If you haven’t made it to Glastonbury, Download or Camp Bestival this year, you can still enjoy that summer festival feeling in the comfort of your own garden - your very own GardenFest!

Follow our tips for a perfect afternoon al fresco with friends or family - minus the mud and long queues for food.

What’s a summer festival without music?

Ask your guests for song requests to create a playlist and keep everyone happy. If you plan to party all night, put together a relaxed, mellow playlist for the evening and don't forget to invite the neighbours.

You can stream music from your smartphone or tablet to our wireless outdoor speaker, which is also perfect if the kids want to create their own summer festival hideaway in a separate part of your garden.

You could even enlist the talent of some local musicians (particularly a young group looking for exposure and/or practice) or if your guests are musical why not ask them to bring along their own instruments for that live, acoustic feel - it may become an annual event!

Just look what happened to that Eavis chap - Imagine The Stones playing in your own back yard!

Get the Festival Look

Whether you give your summer festival a theme (70s hippie, Spanish fiesta…), or simply go with the flow, ensure you and your outdoor space look the part!

For you

You may not need your wellies, but oversized summer hats & sunglasses, flowers in your hair, beaded jewellery and floral prints will create that boho chic effect. Don’t forget to give everyone a homemade wristband or stamp for their hand on arrival!

For your garden

Get the family involved by making some paper bunting or try these children's lanterns made from plastic bottles or try these copper tea light lanterns for a more grown up look.

For an even more sophisticated effect as the sun sets (and very eco friendly), try our Solar powered Edison lightbulbs or rechargeable Fermob Balad lamps which provide 8 hours of light.

You could also try winding string lights around tree trunks for a magical, starlight effect.

Make yourself comfortable

Without the crushing crowds, you can afford to lay back and relax at your own summer festival. Find a cosy spot to sit, under the shade of a tree and spread out on the grass with picnic blankets and plenty of cushions.

You could even drape soft, fluffy blankets over hay bales if you get hold of some, for a true country festival feel! If holding your festival later in the summer you might try some sheepskins or Danish Throws for extra warmth.

Alternatively, our Fatboy Lamzac Original is the ultimate in summer festival comfort; it is available in 6 colours and inflates without the need of a pump - watch the video on the product page.

For the kids and a also to build the festival vibe, how about putting some wigwams in the garden and perhaps borrow a fishing rod and some flags or perhaps a kite if the wind is strong enough. For those with a festival sized budget you could even consider a pavillion.

Prepare to be entertained

These days, any festival worth its salt offers more than just the music. For kids, consider face painting and giant garden games, whilst the adults might enjoy a pop-up photo booth (complete with funny props & costumes and a polaroid camera) and a homemade skittle run (fill plastic bottles with sand or water to use as skittles).

Eat, Drink and Be Merry!

A firepit would make a sociable centrepiece for your summer festival - perfect for cooking on and keeping you warm as the night draws in. Our Kadai firebowl can be set high or low and comes with 2 grills & tongs. Chargrill peppers & barbecue kebabs on the grill or toast marshmallows with this fork over the open fire.

A summer festival would not be complete without Wild Cocktails or mocktails for kids and adults. Try this delicious-sounding Coconut Lavendar Lemonade To avoid spoiling the effect by having to go back and forth to your house, store beer, wine and other drinks in a wheelbarrow or bucket full of ice.

Let us know how your summer festival goes;

we’d love to see some photos - share them with us on Facebook or Twitter using the hashtag '#GardenFest' alternatively share your recipes in the comments below...