There are music festivals, and then there is the undisputed king of music festivals. The Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts near Shepton Mallet, England is far and away the most popular and most exciting music fest out there. The 2010 festival (scheduled 6/23/10-6/27/10) sold out of its 180,000 available tickets in less than 12 hours. And that was before the lineup was even announced. That’s because the Glastonbury Festival is world renowned for having stellar acts, and lots of them. The past ten years have seen such artists as Lily Allen, John Mayer, The Who, Coldplay, Paul McCartney, R.E.M., Rod Stewart, and David Bowie. Now close to a thousand scheduled acts on nearly 100 different stages over the 5 days of the fest, it is truly an unbelievable celebration of music, art, communion, and culture.
With the total area covering a good nine square miles of land on the Worthy Farm in southwest England, there is so much more to see and experience than just the music. It’s probably the closest you’ll get to Woodstock if you are too young to have been around for the original one in 1969. There are theatre acts, a circus, cabaret performers, shopping, crafts, comedy troupes, dancers, and so much more. The Glastonbury Festival has also found a way to weave saving the environment and saving lives into its grand carnival of culture and music. A few of the organizations that benefit from the revenues include Greenpeace, Oxfam, and Wateraid. Some try to put off Glastonbury as just another hippie fest (they willingly accept that misnomer), but “Glasto” is really a celebration of people, bringing them together in the spirit of benevolence and the betterment of all. And if there is some great music and awesome live entertainment going on with that, then that’s just an added benefit.
Due to the sheer length of the festival you will need to plan to camp out. They do accept RV’s and traditional trailer campers, but reserve a spot well in advance, because they do fill up fast. The majority of the attendees choose to rough it and go more traditional with tents and some even in teepees! As this is a music fest, do not expect your spot to be quiet, or secluded. This is a place where you need an open heart and an open mind because your camping neighbors will soon become your new best friends. Speaking of best friends, your doggies, kitties, birdies, and other pets are not permitted at Glastonbury so arrange for them to be cared for while you are gone; otherwise they will be seized and held off site at your expense. Glastonbury Festival does welcome children, and there is plenty for them to do. Please remember, however, there are a lot of provisions you will need for them so check the official Glastonbury Festival website prior to your departure. It’s five spectacular days of music, dancing, revelry, and fun, so pack your bags and get ready for one of the most memorable experiences of your life!
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