TV adventurer Bear Grylls has announced that the UK’s ultimate family adventure festival, Gone Wild, will be coming to Holkham Park in Norfolk over 8-11 August 2024.
Recognised as the UK’s fasted growing family festival, Gone Wild will feature headline acts including Example, Eurovision legend Sam Ryder, Reef, Scouting for Girls, and McFly over the four-day-event.
Co-founded by Bear Grylls, and former Royal Marines Officer Oli Mason, the festival will provide action-packed adventure, rewilding and live music over four days, delivering incredible experiences with over 100 activities included in the ticket price. These range from archery, abseiling, survival skills, axe and spear throwing, to tree climbing, break dance workshops, foraging walks, shelter construction, raft building, rock climbing, wild swimming and SUP experiences.
Providing an unforgettable and affordable escape, where families can spend time together in the great outdoors, the festival is expected to sell out quickly, with only 5,000 tickets available. With a focus on camping, getting back to nature, participating in wild adventures and challenges, including conquering the legendary Gone Wild commando course, the festival promises to be action-packed activities from day one.
Commenting on the launch of Gone Wild Norfolk, Bear Grylls, said: “It’s always been our ambition to open a second UK site and I’m so excited to announce that Holkham Park will become our East of England home. Just like Powderham Castle in Devon, it’s set in thousands of acres of parkland close to the coast, with deer, mighty oaks, a walled garden, and stunning views. It’s a perfect formula that allows us to provide amazing experiences on land and on water.”
Bear added: “Our goal is to get families spending time together in the outdoors. There’s a reason Gone Wild is the UK’s fastest growing family festival. Where else can you learn how to light fires, go climbing, throw your mum down a 50-foot mud slide, then party together while watching great bands?”
In 2023, over 10,000 people attended the sell-out Devon festival,and organisers are expecting Gone Wild Norfolk to sell out fast.
The festival’s other co-founder, former Holkham employee, Oli Mason, added: “When we started Gone Wild, we never expected it to grow so quickly. It’s such a unique concept that families love! I went to school in Fakenham and worked on the Holkham estate before I joined the Royal Marines, so bringing it to Norfolk is very special for me.
“We’ve learnt so much over the past 3 years at our Devon event, and Gone Wild Norfolk will be our best yet.”
Kayla Dunne, Brand Director at Visit North Norfolk, commented on Gone Wild coming to Holkham Park, saying: “Gone Wild is one of the UK’s gold standard festivals for families. Securing it for North Norfolk is fantastic news both for the local economy and for local businesses”.
“Thanks to the festival’s locally sourced policy, many of the experiences, and the majority of the amazing street food on offer, will be provided by local vendors and businesses. Combined with the fact that the festival will include experiences taking place along our coastline, we can be certain that those visiting for the festival will fall in love with our wonderful part of North Norfolk, paving the way for future trips.”
Leigh Hitchcock, General Manager, Holkham Enterprises, welcomed the festival, saying: “We are delighted to host the Gone Wild Festival at Holkham Park in 2024 and are thrilled that Bear Grylls and his team have selected Holkham to be their second venue for their brilliant and innovative family festival. We feel this event is a great fit for Holkham and indeed for North Norfolk and we hope that families will look forward to joining in with the range of adventures on offer and create lasting memories together.”
To appeal to a broad range of festival goers Gone Wild Norfolk will be offering pre-pitched Bell Tents, Tipis, and Luxury Yurts, as well as pre-pitched tents so that visitors can travel light and enjoy the camping experience without the worry of space in the car. A range of pitches will also be available for motorhomes, and caravans, plus park and pitch options for campers.
Families looking to save money can bookan ‘under-18s go free’ early-bird ticketup until the end of November. Allowing one adult to bring one under 18 free, a four-day pass, including basic camping, can be bookedfrom £199, saving up to £75on the standard booking price. Under the offer, a family of four could save up to £150. Gone Wild also offers monthly payment options to help split the cost of the festival, making it even more affordable for families.
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