DadFest is also home to the Regional Dad Dancing Championships
The unique DadsFest gets fathers and father-figures exploring nature and more with their children(Image: East Riding of Yorkshire Council)
After a successful event last year, DadFest is returning to East Yorkhire. South Cliff Holiday Park, at Bridlington, will play host to the event in May.
Organised in partnership with East Riding Council and Rewilding Youth, DadFest is a unique “Festival of Fatherhood”, offering a weekend full of activities for dads and children. The festival, which was created by The Dads’ Network CIC, is for dads, father figures, male carers and their children of all ages, winning Best Small Event in the UK awarded by the National Outdoor Events Association in 2025.
The event focuses on children and their fathers, or father figures, spending quality time in nature, building bonds and making new friends. A range of activities, run by qualified leaders, will include archery, camping, storytelling, bat walks, kids’ disco, den-building, trampolines, stargazing, water rockets, high ropes, lots of beach games, and Forest School activities.
This year the event will take place from Friday to Sunday, May 15 to 17, and all activities over the whole weekend, and camping, are all included in the ticket price. DadFest is also home to the Regional Dad Dancing Championships, with one dad going home as the Yorkshire Champion.
Councillor Nick Coultish, cabinet member for culture, leisure and tourism at East Riding Council, said: “It’s a pleasure to welcome DadFest back to South Cliff Holiday Park in 2026. This unique festival gives dads and children the chance to connect with nature while enjoying fun activities that help develop new skills and strengthen family bonds.
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“I had the privilege of taking part in the last DadFest and was hugely impressed by how well organised it was and by the wide variety of activities on offer. My daughter and I had a fantastic time, and I’m delighted to see the event return.”
Ian Blackwell, DadFest organiser and founder of The Dads’ Network, is excited about this year’s event. He said: “DadFest started in Devon in 2014 and we ran our first DadFest in Bridlington in 2025.
“We are really pleased to be bringing our small, award-winning festival to East Yorkshire in partnership with East Riding Council and Rewilding Youth. The festival will also be bringing the renowned ‘Yorkshire Dad Dancing Championship’ – a hotly contested dance off by grooving dads, much to the sheer embarrassment of their kids.
“The winning dad in Yorkshire will take home the bragging rights as the Yorkshire Champ and will get free tickets to The World Dad Dancing Championships in Devon in September, along with a fetching trophy for the mantelpiece.”
A small number of discounted tickets will be available to low-income families. If interested, please email info@thedadsnetwork.org to enquire.
For more information and to book online for DadFest, visit eryc.link/dadfest