3 Wishes Faery Fest is an enchanting weekend for the children

3 Wishes Faery Fest 2013

Friday 21st to Sunday 23rd June 2013
Mount Edgecumbe House and Country Park, Torpoint, Cornwall, PL10 1HZ, England MAP
£25 per day with camping, child (12-15) £10 per day, under 12s free

Daily capacity: 1,000

This was to be our first experience of 3 Wishes Faery Fest. The site was easy to find, with obvious signage and we were able to get straight onto the site without a hitch. The Information tent was helpful and as we had a dog and buggy for baby we had a few extra questions. Stewards were speaking with a lady asking for her money back as she hadn't had a very good nights sleep!!? Sensibly the stewards kept a straight face and explained the lovely weather mixed with happy festival goers and the SUMMER SOLSTICE had excited all the fairys into a late one.

As we drove into parking, it was clear that this event has loads of space, and with cars given access to the camping areas it made for really easy unloading. The festival is held in a beautiful location and offers great views over Mount Edgecombe and Plymouth. It was a bit of a shame then that it was blowing a hooley, children and dog were shivering, looking pensive and unsure.

We passed the Earth Heart Cafe and already we were spotting that there was maximum effort made by festival goers to join in the main themes. There were lots of fairies and pirates, both old and young. Our 5 and 8 year old jumped straight into the Hula Hooping activities. There was much for them to join in with, highlights being a treasure hunt, gatherings of activities in a tent, and bubble blowing - and our girls thought it was all great.

The vibe was really friendly but quiet, I imagined many of the noisier ones were having a lie down after the longest day before, and expected it to become noisy and packed at any moment. But, it didn’t get really crowded... and that was great for those of us who were there with kids to keep an eye on.

We met some crazy turtles with huge packs on their backs, stilt walkers, Puck, and a couple of Centaurs or were they minotaurs? Either way there was lots for the girls and us to look at, and that's without all the live acts playing too. There was music on, but we were more distracted by all the chances for child's play. It sounded in keeping with the theme and was a pleasant accompaniment to our activities. The Fairy school sheltered the children and kept them busy through a few passing showers. The fairy teachers were all in great character, especially Captain Jack Tarot - the fairies spreading drops of imagination on a small and rapt troupe of children.

We ate curries from Earth Heart, Crepes from Kernow Crepes and drank smoothies from Soul Juices all with fair price points. We bought hula hoops, wings (our home made ones were unravelling), and tasty raw chocolate balls. We could have joined in more workshops but chose to sit around the Fairy Kingdom Arena and watch Skewbald Theatre take a group off somewhere. Our kids were happy to watch the bubbles and listen to the didgeridoo. Eventually though as we had brought no tent to take shelter for the night, we took the dog, children and baby the short journey home for the night.

When we returned it had clearly been another good night on site, and two happy Torpointers told us they had had a brilliant stomp in the rain to the Dolmen with about a 100 others. Then the party had moved on to Earth Heart til late o’clock.

For us it was more of the same - hula hooping, fairies and activities. Add to that a fashion show for the children, and some medieval dancing. The girls’' "bestest bit ever" was two dark fairies who enchanted the children and led them around the site pied piper style, played silent games and spreading merriment, magic and mischief. They were brilliant.

Okay so 3 Wishes is no Glastonbury or Camp Bestival, but it plays to it's own strengths. It is compact, so small children can easily remember the site, it's also accessible, relaxed and friendly. There are no egos to be massaged here, and everyone gets involved - most were dressed up in one way or another. If we could have had 3 wishes, one of them would have been to spend longer there, and I regret not being there for the Summer Solstice which I think would have been a tingling night, and I feel I can’t give full justice to 3 Wishes because we barely scrapped the surface.

But we will be back next year, staying on site, with the children, babies, and a dog. Our first fairy scouting mission was a great success. We've found a festival that's relaxed and open to simple things, it's guaranteed magic. Perfect! And next time there will be no driving in each day, absolutely not!

review by: Sharon Short

photos by: Cara Wildeman