EVERYTHING at Just So is larger than life.

The Rode Hall festival, organised by the award-winning social enterprise group Wild Rumpus, is lovingly curated each year for youngsters of all ages. With so many activities aimed at sparking the imagination it is a reminder of what it is like to see the world through a child’s eyes and you cannot help but fall under the family event’s spell.

Separated into zones and with far more to do than you will ever see, the best way to view Just So is as a whimsical adventure of your own making. But the festival as a whole is reassuring old fashioned with the likes of storytelling, crafts and over-the-top stage shows.

If you find kids’ TV a bit gaudy and brash then there is the perfect antidote for you and your little ones.

We found the best place to start was venturing into the woodland area which instantly spirits you away to the Just So world of fairy lights and adventure. We enjoyed a story while sitting on a log around a campfire and stumbled upon Goblin Theatre’s twist on Peter and the Wolf.

The stripped back performance featured music and puppetry and reimagined the wolf as a vegan for a lesson about the dangers of prejudging. Even better was Tales of Animalia where creatures of every kind were telling cautionary tales.

This has become a Just So favourite and it is incredible to miraculously watch countless children fall under the thespians’ spell.

We also got invited to a tea party hosted by forest folk before wandering back to the main festival site where a man was tinkering with a contraption covered with colanders and horns.

Then there was a stampede of families as the most brave gathered in a circle for a jelly fight. It is all a bit mad and that is why we loved it but if you prefer a more traditional festival experience fear not there are various stage with bands and artists on throughout.

Of the new areas, the lakeside Silver Screen zone was a bit disappointing.

It was supposed to be a tribute to old Hollywood but the theme and execution felt a bit half baked.

But the Village Green’s ‘Actual Reality Arcade’ was fantastic.

Taking its cue from 1980s videogames, you could run around a maze as Pac-Man or don a Mario cap and have barrels thrown at you by Donkey Kong as you try and rescue the princess. Just So is a truly inspired event and we are lucky to have it in the north west.

  • Early bird tickets for Just So 2018 are on sale at midday on Friday. Visit justsofestival.org.uk