[1] Very much inspired by early Big Chill Festivals and picnics in the English countryside, Festinho is driven by a hard-working team of volunteers,[2] many of whom have in various configurations and incarnations been putting on events, DJing, VJing, and festivalling together for years.
Notable examples of this included the ability to use parts of Hinwick House itself to provide entertainment spaces, and a main stage spanning a small stream, situated inside a Grade II listed walled garden.
Festinho continued with its tried and tested formula of two live music stages, two DJ areas, a comedy and cabaret space, a healing zone (The Sanctuary), a children's areas hosted by Angel Gardens, capoeira demonstrations, a cinema space, a children's carnival and several bars and food and merchandise stalls.
this is notable because this is a Bank Holiday weekend in the UK, and afforded Festinho the opportunity to provide entertainment until much later than usual on Sunday evening.
This afforded the event more room, and allowed it to incorporate an additional live music space, an expanded children's area, a healing zone, and a new cabaret and comedy tent hosted by Underbling & Vow.
In 2006, the MiniChill moved to Marlow, Buckinghamshire, and followed the same pattern as the previous year; art, live music and DJs spread over 2 days, with guests arriving on Friday evening and departing on Sunday afternoon.
All profits from the event go to the ABC Trust, a UK-based charity that supports community art projects in Brazil geared towards developing skills and interests amongst less privileged children.
Previous bands and DJs that have appeared at Festinho include: Ugly Duckling, The Blockheads, British Sea Power, Crazy P, Max Cooper, Belleruche, The Bays, Eliza Carthy, Jim Moray, The Correspondents, The Leisure Society, Nancy Wallace, Gilles Peterson, Cosmo, Jon Hopkins, The Kleptones, Mixmaster Morris, Hint, Flevans, Andy Votel, Cut La Roc, Hexstatic and Jon Kennedy.
In 2008 and 2009, Festinho was held at Kentwell Hall, a moated, mellow redbrick Tudor mansion in Long Melford, Suffolk.