Gloworm Festival 2026 takes place from 7 to 9 August at Thoresby Park in Nottinghamshire, one of the UK’s best family festivals for children aged 0 to 13. With live music, immersive performances, character meet-and-greets and family camping in a countryside setting, Gloworm Festival at Thoresby Park is easily accessible from Nottingham, Sheffield, Lincoln, Leicester and Derby. Tickets are still available. Here’s everything parents need to know before heading along.
What is Gloworm Festival?
Gloworm Festival combines live music, workshops, outdoor adventures, fairground fun and hands-on activities designed specifically around younger children and shared family experiences. It’s particularly suited to babies, toddlers and young children, with gentle activities, sensory experiences and storytelling throughout, though older siblings and adults are well catered for too.
What’s the weather doing this weekend?
The forecast for Thoresby Park over festival weekend is looking largely dry and mild. Friday 7 August should see highs of around 22°C with just a 10% chance of rain, rising to a warmer 25°C on Saturday 8 August with a 15% chance of showers. Sunday 9 August is set to be slightly cooler at 24°C, with a higher 35% chance of rain, so it’s worth packing a waterproof just in case. Overnight lows across the weekend range from 11°C to 14°C, so evenings in the campsite will feel noticeably cooler.
As with any UK festival forecast, conditions can shift closer to the time, so it’s worth checking again nearer the weekend before you pack.
Where is Thoresby Park and how do you get there?
Gloworm Festival is held at Thoresby Park, near Ollerton, Newark, Nottinghamshire, roughly 22 miles north of Nottingham city centre. It’s well placed for families across the East Midlands and South Yorkshire, with approximate drive times of 40 minutes from Nottingham, 50 minutes from Sheffield, 50 minutes from Lincoln, 45 minutes from Doncaster, 1 hour from Derby and around 1 hour 20 minutes from Leicester.
Campers, glampers and Park & Pitch guests should use postcode NG22 9EB in their SatNav, which leads to White Lodge, the campers’ entrance to the Thoresby Estate (What3Words: ///wrenching.column.testers). Once on the estate, simply follow the festival and parking signage to the campsite.
It’s worth double-checking your route before setting off, as some SatNav systems can direct vehicles towards private roads around the estate. Anyone travelling from the north will need to continue past the entrance to Ollerton Island, then head back to turn left into the estate. All visitors exit via Perlethorpe village. Day parking is just a five-minute walk on hard-standing paths to the main site, and this year’s camping areas are also closer to the action, with the furthest pitches only a five-minute walk away.
Tickets and what’s included
A standard ticket covers access to all shows, meet-and-greets, workshops and the fairground, which is free until 5pm daily (chargeable after that). Most activities are drop-in with no advance booking needed. Children under 2 go free but still need a ticket for entry.
Tickets are sold through third-party partner Gigantic rather than directly by Gloworm, so any booking queries should go to customerservices@gigantic.com. Tickets and wristbands are strictly non-refundable, so it’s worth checking dates carefully before booking.
Zones and entertainment
The festival is split into themed zones including the Main Stage, Big Top, Meet and Greet, Adventure Zone, Playmobil Village, The Hive, Circus, Into the Woods, Creative Play Zone, Great Outdoors, Mythic Adventures and a SpongeBob-themed Beach area, alongside Paw Patrol and CBeebies appearances. Full schedules are released closer to the festival via the What’s On section of the website.
Camping and parking
Campers can arrive from 12pm on Friday 7 August and must leave by 12pm on Monday 10 August. Standard camping pitches are up to 7m by 5m and include access to toilets and showers, though vehicles aren’t allowed to park next to tents for safety reasons. Families wanting their car beside their pitch will need a Park & Pitch pass, and those wanting extra comfort can book a bell tent, which sleeps 3 to 4 people and comes with a memory foam mattress, rug, table and fairy lights.
No fires, BBQs, gazebos or generators are permitted anywhere on site, and dogs aren’t allowed except registered assistance dogs. One parking space is included per camping booking, and campers hoping to pitch together will need to arrive at the same time, as spaces can’t be reserved in advance.
Food, drink and cash
Visitors can bring their own food and sealed drinks, with unsealed drinks needing to be decanted into festival-safe containers. A range of food vendors will also be on-site. It’s worth bringing some cash as a backup in case card machines lose signal. Alcohol can’t be brought onto site but is available to buy from licensed bars, and a Challenge 25 policy is in place.
Accessibility
The site has several hard-standing paths, though some areas may be harder for wheelchairs and buggies in wet weather. Many activities are accessible and all shows are suitable for disabled children. Carers qualify for free entry, with full details on the festival’s accessibility page. Baby changing facilities and dedicated feeding areas are available across the site.
Safety and support
Trained security teams operate on-site 24/7 with bag searches at entry points, and a fully staffed medical tent is available throughout the festival. If a child goes missing, parents should head straight to the nearest steward or information point, as the festival has a lost child procedure in place. Re-entry is allowed with a valid wristband if you need to leave and come back.
What to pack
Given the mixed forecast, the festival’s usual packing advice is well worth following this year:
- Sturdy shoes and wellies, just in case
- Sun cream, hats and waterproofs
- Reusable water bottles
- Cash and cards
- Camping gear, if staying on-site
Sustainability
Gloworm asks festival-goers to help reduce waste by using the recycling points on-site, bringing reusable bottles and cups, avoiding single-use plastics and taking all belongings and rubbish home at the end of the weekend.
