The first of this year’s festivals are only months away now – time to put away those sledges, dig out the wellys and shorts, and put the cider on ice – yes it’s nearly festival season.

A big part of many festivals has got to be the camping experience – crammed into a patch of what is normally a cow field along with 50,000 other campers (it is fun honest!).

While festival camping is often great fun it can also be hard work! You never know quite what the great British weather is going to throw at you – rain, wind, sun? In my years of festival experience it’s normally a mixture of all three!

A gazebo can be a great addition to any campsite set up and can help bring a little bit of civilisation to the campsite!

Things to consider

Before you go ahead and go and buy a gazebo for a festival it might be worth considering a few points;

• Firstly size – Some festival campsites can be very tight on space – bringing a 6 meter party gazebo is going to make it very hard for you to find a pitch and is not going to make you popular with the other campers. Look for gazebos that are big enough for your party, but do not take up excessive amounts of space. In the past I’ve always found that traditional gazebos with long legs are great as they can be positioned over tents which allows them to be erected in smaller spaces.
• Waterproofing – Most gazebos are designed for protecting from the sun and not the rain. As a result most gazebos are not fully waterproof. In my experience most gazebos will offer a certain level of protection, but will eventually start to leak in a sustained downpour. If you want extra protection against the rain, look out for gazebos designed to be waterproof.
• Weight and size – Gazebos are generally designed to be put up in the garden, and so their weight and the size of the package they come in is generally not an issue. At some the larger festivals such as Glastonbury for example you may well have to walk a few miles across the site to the camp grounds. In this sort of situation can be a real pain! The solution is to go for a travel gazebo, buy a trolley, or take a rugby player!

Without further ado, we are proud to present our top 5 festival gazebos;

5. Best for The Budget Conscious –
2.4 m square gazebo from Argos/Homebase – £14.99

Spent all of your money on your festival ticket and pear cider but still need a gazebo? They don’t come any cheaper than this bargain from Argos/Homebase. The gazebo measures 2.4 x 2.4 so would be suitable for 2-4 people. Click here for more information or to buy.

4. Easiest to put up – 3m x 3m pop up gazebo from Amazon for £49.99

Those that can’t be doing with the effort of erecting gazebo and want to get straight into the music/cider will love this pop up gazebo. Simple pull the legs away from each other and the gazebo will pop up as if by magic, roof already in place.
Click here for more information or to buy.

3. Easiest to carry – Vango travel gaebo from Amazon for £48

Normal Gazebos can be heavy! If you fancy something you can easily sling across your back on the long walk to the campsite then this travel gazebo from Vango will be perfect. Made from similar techniques and materials as modern tents, the gazebo packs away into a small pack and is lightweight as well. Click here for more information.

2. Best for Luxury – Hexagonal Gazebo – £68.49 from Argos

You will make friends whether you want to or not with one of these Hexagonal Gazebos with side panels included. These beasts have enough space for around 8 people inside and so are great for larger groups. Click here for more information.

1. Best for English Weather! – Waterproof gazebo – £149.99 from Amazon

Lets face it -  the English weather is always unpredictable. Make sure you stay dry with this fully waterproof gazebo with side panels. Available from Amazon – click here for more information.

Conclusion

We hope that this guide has helped in choosing your perfect gazebo for your festival. If you haven’t quite found what you are looking for, check out our full range of standard, popup and travel gazebos.