UK’s newest festival promises affordable outdoor fun for active families, plus goats

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.

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.”