"WOULD you like to go to a fancy dress party?"
I ask my four-year-old son.
"Is anyone else going?" he asks.

"Yeah, " I say. "About 30,000 other people all in medieval fancy dress - and we can see Mr Tumble, the ZingZillas, The Gruffalo, Blondie, Primal Scream?" "Ice-cream?" he suggests.

"Err, yeah - you can have as much as you like!"

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A mental mix of classic music and kids' stuff, Camp Bestival is the summer festival spectacular, created specifically for families.
A warm-up to its more bustling and hilly big brother Bestival, on the Isle of Wight next month, this is where we went for a trial run of festival frolics with our kids.
It is set in the English Heritage grounds of Lulworth Castle on Dorset's Jurassic coastline.

With the main stage on one side of the picture-book, turreted astle, it has to be the most mospheric arena on the festival circuit.
There's also a Little Big Top, giant helter-skelter, paint and play areas and dressing-up tents that would leave Elton John clapping with glee. The Magic Meadow has the main Big Top, with comedy, music and performances for all ages.

The Blue Coats across the way have about a hundred brilliant ways to entertain children too.
There is also every type of food you could imagine, from crispy corn on the cobs to River Café mutton burgers.

Arriving on site we were given wristbands for the kids (under tens go free) and ourselves, with matching IDs and our mobile numbers on them.
It's a great idea if you have little hide-and-seekers with explosive bursts of speed.

The camping fields were clean, clearly marked out and well lit.

The schedule of activities and performances was mind-boggling, so some prioritising was needed.
He wanted ZingZillas, we wanted Mark Ronson, he wanted dressing-up but we preferred cocktails.

So, with drinks in hand, we set off to the main stage - via Smiffy's dressing-up shop - to catch Zac and his Big Zing friends, followed by the legendary Mr Tumble.
As the day rolled on it dawned on us it was good fun hanging out with the kids, watching a few gigs, then doing some painting.

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At some point we will be able to remind our teenage progeny how lucky they were to catch 80s pop legends like Blondie while they were still around and future stars like Kate Tempest while they were still young and keen.

The ferris wheel and a couple of fatherly brews at the Bandstand set us up nicely for Primal Scream playing their classic album creamadelica. By the end we were very happy bunnies urrounded by sleeping kids in buggies and slightly unsober parents.

If it's strictly great line-ups you're after, check out Camp Bestival's big brother Bestival on the Isle of Wight next month.
Dressing-up is expected at Bestival and this year's theme is rock stars, pop stars and divas.

The line-up includes mascara icons The Cure, Björk, Noah And The Whale, PJ Harvey, Paloma Faith and Professor Green.
Rob da Bank and wife Josie are behind both Camp Bestival and Bestival and have built up a loyal following of families and festival fanatics. Whichever one you choose, you couldn't be in safer hands.

FactFile
TICKETS are still available for Bestival, which takes place at Robin Hill Country Park, Isle of Wight, September 8-11.
Weekend tickets for adults cost £170, students £160, children aged 13-15 £85. Children under 12 go free. To book visit bestival.net
For ferries see wightlink.co.uk Camp Bestival, at Lulworth Castle, Dorset, takes place from July 26-29 in 2012.