Glastonbury Festival – Sweltering in 2019!

Claimed as “the largest green-field music and performing arts festival in the world”, you have to attend the incredible Glastonbury Festival with over 200,000 revellers, at least once in your lifetime!

Where is the festival?

Pilton, Glastonbury festival EnglandUnlike the name suggests, England’s Glastonbury Festival of Contemporary Performing Arts (Glastonbury Festival) is not held in the town of Glastonbury.

The festival is held near the village of Pilton – some 5 miles from Glastonbury in the mythical Vale of Avalon, in Somerset.

Experienced as a mud-fest Glastonbury Virgin back in 2016, a sun-fest in 2017, this year it’s a sweltering-fest!

Having no intention of returning to the UK after the 2016 run-in with Border Force, here I am yet again and raring to go to another festival.

What is Glastonbury Festival?

Inspired by a 1969 Led Zeppelin concert at the Bath Festival of Blues in Somerset, Michael Eavis created the Pilton Festival. Held at his Worthy Farm’s 160-acres the day after Jimi Hendrix’s death in 1970, tickets cost £1. Entry included free milk from the farm for the 1,500 festival-goers.

1970 poster, Glastonbury Festival, United Kingdom, Europe
Photo credit: Glastonbury Festival Official Site

Outgrowing Worthy Farm in 1985 saw Michael Eavis purchase neighbouring Cockmill Farm to expand the festival grounds. Today, the festival’s expansive grounds spreads over 900 acres across 14 farms, and is the largest music and arts festival in Europe.

The grounds are even visible from space!

space aerial, Glastonbury Festival, United Kingdom, Europe
Photo credit: NASA

Festival accommodation

If you’re heading to the festival and don’t have a bucket of cash to splurge on boutique Pennard Orchard Glamping, the Tipi Village, renting accommodation in the surrounding quaint villages, or own/rent a motorhome or campervan, then a tent is your only option.

Tipis, Glastonbury Festival, United Kingdom, Europe

This year a brand new trusty 4-man tent is home for 5 days as sadly, Reg the motorhome is no more – sold after the last festival in 2017.

Festival food

Expect a plethora of cuisines from around the globe exuding wonderful lingering aromas enticing hungry festival-goers – some stalls are 24/7. Meals look and smell better than they taste.

The food is expensive for the quality and quantity. I did find a stand selling delicious Cornish pies (£6+) opposite the infamous obscure Rabbit Hole.

An average price for a small meal plate is £8-£10. A pint of locally brewed Mallets Cider will set you back £4.50 + £1 for the re-useable plastic cup – or ask for a refund of the £1 deposit.

The Silver Hayes Crew area has new caterers this year and supposed to be better than in 2017. Although trying the £6 tasteless Chilli Con Carne with rice, it’s disappointing. The tiny portion of hot chips for £2 is good.

Just keep these prices in mind if you’re not planning to take food when you’re camping, as you can easily blow your budget on food and alcohol over 5 days.

This year, a CO-OP supermarket set up near Oxlyers Campsite, which offered everything at reasonable prices. Michael Eavis negotiated a 5-year lease for Glasto CO-OP if the Pilton CO-OP Pop Up Store was established.

The run down

This year’s Glasto festival runs from the 26th-30th June. You can arrive on the evening of the 25th, although the music doesn’t start until the 26th. Silver Hayes is the first area open with music and is also the main dance village for the festival. Check out the festival 2019 line-up.

As a returning volunteer Fire Steward for Silver Hayes, it’s always great fun to be on shift with people you know, although you soon meet loads of really cool stewards – newbies and veterans – all have a story to tell…

Glastonbury Festival, United Kingdom, Europe

Setting up

Luckily, a lift with the bulk of our gear including food, alcohol, sleeping bags, tent, pillows, air bed, clothes, and way too much stuff, sees us venturing to the Steward’s campsite on Sunday morning before the festival.

Not open to the public yet, fields are sparse with only the main venues and facilities set up.

Glastonbury Festival, United Kingdom, Europe

The steward campsite is already in an excited flurry with people erecting tents all over the place, parking campervans and motorhomes, vying for all the choice spots. This year’s site is smaller than 2017’s, so space is at a premium.

Glastonbury Festival, United Kingdom, Europe

Staking out a relatively flat spot for the campsite, erecting 6 tents in the heat in a communal effort, dumping all the gear, we return to Street to wait in anticipation for Thursday morning.

Glastonbury Festival, United Kingdom, Europe

Returning for the gig

With an early start and super eager to get back to the festival grounds, finally arrive at the campsite – everything is still here – bonus.

Filling the tent with more stuff, our home is now complete…

Glastonbury Festival, United Kingdom, Europe

Loads more tents are rammed in the fields around the vast grounds.

Glastonbury Festival, United Kingdom, Europe

Silver Hayes Backstage

Backstage is where volunteers, crew, and musicians can chill out and relax or get some food at a slightly cheaper price than the public area.

Glastonbury Festival, United Kingdom, Europe

A chilled view…

Glastonbury Festival, United Kingdom, Europe

…where you meet gorgeous people with beautiful smiles like Carmen from Mozambique.

Glastonbury Festival, United Kingdom, Europe
Photo credit: festival-goer

You just never know who you bump into…great legs!

festival-goers, Glastonbury Festival, United Kingdom, Europe

On shift

The job of a Fire Steward for Silver Hayes is primarily the safety of festival-goers.

festival-goers, Glastonbury Festival, United Kingdom, Europe
Photo credit: Neil Lintern

This includes politely telling people to put out cigarettes, making sure no one has collapsed, spotting aggressive behaviour, and to give people directions to the profusion of festival areas.

festival-goers, Glastonbury Festival, United Kingdom, Europe
Photo credit: Neil Lintern

Our job is not to be overbearing. This is a festival and people are here to have a great time, regardless of what hour of the day or night we’re on.

Slightly dishevelled and eyes hanging, but still smiling on my 9pm-2am last day’s shift…

festival-goers, Glastonbury Festival, United Kingdom, Europe
Photo credit: Neil Lintern

The majority of people know we’re volunteers, so are very friendly and pleasant.

Glasto villages

If you’re anything like me, then be prepared to walk an average of around 20 kilometres each day as there really is so much to see and experience – you definitely don’t want to miss anything.

Silver Hayes, Glastonbury Festival, United Kingdom, Europe

Sonic Stage

Intermission at Sonic – Silver Hayes village…

Sonic, Glastonbury Festival, United Kingdom, Europe

Ramping up for another gig…

Sonic, Glastonbury Festival, United Kingdom, Europe

…partying until sunrise with beautiful people.

Festival-goers, Glastonbury Festival, United Kingdom, Europe

Pussy Parlure

Revelling and pussy’ing with groovy Liniker e os Caramelows from Brazil whilst on shift…

Pussy Parlure, Glastonbury Festival, United Kingdom, Europe

Block9’s IICON Stage

Block9’s brand spanking new mammoth and stunning IICON 65-foot head sculpture is awe-inspiring!

Bild Studios created this wonderfully innovative futuristic stage, which Block9 co-founder Gideon Berger states as: “a sinister monument to the terrifying realities of this digital, post-truth age that we find ourselves in”.

IICON stage, Glastonbury Festival, United Kingdom, Europe

IICON is breaking out globally and on tour, so check out a city near you for this unbelievable show! A fabulous BBC Music’s short video on Block9 and IICON’s inception for you…

Healing Field

Bursting with alternative stalls, tents, and quirky wagons why not indulge in a soothing back rub, a little Reflexology, your future read, or just wander through this colourful interesting alternative village?

Healing Fields, Glastonbury Festival, United Kingdom, Europe

Just a few sites to give you a little taste of what to expect.

Arcadia’s Pangea

Arcadia’s ominous metal spider is doing a comfy tour of the Netherlands right now. So instead, an adaptation with a light show from a massive crane, incorporating a huge globe projecting continuous fluidity draws the crowds….

Arcadia Pangea, Glastonbury Festival, United Kingdom, Europe

Pennard Hill Ground

Surveying across Pennard Hill Ground in the fading light, waiting for the sweltering sun to subside, delivers respite and a cooling relief.

Pennard Hill, Glastonbury Festival, United Kingdom, Europe

The Rabbit Hole

The secret Rabbit Hole is an otherworldly psychedelic cry, far from sanity and the norm. Expect an Alice in Wonderland-esque adventure and ambience.

Crawl between this colourful character’s legs to enter the labyrinth of madness…

Rabbit Hole, Glastonbury Festival, United Kingdom, Europe

…and eventually emerge to crawl out from in-between this lady’s…

Rabbit Hole, Glastonbury Festival, United Kingdom, Europe

The Queen of Hearts is also waiting for your head on the other side…

Rabbit Hole, Glastonbury Festival, United Kingdom, Europe

Perched high up (or high on) a 2-metre toadstool, is this colourful character playing an electronic organ without touching the keyboard.

Rabbit Hole, Glastonbury Festival, United Kingdom, Europe

Zany crazy late night shows exude the best of comedy and salacious raunchy vibes…

Rabbit Hole, Glastonbury Festival, United Kingdom, Europe

Glasto scenes

Loads of glitter is key at the festival – anything goes.

Festival-goers, Glastonbury Festival, United Kingdom, Europe

Crowds gather close to Glastonbury on Sea’s new pier.

Festival-goers, Glastonbury Festival, United Kingdom, Europe

Artistic doors grace the festival’s smelly long-drop toilets.

toilet door, Glastonbury Festival, United Kingdom, Europe

A profusion of expressive murals scattered throughout Glasto create an impacting open air art museum.

mural, Glastonbury Festival, United Kingdom, Europe

Festival-goers are happy to pose…

Festival-goer, Glastonbury Festival, United Kingdom, Europe

…or happily married.

Festival-goers, Glastonbury Festival, United Kingdom, Europe

Sporadic messages to the world are scattered around the grounds.

Glastonbury Festival, United Kingdom, Europe

What’s the festival really like?

Brilliant. Atmospheric. Fantastic. Outlandish.

I could go on but you’ll be bored so I’ll just say that it’s an experience you can’t miss!

I’m always in awe of how 200,000 people from all walks of life, across all ages, come together to absorb 5 days of pure music and art mania, without many incidents. Just proves we can all get on and have fun…

Check out this cool Silver Hayes video of a phone’s journey through Glastonbury.

Mind-blowing festival stats

Some statistics for the 2019 festival, if you’re interested:

  • Takes place across 900 acres (around 500 football pitches) in the mythical Vale of Avalon, Somerset, South-west England and spreads over 14 farms
  • Festival capacity 203,000 – not including officials, police, and children under 13
  • Over 3,000 performances across 100-plus stages
  • 135,000 tickets sold in 36 minutes
  • Around 300 volunteer Silver Hayes Fire Stewards
  • Around 60,000 staff
  • About 1,000 volunteer Stewards in total
  • Glasto “costs about £40 million to hold of which about £2 million a year goes to charities” – Emily Eavis
  • About 50 people employed full time
  • Ticket: £248 + £5 booking includes 5 nights of camping. More for a motorhome, caravan, or campervan
  • Sale of single use plastics banned this year

The clean-up

More than 1,300 volunteers clean up the astonishing mess left behind by partygoers.

Although I’ve read that 93.3% of tents were taken home by festival-goers this year, I’m not sure how accurate this is or how anyone can calculate the figure.

Glastonbury Festival, United Kingdom, Europe
Photo credit: Brian Coney

At least the leftover tents are donated to the Scouts and charity, not just thrown away.

The cleaning starts on Monday morning. Tons of rubbish must be cleared and everyone out of the farm by Tuesday – a mammoth task.

Visit Nilla’s Photography for more images. More posts on the United Kingdom at Image Earth Travel.

Festival-goers, Glastonbury Festival, United Kingdom, Europe

Glasto beauties…

Festival-goers, Glastonbury Festival, United Kingdom, Europe
Photo credit: Laura Collins

Related posts


Advertisements

Posted

in

, ,

by

18 responses to “Glastonbury Festival – Sweltering in 2019!”

  1. silverneptune Avatar

    A highly detailed and enjoyable read!

    1. Image Earth Travel Avatar

      Many thanks for leaving me your feedback – much appreciated.
      Really enjoy reading your posts but sadly, I can’t leave you a comment of appreciation as your ‘Comments’ feature isn’t turned on.

  2. ani2727 Avatar
    ani2727

    Thank you for the great insights. I’m hoping to go to Glastonbury next summer. I wrote about my latest festival experience on veganvibez.net if you want to check it out

    1. Image Earth Travel Avatar

      Glastonbury is fantastic and hope you get there but the tickets are very hard to come by…
      Sounds like you had a cool time at the festival in Lollapalooza.

  3. Gillian Morris Avatar
    Gillian Morris

    it does look amazing. my ex husband goes all the time but I’ve never been. love your colourful wigs, looks like you had fun while working xx

    1. Image Earth Travel Avatar

      It was excellent fun Gill and enjoyed wearing the wig and faux feathers. Need to think about a follow-up for next time… 😉 x

  4. tayaramuse Avatar

    Wow what an experience! Enjoyed this thorough walk through of the festival – looked super fun!

    1. Image Earth Travel Avatar

      Hey Yara, thank you for your comment – much appreciated!
      Yes, it certainly was super fun and everyone just has a great time during this massive party. You should try and go next year. 😉

  5. Faith & Nat Avatar

    This was a really cool and interesting post to read! I really enjoyed reading this!

    1. Image Earth Travel Avatar

      Thank you guys for leaving me your feedback and glad you enjoyed this post!

  6. idjourneys Avatar

    Wow! All that you need if a reader want to know going there.

    1. Image Earth Travel Avatar

      Thank you! Hope so as wanted to include as much detail without making it too dry. 😉

  7. the eternal traveller Avatar

    Did you see Kylie?

    1. Image Earth Travel Avatar

      No, everyone is asking me this question. I’m not a big fan of Kylie although I heard she gave a great performance. 😉

  8. Keith Jewitt Avatar
    Keith Jewitt

    Thanks for the insight Nilla and it surprised me how much more than a music fest Glasto really is 😊

    1. Image Earth Travel Avatar

      Hi Keith, thanks for stopping by and leaving me your feedback.
      Glasto is an awesome gathering where festival-goers just want to have a fantastic time and I was lucky to be a part of this show this year! 🙂

  9. map195 Avatar

    nice share

    1. Image Earth Travel Avatar

      Thank you!

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Own one of my Limited Edition photographs or prints. Click this #saatchiart icon for my page.


Saatchi Art



Categories


Follow my blog by email!
Never miss out on a fabulous photo deal or travel update.

Join 7,894 other subscribers

I'm currently in Ukraine


Global visitors since February 2017 - thank you!

Map


Visitors since May 2016 - thank you!

Flag Counter



©2015-2023 Image Earth Travel


This website's content cannot be copied and/or published in any way without written permission from Image Earth Travel.

Feel free to use excerpts and links, provided that you give full and clear credit to Image Earth Travel, with appropriate and specific direction/links to the original content.


Follow me on...

pinterest logo circle P in Red png
%d