Brilliant music festivals in Hertfordshire in 2025
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2025 Hertfordshire music festivals
Summer is fast approaching and with it comes an ever-increasing selection of music festivals. We’re fortunate here in Hertfordshire to have a really good range of open air concerts, ranging from intimate affairs to big multiple-stage events. Some music festivals in Hertfordshire have famous names and up and coming artists, or those from our youth, while other festivals focus on tribute acts. All of them offer a pretty good range of food and drink.
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Going camping with kids? Check out my guide to family camping here.
Family friendly music festivals in Hertfordshire
There are some very family friendly music festivals in Hertfordshire. Some of them really go the extra mile to offer lots of kid-friendly activities and attractions – fairground rides, face painting, discos, craft and more.
If you’re bringing the kids along, remember that some of the extra entertainment – bouncy castles and so forth – often isn’t included in your ticket price so budget accordingly!
Music festivals near London
If you want to get out of the capital for a long weekend, heading north to a music festival in Hertfordshire is an easy trip. All of the Hertfordshire music festivals listed here are either within walking distance of a train station with direct links to London or they’re a short taxi ride away. A lot of the multi-day festivals offer glamping so you don’t need to lug all your camping gear on the train.
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Sign of the Times Festival, Little Hadham
Sign of the Times in east Hertfordshire (close to the town of Bishop’s Stortford) has a great line up of indie, rock and pop. There are quite a few bands from the 90s so if you’re a 40-something like me, you’ll no doubt be tempted by some of the names appearing across the two stages.
Remember Haircut 100? They’ll be there this year, as well as Ocean Colour Scene and Utah Saints.
- Vibe: two stages, all types of music from rock and pop to punk and alternative, big names and tributes
- Family friendly? Yes, there are specific activities for children
- Camping? Yes, and glamping
- Where: Church End, Little Hadham, SG11 2DY
- Public transport? 3 miles from Bishop’s Stortford railway station
- When: 20th-22nd June 2025
Find out more about Sign of the Times Festival 2025
Stone Valley Festival South 2025, Great Amwell, Ware
This is a lovely corner of Hertfordshire and Stone Valley is perfect for visitors who want to arrive by public transport – it’s just half a mile from the little station of St Margaret’s. In its seventh year, Stone Valley South is a mix of acts including Toyah and Neville Staples (from the Specials).
- Vibe: one main stage, Mod, Ska, Indie, Punk, Northern Soul, 60’s and more, some familiar names and tribute acts
- Family friendly? Yes
- Camping? Yes, and glamping
- Where: Hillside Farm, Pepper Hill, Great Amwell, Ware, Hertfordshire, SG12 9RZ
- Public transport: Yes, half a mile from Stansted St Margaret’s railway station
- When: 23rd-25th May 2025
Find about more about Stone Valley Festival South
WoolyFest 2025, Woolmer Green, near Knebworth
This small one-day family-friendly festival celebrates local Hertfordshire musicians. There are fairground rides for kids, two stages for the bands plus a DJ stage.
- Vibe: small village festival with two stages, highlighting local Herts artists
- Family friendly? Yes – fairground rides and inflatables
- Camping: no
- Where: Woolmer Green, near Knebworth
- Public transport? 20 minute walk from Knebworth railway station
- When: 19th July 2025
Find out more about WoolyFest 2025
Chilfest, Tring music festival
This medium size festival will appeal to children of the 80s – headliners over the years have included Human League and UB40.
- Vibe: 80s tributes on the Friday, artists from the 70s, 80s, 90s and beyond on the Saturday including Adam Ant and Bad Manners.
- Family friendly? Children welcome
- Camping: no
- Where: Cow Lane, Tring, HP23 5NS
- Public transport? One mile from Tring railway station
- When: 4-5th July 2025
Find out more about Chilfest 2025
Slam Dunk Festival South 2025, Hatfield Park
Slam Dunk features established and up and coming artists with a mix of genres including pop-punk, ska and metal.
There are two Slam Dunk festivals over the May bank holiday weekend – the northern one in Leeds on Sunday 25th and the southern one at Hatfield Park the day before on Saturday 24th May. Artists perform at both sites. If you’re keen, there is a coach and hotel package which allows festival goers to visit both locations over the course of the weekend.
- Vibe: punk/emo/metal and ska music
- Family friendly? Children welcome but there is nothing specifically laid on for them.
- Camping: no
- Where: Hatfield Park, AL9 5PG
- Public transport? pedestrian entrance is opposite Hatfield railway station
- When: Saturday 24th May 2025
Find out more about Slam Dunk Festival South 2025
Try Fest music festival in Letchworth
Billed as a family-friendly festival, Try Fest is a good one to take the kids to – there is dedicated kids entertainment and a fun fair. The music – there are plenty of tributes and as well as DJs – is a mix of RnB, funk, soul, house, garage and Britpop.
- Vibe: 80s and 90s tribute bands and famous DJs
- Family friendly? yes – kids entertainment and fun fair
- Camping: no
- Where: Letchworth Rugby Club, Letchworth, Hertfordshire, SG6 2EN
- Public transport? Baldock and Letchworth rail stations are both approximately 1.5 miles from the venue.
- When: Friday 6th and Saturday 7st June 2025
Find out more about Try Fest 2024
Todd in the Hole music festival near Stevenage
This three-day event is described as “more than a music festival, it’s a family friendly, food and drink extravaganza”, there’s plenty to see and do at this little festival near Stevenage. There is music from emerging and established artists over a range of genres including rock, indie, folk, and pop.
- Vibe: a family weekend of entertainment with a range of music styles
- Family friendly? yes, various kid-friendly activities and stalls including Stevenage FC Foundation and Tenacity Dance.
- Camping: yes, and glamping
- Where: Todd’s Green, SG1 2JE
- Public transport? free shuttle services to and from Stevenage train station leisure park and Hitchin St Mary’s Square
- When: 11th – 13th July 2025
Find out more about Todd in the Hole 2025 music festival near Stevenage
Hamptons Jazz Fest, Hertfordshire Showground, near Harpenden
If you’re after something slightly different to the other festivals listed here, Hamptons Jazz Fest offers one of the few opportunities to enjoy live jazz in an open air setting.
Named after its founder Debbie Hamptons, this year’s Hampton’s Jazz Festival features acid jazz band Incognito as its headline for 2025. The theme is “a taste of Africa” – so you can expect not just a mix of African and British jazz but also a battle for BBQ supremacy between the two.
- Vibe: jazz and food
- Family friendly? children welcome
- Camping: no
- Where: the Showground, Dunstable Road, Redbourn, AL3 7PT
- Public transport? 4 miles from Harpenden rail station
- When: 12th July 2025
Find out more about Hamptons Jazz Festival
Folk by the Oak, Hatfield
This is probably the most wide-ranging and family friendly festival in Hertfordshire with activities as diverse as rock climbing, morris dancing and digeridoo workshops. There’s a dedicated family area as well as a traditional fairground.
Headliners for 2025 are indie folk band Bear’s Den.
- Vibe: folk, roots and acoustic music – village fete meets music festival
- Family friendly? yes – wide range of activities including storytelling, singing workshops and archery
- Camping: no
- Where: Hatfield Park, AL9 5PG
- Public transport? Hatfield Park, AL9 5PG
- When: Sunday 20th July 2025
Find out more about Folk by the Oak 2025 music festival in Hatfield
Goatfest music festival near Codicote
What started over 15 years ago as a small festival at the village pub (the Goat) is now a three day music extravaganza held over the August bank holiday weekend. Headliners over the years have ranged from Tony Christie to Showaddywaddy.
- Vibe: emerging and established artists, with a range of music genres including rock, R&B and pop
- Family friendly? yes – activities include kids’ cinema and a dance club
- Camping: yes, and glamping
- Where: Bury Lane, Codicote, SG4 8XY
- Public transport? 5 miles from Stevenage rail station
- When: 22-24th August 2025
Bushfest, tribute music festival near Watford
This all-tribute festival is a great option for families as it finishes relatively early and features music which everyone will recognise.
- Vibe: one day tribute music festival
- Family friendly? yes, this festival finishes at a civilised 9pm and there are attractions and music which little kids will enjoy
- Camping: no
- Where: Metropolitan Bushey, Aldenham Road, Bushey WD23 2TR
- Public transport? Just over a mile from Bushey rail station
- When: Sunday 24 August 2025
Croxfest music festival near Rickmansworth
This free music festival is another good option for families. There’s music by youth artists and plenty of stalls for kids to enjoy. Expect a mix of genres from metal to pop with cover band and emerging acts.
- Vibe: family friendly, diverse range of music
- Family friendly? yes – fun fair and child-friendly stalls and activities
- Camping: no
- Where: The Green in Croxley Green, WD3 3HY
- Public transport?
- When: Saturday 6th September 2025
Campo Sancho, Walkern, near Stevenage
One for 90s house music fans, this festival in Walkern is a family-friendly woodland weekend organised by Sacho Panza. As well as an impressive line up of DJs, there’s also gospel music and a range of family-friendly activities.
- Vibe: intimate house music festival
- Family friendly? yes – circus skills, kids’ disco and more
- Camping: yes
- Where: Walkern Hall, Walkern, Stevenage SG2 7JA
- Public transport? 6 miles from Stevenage rail station
- When: 24th to 28th July 2025
The Park Series Hitchin
This is not so much a festival as a series of gigs over a long weekend. There’s no camping and no children so it’s a very different vibe to the other Hertfordshire music events listed here. There are some familiar names on each of the three nights – Ocean Colour Scene and Pete Doherty feature on the Friday, James Bay on the Saturday and Soul II Soul on the Sunday.
- Vibe: adult-only gigs over three days
- Family friendly? no – over 18s only
- Camping: no
- Where: Hitchin Priory, Tilehouse Street, Hitchin, SG5 2DL
- Public transport? one mile from Hitchin rail station
- When: Friday 18th – Sunday 20th July 2025
Standon Calling, Standon
Although Standon Calling is advertised as happening in 2025, there have been no further details announced. The festival was cancelled in 2024 and looks unlikely to be going ahead this year.
- Vibe: Very family friendly with established and emerging artists, more than just music
- Family friendly? yes – lots of activities including comedy, circus skills, street dance, crafting and a swimming pool!
- Camping: yes – glamping, family camping and quiet camping also available
- Where: Standon Lordship, Standon, SG11 1EF
- Public transport? 7 miles from Ware railway station, also close by are Bishop’s Stortford and Hertford North/East
- When: Thursday 24th to Sunday 27th July 2025 – this is unlikely to be going ahead
Find out more about Standon Calling music festival 2025
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Have you been to any of these Hertfordshire music festivals? Let me know in the comments below.
