Campers bask in the sunshine at Camp Bestival at Lulworth Castle (From Bournemouth Echo)

Campers bask in the sunshine at Camp Bestival at Lulworth Castle

10:00am Saturday 28th July 2012 in News By Steven Smith

HAPPY campers got into the festival spirit as Dorset’s big music event got under way in the sunshine yesterday.

Although the earlybirds arrived at Lulworth Castle on Thursday, this year's Camp Bestival got going yesterday as the entertainment began in earnest.

As ever, there was plenty going on for families, including circus skills, fairground rides and face painting.

Musical highlights yesterday included upcoming girl group Stooshe, Britpop heroes Dodgy and 80s icon Adam Ant, with the crowd last night gearing up for the first headliners, Hot Chip.

Viv Hambrook, visiting for the first time with children Martha, nine and Rufin, six, said: “It’s great to have the weather and we’ve done the circus skills and will be doing the helter skelter.”

Mum Lucy Gerbino added: “It’s good fun, it’s the second time for us, we came last year and had such a good time. It’s brilliant for the kids, it’s creative and stimulating.”

Jules Taylor was visiting with her children.

She said: “I think it’s not just a family friendly festival, it’s a family only festival, which I see as a bonus. They’ve thought of everything.”

There were a host of other gems around the site, not least Camp Bestival friend Keith Allen poking fun at the Olympics in opera form.

Today sees the fancy dress parade and a wide range of music comes from the likes of Jimmy Cliff and Rizzle Kicks before Saturday Night Fever hits the main stage, with Kool and the Gang headlining.

The festival is due to climax tomorrow night with kings of Madchester the Happy Mondays and controversial comedian Jimmy Carr.