7 reasons you need to go to Deva Fest this year

Family-friendly Deva Fest is returning to Cheshire this summer with a fantastic weekend filled with amazing music, comedy, food, and entertainment.

Last year’s Deva Fest saw more than 15,000 festivalgoers heading to the beautiful surroundings of Cholmondeley Castle.

After that success, organisers are preparing to bring it back from August 8-11, with an extra night added on Thursday and what they’re confident is the best line-up yet.

Now in its fourth year, Deva Fest will be hosted for the second time in the grounds of Cholmondeley Castle and thousands of tickets have already been snapped up on pre-sale.

If you’ve not booked yours yet, here are 6 reasons to go to Deva Fest 2024 …

It’s a festival to take the whole family to

Deva Fest is super-family friendly so all ages are welcome – and dogs on leads too!

As well as all the artists on various stages, the free-to-ride fairground is coming back this year and there’ll be lots of family entertainment in the Kids Kingdom. A crew of entertainers will be there to make sure the fun never stops, with inflatables, dodgeball, NERF battles, family Olympics, storytelling, impromptu raves and a daily water slide.

Children who are under 5 on the dates of the festival are admitted free of charge.

A Family 2 Weekend Camping Ticket is the best discount ticket option for two adults and two children (either 13-17 and/or 5-12) and there’s also a new Family 1 ticket for two adults and one child/teen to stay on site. You just need to book a pitch or glamping reservation to go with them.

The music line-up is great

This year’s music is going to be a brilliant eclectic mix, with some big names already announced. Friday features The Coral headlining, with Symphonic Ibiza, a DJ set from Utah Saints and Ultrabeat. On Saturday it’s 80s electronic icons The Human League alongside Rebecca Ferguson, East 17, The Amy Winehouse Band and K Klass. Sunday will have Ocean Colour Scene and Sleeper headlining, plus Toyah Willcox and her husband Robert Fripp.

Early festival arrivers on the Thursday night will get the bonus of seeing singer songwriter Tom Speight and The Dunwells on the Heart & Soul stage.

There’ll be lots of laughs in the Deva Laughs Comedy Club

It’s not all about music at Deva Fest, comedy gets the spotlight too. The Deva Laughs Comedy Club is open from 6-9pm every night of the festival and it’s over 16s only from 7-9pm.

Danny McLoughlin will be MCing a line-up of top comedy talent from the North West and beyond, each act will do a 15-20 minute set and entrance is included in the ticket price.

Enjoy delicious street food and drinks

You can take along your own food and soft drinks, but you’re going to be spoilt for choice if you don’t because Deva Fest organisers have put together a selection of street food vendors including award winning Chester restaurant Artezzan, plus bars provided by the company who run Liquor and Co, Craft and Company and Lockwood & Co in Chester.

Gin Journey are also returning to host one-hour tasting masterclasses.

It’s really easy to get to

Deva Fest runs shuttle buses from and back to nearby towns and cities such as Chester, Ellesmere Port, Wrexham and Tarporley, and dogs are welcome to ride.

If you prefer to drive, Cholmondeley Castle is on the A49, about 30 miles from Liverpool, and car parking for the day is only £1.

Stay in style and go glamping

There are a few different ways to stay for the entire Deva Fest weekend, depending on what you fancy. If you prefer a hotel, the festival has teamed up with Hotel Indigo in Chester and Carden Park Hotel to create packages.

You can bring your own tent or camper van to stay at the Deer Park or Polo Field campsite or do it like a VIP and book a glamping bell tent in Camp Deva.

Each tent can take a maximum of seven people and comes with raised solid beds and memory foam mattresses, fairy lights and LED tea light chandeliers and coir carpeting!