Postponement of Deer Shed, new dates for Deer Shed 12 and exciting new Base Camp Plus.
Hi Deer Shedders.
The bad news.
We have made the decision to postpone Deer Shed until 2022.
Many things remain uncertain for festivals this summer, but the lack of COVID cancellation insurance is the one hurdle we have been unable to clear. Earlier in the year, we were hopeful a government backed COVID insurance scheme would be in place, but we now have no reason to believe it will be despite frantic industry lobbying.
Deer Shed is still a 100% independent family owned and run festival, and the risks of running without insurance leave Kate and myself financially exposed well beyond our comfort zone.
We will of course offer ticket refunds for Deer Shed 11 or rollovers to Deer Shed 12. We really appreciate those of you who will again be able to support us by rolling over your tickets to 2022. Full details on the postponement can be found here.
The good news.
Within our comfort zone we are going to run a smaller event, Base Camp Plus. Along the same lines as last year's hugely successful Base Camp, but with extra bits, on the July 30th - August 1st weekend 2021.
A safe camping weekend in Baldersby Park, with plenty of space, loads of camping options including your own loo, park next to your pitch, book next to your mates, bring the dog...
Plus live music & comedy performances (at last!), food, drink, partying, campfires, workshops, theatre, well-being, swingballs and anything else we dream up.
Full details on our Base Camp Plus page.
Oliver & Kate xx
Agents Of The Eye
Combining the artistry of immersive theatre with the thrill of video games and techniques used by escape rooms, #AgentsOfTheEye is an alternate reality game that sends you on a mission traversing the Internet to solve the case of a missing journalist.
Blurring the edges of what is real, and what is fake. Buckle up. Come play.
Agents Of The Eye is an exciting new alternative reality game from Riptide and Deer Shed.
Watch our 2019 aftermovie - it takes more than a drop of rain to spoil the fun!
A family-friendly festival is for everyone - our ethos.
From camping to glamping, check out our under-canvas options for the weekend.
Bring your live-in vehicle to Deer Shed, see how it fits into our camping choices.
Reviews
Some nice reviews of 2019, proving that whatever the weather, Deer Shed is still the ultimate family festival...
"If ever there was a festival that comprehensively appealed to all generations, it is Deer Shed. It’s a wonderland of creativity and an inspired vision."
Bido Lito read full review.
"Deer Shed is the best family festival in the UK, Deer Shed is a place to make memories that you will cherish forever."
Festivals For All read full review.
"Since its inception as a one-day festival back in 2010, Deer Shed has slowly evolved into what is now commonly regarded as being the UK’s premier family festival."
God Is In The TV read full review.
"Mum, when we go to the next Deer Shed, can we, like, stay for a week or something?"
Efestivals read full review.
"Allowing children into a festival is not the same thing as putting families at the heart of it, and that’s what Deer Shed does brilliantly."
Little Vikings read full review.
"The weather gods fail to spoil family friendly festival’s 10th anniversary celebration."
Leeds Live read full review.
"The rain poured for most of the day, but unlike a lot of other festivals, Deer Shed have it covered very well!"
On-Magazine read full review.
And most importantly what you guys thought.
The best contemporary artists from the UK and beyond, across four live music stages.
Click here to discover our 2021 line-up.
Our Comedy line-up for 2021 is enormous!!
Check it out here.
We drag our kids round the best shows from Edinburgh Festival, so you don't have to!
Click here for our 2021 shows.
Emphasis on fun! We’ll sneak some scientific principles into your head without you even realising.
Click here for our 2021 science programme!
Our huge sports field ensures even the giddiest kids fall asleep during your journey home.
Click here for our 2019 sporty stuff.
Something for everyone with our Spoken Word & Podcast line-up.
Click here for our 2021 programme!
Our own book club, but without the cheesy nibbles and spilt red wine.
Check out 2021 here.
A festival site offers unlimited opportunity to create stages in the most unexpected of places.
Check out 2019 theatre here. 2021 coming soon.
Far too many arty, crafty, messy, energetic, sensory or relaxing workshops to take part in!
Check out 2019 workshops here. 2021 coming soon.
Taking tots to a festival can be daunting – we’ve been there – so we treat under 5s like royalty.
Click here for 2021 Under 5s.
Worried about your kids not getting out much?
Click here for our 2019 Wilderwild programme. 2021 coming soon.
During your stay with us, your wellbeing is our wellbeing.
Click here to see the 2019 road to recovery! 2021 coming soon.
Quite often it is the usual pieces of site art that you remember about a festival.
Check out 2019 arts line-up here. 2021 coming soon.
From arthouse flicks to singalong screenings, your chance to downshift and relax.
Click here for our 2019 Cinema programme. 2021 coming soon.
Who might you bump into whilst having a wander in Baldersby Park?
2019 walkabout line-up. 2021 coming soon.
Some people come to festivals just for the food, this we understand and invite the best of the best.
News
Read all about it! Our very own newsreel, keeping you up to date with all things Deer Shed.
Join our email list and get news to your inbox!
Out of the ashes of the 2021 summer festival season comes our exciting new event.
Read more... 14.05.2021
With sadness, and due to lack of COVID insurance, we have had to postpone the festival once again.
Read more... 21.04.2021
Full steam ahead for 2021!
Read more... 25.02.2021
In light of the recent Glastonbury festival postponement, an update on the current COVID situation and how it might affect Deer Shed 2021.
Read more... 25.01.2021
Come for free? Join our Love Deer Shed Ambassador Scheme!!
If you already rave about Deer Shed to your friends and family why not be rewarded for your enthusiasm and join our ambassador scheme!
In a nutshell, for every 8 adult tickets you sell on our behalf we will give you a FREE adult ticket plus there are all sorts of other rewards to earn!
And if you have your ticket already or if you are keen to volunteer you can still benefit by gifting your FREE ticket to a friend.
Check out our Ambassador page for all the detail!!
Our take on the family friendly music festival thing.
We might rant on a bit here, sorry.
If you go and watch a Pixar movie with your children, everyone has a great time. Not just your kids, EVERYBODY!!! We strive for this
holy-grail every year.
We don't have kid's areas as such, they're not zoo animals! The whole site is accessible to everyone and we will welcome you as though you were our house
guests, which you essentially are.
But we are a cultural event too and you will be exposed to many new things. We like new things. You might be challenged by some
of them, but we want every family member to leave Baldersby Park inspired, if that's ok.
And finally, our music line-up, hitting you through extremely high fidelity PA systems will be as thrilling and contemporary as you will
find at any UK festival in 2020 - it's just that you can share that thrill with your kids and feel perfectly safe at the same time.
Oh, and if you don't have kids to bring, that's fine too xx
Our friends
Folks that we are proud to be associated with.
Candlelighters is a charity bringing light and hope to the families of children suffering from cancer. They are our festival charity with over £2500 of donations in 2016.
Founded by waste management professionals to share practical and low-cost sustainability solutions with communities in low-income countries, WasteAid is a charity that spreads recycling around the world, creating jobs and stopping plastic reaching the oceans.
Attitude is Everything improves Deaf and disabled people's access to live music by working in partnership with audiences, artists and the music industry. We work closely with them to improve our accessibility.
Our charity for 2017, SASH prevents young people from becoming homeless by offering them a room in the home of a volunteer. Their ambition is that those we help never have to experience homelessness again and are able to lead successful, independent lives.
Like us, IVE believe creativity is king. They aim to inspire a more creative society by supporting the development of kids, educators and businesses. The good eggs at IVE also offer the opportunity for young Deer Shedders to achieve the Arts Award through the festival’s 120+ workshops.