Forget the babysitter and party in Ibiza with the kids
UK clubbing may be in tough times, but a new rave revolution is here — and it’s for the kids!
Thanks to a wave of nostalgic ex-ravers‘ (60%, to be exact) craving for their wild nights, new versions of family raves are having a major moment. But could you really imagine throwing shapes on the dancefloor, playing it cool and digging those glow sticks out – with your teenager watching?
Karen McGregor, 34, reveals that actually it’s a real bonding moment for her.
“Once you get over the cringe factor, there’s a lot of fun to be gained. You can get out and hear your favourite music all over again – loud and pounding – and you can introduce the kids to what you loved.
“It’s also a bonding moment, they get to have a glimpse into who you once were, separate from just being mum.”
Karen, mum of three, from Barnsley, loved clubbing in Ibiza when she was 18, and continued to visit into her 20s before settling down to start a family, but her love for the bright flashing lights of her clubbing days has never left her.
“The nearest I get these days is turning the music up loud in my car so the prospect of not needing a babysitter to have fun is great. My parents live a few hours away so organising a babysitter isn’t the easiest when you want to go out for spontaneous fun.
“Ibiza all over again – yes please!”
With 37% of clubbing venues closed in the last four years alone in the UK, it’s no surprise parents are ready to hit the dancefloor again, but this time with their little ones.
Searches for family raves and daytime clubbing have surged 53% in just two years, sparking the rise of a whole new ‘family rave economy’. In fact, 67% of ex clubbers have swapped club dance floors with kitchen raves with their kids in tow.
TUI Holidays have noticed though and have dropped the ultimate family rave bomb with the Ibiza Opening Weekender for Families. They’ve snatched the last weekend of July as the opening date. It’s the ultimate get-out-of-jail-free card for parents craving a throwback to their Ibiza glory days.
“Half Punk is the perfect act to kick off the peak summer season and we’re delighted to reveal them to the world today, although they’ll be keeping their identities hidden… for now. We can’t wait to see them in action in Ibiza.”
Headlined by two pre-teens called Half Punk, who are already calling themselves the world’s youngest tribute act, the Ibiza Sunsets night on 26 July is one for the books. And yes, there will be Little Ravers events for tots under 3 — because who says having an early bedtime means you’re not old enough to party?
Holiday Villages Product & Proposition Manager Natalie Johnson is delighted to be launching the careers of Half Punk and unleashing a new programme of raves to unite families on the dance floor on holiday.
She explains: “We’ve totally re-vamped our entertainment programme this summer based on customer research which showed a massive demand for high energy themed nights, like our new Ibiza Sunsets and Neon Nights events. They will have a pumped-up vibe, with vibrant staging and lighting, face paints, lots of neon and feature DJ sets, live performances with dance floor action at their heart. And we’ve got something for ravers of all ages with a new Little Ravers event at Holiday Villages’ creches.”
To find out more about Holiday Villages from TUI, visit www.tui.co.uk/holidays/holiday-villages
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