Festival Guide Summary
- 1. Strawberry Music Festival: Groveland, CA
- 2. Lake Eden Arts Festival: Black Mountain, NC
- 3. Joshua Tree Music Festival: Joshua Tree, CA
- 4. Bumbershoot: Seattle, WA
- 5. Austin City Limits: Austin, TX
- 6. Rocky Mountain Folks Festival: Lyons, CO
- 7. Clearwater Festival: Croton-on-Hudson, NY
- 8. Summerfest: Milwaukee, WI
- 9. New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival: New Orleans, LA
Looking for a fun way to inject some culture into your next family vacation? Consider grabbing your camping gear and bringing the kids to an outdoor festival where you can soak up music and dancing amid a joyful block-party vibe. Enjoy picnics (and food truck fare), craft vendors, pony rides, face painting, petting zoos, and more. Here are some of the best outdoor festivals for families:
Strawberry Music Festival: Groveland, CA
When: May and August
Held on the outskirts of Yosemite National Park, the Strawberry Music Festival is renowned for its free-spirited programming, swimming, and hiking at Birch Lake, with superb arts and crafts, and more.
The Strawberry Kids program offers activities for four different age groups, featuring a full lineup of music, arts and crafts, nature programs, dance and music workshops, and storytelling.
A-list musical performers span many genres, from folk and bluegrass to alt-country. You can attend the concerts or simply listen to the music at your campsite broadcast live on Hog Ranch Radio. Free for kids age 6 and under.
Lake Eden Arts Festival: Black Mountain, NC
When: May and October
Located just 20 minutes outside of Asheville, LEAF is a circus-like arts fest packed with activities that are super kid-friendly. Expect puppets, trapeze artists, magicians, unicyclers, hoop dancers, stilt-walkers, and more.
Families can camp out, go canoeing and swimming in Lake Eden, play dodgeball and Ultimate Frisbee, try slack-lining and zip-lining, shop for and create crafts, and enjoy music and poetry performed on seven stages. Free for kids age 9 and under.
Joshua Tree Music Festival: Joshua Tree, CA
When: May and October
Twice a year, this kid-friendly global music fest draws thousands of families to the Mojave Desert at the gateway to Joshua Tree National Park.
Enjoy performances from dozens of musical artists from around the world, while Kidsville features arts and crafts, yoga, dance parties, tie-dying, music workshops, circus shows, and storytime. Free for kids age 10 and under.
Bumbershoot: Seattle, WA
When: September
Since 1971, Bumbershoot has been one of Seattle’s premier culture and arts festivals, attracting families from all over the Pacific Northwest. The multi-disciplinary program showcases the best of comedy, dance, film, literature, performing arts, and theater, highlighting a strong musical lineup that makes this fest a must.
Geared to kids age 10 and under, the Youngershoot Kids Zone offers hands-on activities and workshops in dance, arts and crafts, and more. Free for kids age 7 and under.
Austin City Limits: Austin, TX
When: 2 weekends in October
They say everything is bigger in Texas, and Austin City Limits Music Festival is definitely one of the largest kid-friendly events on our list, attracting tens of thousands of visitors with music, food, and markets.
An area just for kids, Austin Kiddie Limits is packed with fun, creative activities for those under 10 and offers services such as baby changing stations. Free for kids age 10 and under.
Rocky Mountain Folks Festival: Lyons, CO
When: August
In drop-dead gorgeous Lyons, about 20 miles outside of Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park, the annual Rocky Mountain Folks Festival hosts numerous top-flight songwriters and their bands.
Kids can spend fun-filled days playing in the St. Vrain River’s shallow pools, while families hike, mountain bike, slack-line, or visit the instrument petting zoo. Free for kids age 12 and under.
Clearwater Festival: Croton-on-Hudson, NY
When: June
Launched by Pete Seeger’s desire to clean up New York’s Hudson River over 40 years ago, Clearwater’s Great Hudson River Revival has evolved into one of America’s premier summer music and environmental festivals.
Beyond the top-tier musical acts, the fest offers canoeing, kayaking, river seining, a children’s area (face painting, hair wraps, mind maze, mask making, bubble wands), and a family stage featuring performers geared towards children. Free for kids age 12 and under.
Summerfest: Milwaukee, WI
When: June-July
Nearly two weeks of performers from every genre guarantees that Summerfest lives up to its billing as “the world’s largest music festival.” Set on the shores of Lake Michigan, the fest’s massive lineup includes over 800 acts on 11 stages over 11 days, with the ambiance of a state fair.
Headliners have included the Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Chainsmokers, Zac Brown Band, Pink, and Luke Bryan. The Kids Activity Tent features games, crafts, and music, alongside pedal boats and a splash pad for little ones to cool off. Free for kids age 2 and under.
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival: New Orleans, LA
When: April-May
Don’t let the name fool you. Yes, you’ll hear plenty of jazz at this NOLA event, but it also features blockbuster headliners from other genres like Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, Nora Jones, Meghan Trainor, Maroon 5, Kings of Leon, and Jon Bon Jovi. Bring your own folding chairs and enjoy Cajun cuisine and food and craft stands from around the region. Free for kids age 2 and under.
