TWICE a year, Camp Wildfire transforms Kent’s Heritage Pine Forest into a wild weekend of costumes, cocktails and camping.

The pulls in crowds of campers from across UK, with many returning year after year for a dose of adventure and escapism.

Five smiling women in American summer camp outfits pose with raised arms.The Fox patrol are known for their cunning and mischievous personalitiesCredit: Jenna Stevens A smiling woman wearing a scout uniform and glasses, holding open a "Camp Wildfire Camper's Guide" that displays event schedules and "10th Anniversary" text.I treated myself to a camp shirt, collecting patches for each activity I had taken part inCredit: Jenna Stevens

Traditional are built to give kids the summer of a lifetime.

They’re packed full of team games, activities and singing songs by the campfire.

Camp Wildfire does much of the same here in the UK – but it’s designed purely for .

The three-night kicks off with an epic opening ceremony and ends with a grand finale, with plenty adventure packed in-between – like a wild mix of Glastonbury Festival and a Famous Five adventure.

When I first arrived at the , I was surprised by just how enthusiastic campers were.

Adults young and old were dressed head-to-toe in animal , chanting and cheering for their patrol.

Patrols are teams, similar to school houses. Campers compete to win “patrol points” by completing activities.

-goers can choose between foxes, hawks, badgers and squirrels – each with its own distinct identity.

After choosing to join the cunning foxes, I gathered with my patrol to watch the opening ceremony.

An blazed above the treetops, kicking off a weekend of wild celebrations for Camp Wildfire’s 10th anniversary.

A scoreboard at Camp Wildfire showing scores for Badgers, Foxes, Hawks, and Squirrels.The badgers took an early lead at Weekend 2 of 2025Credit: Jenna Stevens A woman in a blue helmet and black leather jacket smiles and gives a peace sign while sitting on a red ATV.Sunday began with quad biking at 9AMCredit: Jenna Stevens

We then marched our way into the arena – and that’s when a weekend of chaotic celebrations truly began.

The opening ceremony unveiled a giant scoreboard which kept track of patrol points over the weekend, as well as introduced the patrol games.

Patrol games are a set of wacky challenges taking place each evening, ranging from animal impersonations to competitive .

Activities on offer

Outside of the patrol games, festival-goers can enjoy a whole host of .

Campers design their own itinerary by building a schedule of drop-in activities as well as others that cost credits.

There’s truly something for everyone – adrenaline junkies can choose to race , ride quad bikes or try the flying trapeze.

Whilst more creative types can try their hand at Kintsugi pottery or metal making.

I chose to balance my weekend with a mix of action-packed thrills and chilled-out .

I started my Saturday with a 90-minute – a blissful mix of gong vibrations and real birdsong to ease into the day.

The relaxed vibes continued as I headed to the on-site spa for a relaxing wood-fired hot tub and session.

There’s no chance of getting bored here, as I packed my afternoon with an arts and crafts session and even a class.

But the real highlight of my Saturday was a game of .

The activity was a murder-mystery style game, just like the hit .

It was both hilarious and a brilliant way to break the ice and meet new people.

Sunday on the other hand started with through the countryside fields.

It was an exhilarating start to the day which came with some pretty .

Still buzzing with energy, I tried my hand at axe-throwing, aerial hoop and mixology.

Four adults axe throwing at Camp Wildfire in the UK.Axe-throwing in the woods felt like a real escape from everyday lifeCredit: Jenna Stevens A woman demonstrates a craft at a table with art supplies to a group of people at Camp Wildfire.Metal jewellery making taught campers how to make their own charm, necklace or earringsCredit: Jenna Stevens A person hangs upside down from an aerial hoop during Camp Wildfire.From acro-yoga to aerial hoop, there is always a new skill to try out at Camp Wildfire!Credit: Jenna Stevens

As a beginner, looked intimidating.

But with a group of enthusiastic newbies and a brilliant instructor, I ended up having a blast.

I found myself a , and even bagged a patrol point for the foxes!

Once I’d handed in my patrol point token, I headed to the cocktail class to kick off the night.

After creating and enjoying a B-52 shot, a Pornstar Martini and – I can confirm that the cocktail-making class was well worth the 40 credits spent.

Standard tickets come with 120 credits, though you can drop to 60 for a cheaper option. Or you can go all out with unlimited activities on the ‘Dynamo’ ticket.

Popular activities like dune buggies and quad biking cost 45 credits each, while games like Traitors or cost just 5.

activities come at an additional cost when booking.

I’d recommend picking a few high-credit you really want to do, then filling the rest of your time with free or low-credit options.

Just make sure you book your sessions in as soon as the activities bookings open, as they fill up fast.

And if you run low on credits, there are plenty of great free drop-ins such as the wall and air rifle shooting.

A person in a black and white swimsuit in a hot tub, holding up a red drink can, smiling with sunglasses on.The wood-fired hot tub was a luxurious treat hidden in the forestCredit: Jenna Stevens Two women posing for a selfie in a crowded, dimly lit indoor space.Whilst days were spent doing activities, nights were spent dancing in the music tentsCredit: Jenna Stevens A large crowd of people dance in a tent with colorful banners, disco balls, and a stage with a DJ and a "Welcome Camp Wildfire" sign.The discotheque rotated between a variety of DJs and live musiciansCredit: Jenna Stevens

Evenings at Camp Wildfire are bursting with choice.

Whilst the Woodshed offers quizzes and open mic nights, the auditorium puts on fascinating astronomy talks and outrageously funny shows.

I particularly enjoyed a night of “Cockney ” at the Woodshed, an evening of unhinged entertainment that had the crowd chanting “oi oi saveloy” instead of “bingo!”

Meanwhile the Discotheque and Clubhouse music tents offer everything from alternative Indie anthems to raves – running well into the early hours.

Alternatively, chilling by the campfire and making American-style is also a great way to meet people.

I found that everybody I met at the was friendly, open and keen to meet others.

There are even solo-camper events, making it super easy to make friends if you’re coming on your own.

Camping and food options

Whether you prefer a simple pop-up tent, bringing your van, or splashing out with – Camp Wildfire has it all.

General is included in your ticket, complete with tent pitching spots, toilets, showers and a area.

There are also options to upgrade to pre-pitched or electric live-in vehicle pitches.

I opted for Boutique Camping, which came with an impressive , a glam tent, and its own snazzy toilets.

Inside a bell tent, two single beds with patterned blankets and pillows flank a small wooden table with a vase of flowers, a lantern, and a central pole decorated with lights and wooden hangers.Suite bell tents included comfortable beds which made for a great night’s sleepCredit: Jenna Stevens A bottle of Prosecco and two glasses on a wooden table and chairs in front of bell tents.The suite bell tent even came with its own table and chairs to enjoy your ProseccoCredit: Jenna Stevens A bathroom with a white toilet with a wooden seat, a small white sink, and a shower with corrugated metal walls.The toilets and showers in Boutique Camping were unlike the usual festival loosCredit: Jenna Stevens

The also come with duvets, pillows and fluffy towels, ensuring you’re all set for the weekend.

I camped in the Suite Bell Tent, which comes with electrical sockets, its own mini fridge and even a bottle of .

Both boutique and general have their own campfire area to warm up before bed, as well as nearby vendors to buy food and drinks.

Food was reasonably priced and varied, offering everything from pizza and burgers, to katsu curries and loaded .

There was even a and bubble waffle tent open late for those with a sweet tooth.

Live-in vehicle pitches start at £95, pre pitched camping from £145 and boutique from £695.

Two vanity stations with lighted mirrors, hair straighteners, and a hairdryer on a wooden table, inside a white canvas tent.The beauty tend in the glamping area provided hairdryers, straighteners and LED mirrorsCredit: Jenna Stevens A person in a fox mask, red cloak, and red dress with illuminated autumn leaves, posing in a forest at night with colorful lights.Camp Wildfire has many loyal returners who handmake amazing costumesCredit: Jenna Stevens A group of adults in costume, some holding props and umbrellas, posing at an outdoor event at night.Donna went alone in 2024, but made a group of friends who reunited the next yearCredit: Donna Carl

Why campers keep coming back

The closing ceremony saw a tight race between the Hawks and the Foxes – but in the end, the Hawks lifted the trophy.

The cheers for each patrol and the showed me just how strong the camp community spirit is.

During the , I met plenty of people who return year after year – some since the very beginning.

Campers stay loyal to their patrols, with some even handmaking or bringing gifts to show their team spirit.

“I went last year on my own, and came back this year to reconnect with my new friends” said Donna, 54, who travelled from .

“You get to spend the days learning new skills and the evenings partying ’til the small hours. Suspend reality and embrace adventure for the weekend.”

Squirrel patrol leader Baz is an accountant in daily life, but each year he returns to Camp Wildfire to embrace the camp spirit.

“Being a squirrel patrol leader this has been one of the most joy-filled and amazing experiences I have had” said Baz.

“Watching people throw themselves wholeheartedly into the silliness, the challenges and the activities reminded me of how powerful it is when we allow ourselves to be present and playful”.

Camp Wildfire 2026 will take place from 28 – 31 August for Weekend 1, and on 4 – 7 September for Weekend 2.

Standard tickets to cost £349, which include general camping for three nights and 120 activity credits.

The cheapest ‘Elementary Ticket’ option costs £299, offering 60 activity credits.

Alternatively, the Dynamo ticket with unlimited activity credits costs £649. You can also split up the payments with a monthly plan.

You can register now for the final release of 2026 tickets at www.campwildfire.co.uk .

A woman in glasses and a dark jacket with a red tie cheers with a raised fist as red fireworks explode behind her at night.The closing ceremony ended with a fantastic fireworks displayCredit: Jenna Stevens Three women pose in a park, two wearing inflatable squirrel costumes and one in a pink fuzzy hat and blue poncho.Many campers wear fancy dress to the festivalCredit: Jenna Stevens A large group of smiling adults in camp uniforms with badges and colorful accessories pose for a photo under a “Camp Wildfire” banner.Camp Wildfire Patrol Leaders bring heaps of enthusiasm to the festivalCredit: Camp Wildfire

Eze Chidiebere Paul

Eze Chidiebere Paul

I'm dedicated to creating high-quality content that informs, inspires, and delights. If you have any questions or suggestions, don't hesitate to get in touch. Happy reading!