Matt McChlery writes: On the recent Bank Holiday Monday, our car pulled up onto our driveway after completing a five hour journey from the depths of Wiston Estate buried deep in the Sussex countryside. I had just been to Big Church Festival with my two daughters, eight-year-old Katrina and six-year-old Lara. We had a fabulous time, although we were all in need of a good bath! Big Church Festival happens every Bank Holiday weekend over the May half term and sees 30,000 people coming together to celebrate all that is good.
The last time I went to Big Church Festival was ten years ago – before my children were born. People are encouraged to bring a group along, which I did ten years ago. Although this time I knew that bringing my two young daughters would require more planning and energy than a group would demand, and I was right.
Arriving on the Friday evening, with the help of my daughters, we managed to pitch our tent and blow up their camping mattresses so they could get to sleep just after sundown. This was a very late night for them, so I knew the next day would be interesting.
On Saturday, we set off at midday towards the Field of Fun and the Kids Tent. We caught a bit of the Superbook show and then had a go at the climbing wall, scaled the huge haystack, jumped on the numerous inflatables, and enjoyed the various fairground rides.
I was hoping to attend the Bethel Music session in the nearby Worship Tent. However, while we were having fun, a queue of a couple of thousand people had formed and by the time the girls had finished their various rides there seemed little point in joining the queue. Bethel Worship was due to headline on the Main Stage later that evening. With the girls to look after on my own, I accepted that I was going to miss out on all the excellent late night After Hours programme the festival offered.
We did manage to catch a Cheeky Pandas gig in the Kid’s Tent and Leeland’s set on the Main Stage before we headed back to the tent for an early night.
We did manage to listen to more music on the Sunday, including The Goudies, Matt Mayher, Tim & The Glory Boys and Israel Houghton. One of the highlights for the girls was hunting for wooden elephants that were hidden around the expo tent so they could win a packet of sweets. Oh yes, not to forget my daughter’s favourite artist, Philippa Hannah, whom we saw perform twice and they also got to meet after the second show. That was a definite highlight for them.
I knew that bringing my daughters along to a music festival would be hard work, and it was. But for me, the price I paid both financially and sacrificing the bands and things I really wanted to do for the sake of spending time with them, was worth it. I need to make happy memories with my children and I can’t wait to do it again!
Matt McChlery is a church leader, author and host of the Christian Book Blurb podcast. Find out more about him and his ministry at mattmcchlery.com
Main Photo Credit: Courtesy of Matt McChlery
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