Today we visited Tatton Park to attend the Geronimo Festival. The sun was shining and it was the perfect day for a family festival!
There was so much to see and do and we were impressed with how well the event was managed from the car park attendants to the litter pickers. The festival was very well attended and quite busy in parts. All the activity zones had plenty of things to entertain the children. Some things had huge queues - like the helter-skelter, the My Little Pony bus, the zip wire and the carousel - but we were able to walk straight into other attractions. The main stage and the central arena had a programme of shows running all day. So wherever you were, there was always something to do.
Highlights of Freddy's day included learning circus skills including the trapeze. His gymnastics classes are certainly paying off, as he was able to do some quite technical moves. The donkey riding was something he was keen to do and he got to ride on Geronimo, the biggest donkey, which made him very happy. The Bear Gryll's Assault Course was brilliant. Freddy was able to take on all the obstacles and complete the course that ran through the woods. The craft tents were amazing! Freddy made a wooden spoon puppet, a decorated rubber duck and a beautiful flower crown made from real flowers. He also had his face painted and his hair sprayed with green stars. Freddy learned how to play some tunes on the harp and also learned some of the basics of fencing, both of which he thoroughly enjoyed.
We managed to catch some of the shows and displays. We saw Andy Day rap about dinosaurs and Justin Fletcher dancing and singing. There was an impressive display of stunt cycles doing some great tricks, a motorbike display team, circus performers and a wonderful display of falconry from horseback that we enjoyed watching. There was also lots of entertainers wandering or riding around the festival adding to the fun. The life size giraffe puppet was fabulous!
On the way back to our car, Freddy said he had had a wonderful day and that he had loved everything. I think that says it all. He learned so many new skills and enjoyed a range of activities both physical and artistic. This is everything I want from a family festival - Geronimo really delivered this year.
Tomorrow is the second day of the festival, I hope everyone who goes enjoys it as much as we did. Tickets for Bank Holiday Monday are still available. Find out more at:
http://www.geronimofest.com/tatton-park-tickets