If you are after a family day out that leans fully into the whimsical, the New Forest Fairy Festival is back this weekend. It runs across Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 August at Burley Park in Burley, Hampshire, and it is billed as one of the south's most enchanting family events and the largest of its kind. The gates open at 10:00 and the site closes at 18:00 on both days, so there is plenty of time to wander around without feeling rushed.
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The sheer volume of things to do is what sets this apart. There are more than 120 workshops and activities included in the entry price, so you do not need to keep reaching for your wallet once you are inside. The line-up runs the full breadth of the mythical: storytelling, crafts, fairy theatre, wizard workshops, circus performances, spiritual workshops, live music, belly dancing, platform mediumship, a fairy market, a costume contest, a parade and a fairy trail. It is the kind of programme where you can drift from a craft table to a puppet show to a bit of live music without ever really leaving the fairy theme.
Speaking of music, the stage is not an afterthought. The line-up mixes world-class tribute acts with emerging talent, with the likes of Chasing Mumford, a George Ezra tribute, a Paloma Faith tribute, the Jonny Phillips Trio, Kez Hinton, George Croucher, a Mumford and Sons tribute, Bella Rose, Mojo, The Royal Restitution, Crystal Visions, Hello Dolly, Stompin K Thompson and The Fabulous Red Diesel all listed. Between the workshops and the music, there is enough going on to fill a whole day, and the costume contest and parade give everyone a chance to get involved rather than just watch.
On that note, dressing up is a big part of the fun. Visitors are encouraged to turn up in fairy and elf costumes, with the best dressed awarded each day, so it is worth the effort of a bit of glitter and a pair of wings. The festival also has a quieter, more serious side: it places a real emphasis on sustainability and works with organisations and charities to promote environmental awareness and education, which sits well given the setting.
Practicalities are straightforward. Tickets are £20 for adults and £10 for children, with under-sixes going free, so it is reasonably easy on the family budget. Burley Park is an outdoor site with a capacity of 3,000, set on a flat field with local parking nearby. If you are coming by public transport, the nearest bus stop is in Burley and the nearest train station is Brockenhurst. The setting itself is half the draw: the New Forest is a royal deer hunting reserve established in 1079 by William I, covering roughly 148 square miles, and it became a National Park in 2005. The area is known for its ancient woods, free-roaming ponies and cattle, and a history that includes the witchcraft of Sybil Leek, with around 1,000 ancient trees scattered across it. For a weekend that is as much about the setting as the activities, it is hard to beat.
Published Date
8 August 2026
