There’s a particular feeling that creeps in as summer begins to wind down. The evenings soften, mornings carry a hint of chill, and you start thinking you really ought to make the most of what’s left of the season. That’s exactly where our Big Shakeout festival fits — like a celebratory full stop at the end of summer, drawn with a slightly muddy, slightly sleep-deprived, thoroughly happy flourish.
Save the date: Big Shakeout 25 - 27th September 2026 If you’ve never stumbled across it before, the Big Shakeout is our end-of-summer gathering. It blends music festival, skills weekend and camping trip together. It lives in that sweet spot between adventure, community and entertainment. Around a thousand people come together; small enough to feel friendly, big enough to feel like something special is happening.
As one guest neatly put it:
“Beautiful location — the perfect backdrop for an adventurous weekend.”
So what actually goes on?
In simple terms: plenty, but without the frantic, over-scheduled energy some events carry. The format has always been reassuringly straightforward: be active during the day, be entertained in the evening. People head off into the Peak District to climb, ride, paddle, wander or learn something new, then drift back to camp as the light fades.
You might find yourself:
- Trying an activity you’ve always been curious about
- Brushing up on half-forgotten outdoor skills
- Listening to talks that quietly spark big ideas
- Watching adventure films with a drink in hand
- Letting the kids roam gloriously free
- Dancing long after you planned to turn in
Or simply sitting with a coffee, soaking it all in and wondering why you don’t do this sort of thing more often.
An easy place to try something new
Big Shakeout has a gentle knack for nudging people just beyond their comfort zone. That might mean your first night camping, your first attempt at navigation, bushcraft, paddleboarding or outdoor cooking. It might just be your first weekend properly away from screens and routines.
The tone is refreshingly un-intimidating. Beginners mingle easily with seasoned mountain folk, families mix with solo adventurers, and nobody seems overly concerned with labels or experience levels.
There’s a spirit that echoes something often said about the outdoors itself:
“Getting out and enjoying our surroundings doesn’t require 5000 hours practice on a climbing wall. All you need is a bit of kit and an open mind.”
The talks people remember
Ask returning Big Shakeout-ers what sticks with them, and the talks almost always come up. These aren’t slick keynote presentations, but honest, human stories from people who’ve gone off and done interesting, sometimes wildly improbable, things.
Long journeys. Small adventures. Big mistakes. Unexpected lessons.
The kind of stories that leave you staring into your campfire thinking:
“Actually… maybe I could do something like that.”
Or, as one enthusiastic attendee memorably declared:
“The Big Shakeout is my favourite weekend of the year and I think that it’s bloody brilliant!”
Properly family friendly
Big Shakeout genuinely welcomes families in a way that feels natural rather than tokenistic. Kids are everywhere, climbing, crafting, wobbling along slacklines, discovering mud with deep commitment. There’s space for them to explore safely, which means adults can actually relax instead of constantly negotiating boredom.
It’s the sort of weekend where children fall asleep instantly and adults somehow stay up later than they meant to.
The hospitality everyone talks about
There’s a reason “legendary Alpkit hospitality” gets mentioned so often. Big Shakeout remains a staff-run, self-hosted event, shaped by the same people who design kit, pack orders, run stores and answer emails. The bar, the sessions, the organisation, it’s all delivered by humans who genuinely want to be there.
It gives the weekend a noticeably different feel. Less transactional, more welcoming.
As another guest put it:
“Brilliantly organised. Everything ran smoothly and felt relaxed.”
A weekend that does some good, too
Beyond the adventure and entertainment, Big Shakeout also serves as a fundraiser for the Alpkit Foundation. Proceeds support grassroots projects helping more people access and enjoy the outdoors, particularly those who might otherwise find it difficult.
Enjoy yourself, and something genuinely positive ripples outward.
Why people keep coming back
Speak to those who return year after year and you’ll hear similar themes. The atmosphere. The people. The balance of activity and downtime.
Alpkit themselves have always framed it perfectly:
“As much as we organise the weekend, it is you, our guests, that make it.”
There’s something about the mix of fresh air, shared enthusiasm and temporary community that seems to reset people a little. You often leave with new friends, new plans, or at the very least a head buzzing with ideas and a vague promise to yourself not to miss the next one.
End Summer on a High at Big Shakeout
If September usually slides past in a blur of “back to normal”, Big Shakeout offers a rather good alternative. A weekend outdoors, a chance to gather friends or family, and an easy excuse to try something different.
It’s the kind of weekend you’ll still be talking about weeks later — new friends, tired legs, late-night conversations, and that quiet promise to spend more time outdoors. Don’t let the stories be told without you. Because if past years are anything to go by, the only real regret tends to be hearing someone say:
“We nearly went…”
Save the date, then share the date: 25 - 27th September 2026.