The Wild Goat Festival

The first details have been revealed of the UK’s newest festival, which will make its debut in 2023. Based in England’s South Lakeland, the Wild Goat Festival will bring families together in the outdoors for a weekend of running, cycling, walking, entertainment and the chance to meet some of sport’s greatest of all time (GOATs). The event will be hosted on the Holker Estate, in thousands of acres of South Lakes countryside, with historic Holker Hall and Gardens as the main hub. The Wild Goat Festival will take place next summer, from 11-13 August, with ticket prices and packages designed to provide an affordable summer weekend break for active families.

The Wild Goat Festival is the brainchild of athletics legend Steve Cram and promises three days of fun for active families, with a packed programme for adults and children alike, in the setting of the historic Holker Estate, home to the Cavendish family. The event will combine social runs and gravel cycle rides with a series of trail races and guided walks, all providing opportunities for participants to explore the estate and the South Lakes landscape. The main event hub will be right next to Holker Hall and Gardens, with camping, speakers and entertainment on the main stage, games, food and drink, and play areas for kids.

Organisers hope that first time visitors to the area for The Wild Goat Festival will be inspired to return and will be working with Fix the Fells to promote responsibility and sustainability in the outdoors. These themes will feature on the main stage programme throughout the weekend, along with expert speakers on topics that explore the physical and mental health benefits of sport and outdoor activities. Meanwhile, the festival is raising money for official charity partner Duddon & Furness Mountain Rescue Team. Everyone who buys a ticket can donate when making a purchase, and the team will be at Holker Hall and Gardens to meet festival goers next August.

The festival will include a wide range of activities designed for children, including Horrible Histories themed social runs, led by the series’ creator, Terry Deary. The main site will also host Paula’s Families on Track, a family event created by former marathon world record holder Paula Radcliffe. Families on Track gives family groups the opportunity to complete a 10K distance in a continuous relay, in a safe setting and format that allows everyone to contribute and most importantly, have fun while exercising together. Paula will be on hand next August to oversee the event, and participate with her own family.

Steve Cram comments: “The Wild Goat Festival is a concept that has so much potential and I’m really looking forward to welcoming families next summer. We’re really excited to be working with Lucy Cavendish and her team on the Holker Estate - it’s a beautiful location and a perfect base for all of the activities that we’ll be offering. Our aim is to provide something that everyone in an active family can enjoy, all in one place, and we want it to be affordable too. So, a full weekend family ticket covers everything – food, camping, entertainment and participation in any event during the festival.

“And yes, I can confirm that there will be goats!”

Allen Gibb, Chief Executive of Holker Hall and Gardens, added: “We’re thrilled to be hosting this brand-new festival with Steve Cram and his team. Holker Hall and Gardens is the perfect setting for this kind of event and we’re sure that families will enjoy exploring everything the estate has to offer. The programme Steve and his team have put together is fantastic and we’re really looking forward to seeing families having fun and getting active together in South Lakeland.”

Bookings are now open for the first Wild Goat Festival. Find full details at www.wildgoatfestival.com.