable Power Station can be a useful extra for keeping phones, lights and small devices charged more conveniently at camp.

Final Thoughts

The Elderflower Fields is the kind of festival that feels easier to enjoy once you know what to expect. It is a family-focused weekend in the Sussex countryside, with music, outdoor adventure, creative activities, calmer spaces, and plenty of chances for children and adults to enjoy the festival in their own way.

A little planning goes a long way here. Knowing the ticket options, packing for mixed weather, preparing properly for camping, and bringing the right essentials can make the experience much smoother from the moment you arrive.