Glastonbury - what's it really like?

[halfbakedkate]

After watching Elton John last night, DH and I had the annual conversation about whether we would want to go Glastonbury.
I love the idea of it but the thought of it being too suffocating and overcrowded, potentially a mud bath and a nightmare to get home from puts me off...not to mention the toilets. But last night there were so many people who looked like they were having the time of their lives, is it worth it?

I wondered if you have actually been, what's it really like being there?

Is there like a celeb bit where all the celeb are? Bet that’s amazing or are the celebs just there in the crowd? I wonder what holly willobeys experience was I seen she went via helicopter. I would love an insight into her weekend 😂

Via helicopter 🙈

@gelatogina 👍

if it’s muddy you can’t really even sit down

in the wet years the worse bit is that you can’t sit down

You can if you wear proper waterproof trousers! Then it's no problem Get ones with zips at the bottom and wear shorts underneath, then you can take the trousers on/off as needed

Went last year and it was amazing. Yes the ticket is really expensive but we went in a camper van so took loads of booze and snacks so didn't spend much while we were there. To me it actually felt like good value because there's so much to do and see.

I really loved watching Elton on TV last night and might not have enjoyed being in a crowd that big but what's amazing about Glastonbury is the sheer size and variety. You're only seeing the main stages on the BBC, there is so much more than the headliners.

The toilets/camping/showers etc are all fine but then I'm massively low maintenance!

I've been once when I was offered a ticket by my in-laws who wanted to go as a whole family once-in-a-lifetime experience. I didn't feel I could say no, even though I knew from the outset it isn't my thing! We arrived Wednesday morning and left Monday afternoon.

There were pockets of time when the music was amazing and I could understand why so many people love it. I also enjoyed the Wednesday and Thursday which are a lot more chilled out before the festival madness really starts. But on the whole I hated the sheer overwhelming mass of people, never being able to get away from it all, and I just felt exhausted by trudging around in the heat (it was baking sunshine throughout, so no mud but conversely I felt horribly headachey all weekend). I'm not a natural camper nor am I particularly interested in live music though so I'm very definitely not Glastonbury's target market!

I went on a hot year, there was no shade apart from under trees, and most of the trees had been used as urinals 🤮

I think you need to try it once. I went in 2007 - it was a very wet year! Due to the weather, we left our DD2 at home with grandparents (we had planned to take her) and I was 3 months pregnant, so no drinking. Absolutely loved it - so much to see and do. Not sure how these people get to go year after year though. I’ve tried a few times to get tickets since and not managed it!

DS manages to get a ticket each year, I don't know how because I thought it was very difficult. Last year though he didn't get one when they first went on sale so had to get a coach trip ticket from a completely different place to where he lives when they were put on sale again in Spring. He found that quite easy though as he only wanted a single ticket and there were a few odd coach tickets left and would meet his friends there

Thanks for all your replies. I think I'll register interest and see how it goes. And maybe borrow a camper too.

I have not been for many years, but …….

Mud - every year you will see people on TV covered in mud.
But (except for the occasional truely flooded mud years) the mud is at the points that everyone walks through
I walked along the grass past the TV crew filming ‘the muddy festival goers’ who were walking and playing in a mud pit - performing for the camera

Crowds - it is vast. There are quiet spots
Generally wander around, if you see a highly congested point then just walk in another direction or stop and wait
The main pathways will be congested as an act ends on one main stage and is coming up on another main stage
If you absolutely must see a particular act then plan around being in the right area ahead of time - wander down in the middle of one of the preceding acts

Camping etc
Many years ago you could drive into a field and camp besides your car.

Back in the 90s I could drive and camp at some festivals but at Glastonbury even then you would park in one field then carry your tent etc to another field
When I as there as carer, I could drive into the disabled camping field - and on memory we parked nearby but not at the tents

VIP access - When we wanted to get to the pyramid stage we spotted a crowd ahead and a closed gate. So asked security at the closed gate what would be the best route at the moment. They looked at our lanyards and let us through
This took us to the VIP backstage area, and KT Tunstall said Hi to us mid interview
The next year we tried the same thing and were let through again - but this time there was a fenced pathway, we could see backstage to one side of the fence and the VIP zone to the other side of the fence

Disabled access would still have its privileges. You aren’t up close, but the wheelchair platform would tend to be below or besides the sound operator, thus being well placed for optimum sound
You also get a combination code for locked disabled portaloos and showers in the disabled camping

Bring wet wipes and a head torch to portaloos, as toilet roll disappears fast and you also want a good view of what state it may be in before you commit
Some will be nasty, but they get cleaned throughout - pick ones in less populated areas for the best experience

We keep umming and aahhing about trying to get tickets, and then you see the aerial shots !! Doesn't appeal to me but DP would like to try it once.
I know Glastonbury is "THE" festival, but we do the Isle of Wight every year and absolutely love it. Better line up normally (in my opinion and for my music taste) Loads to see and do and a quarter of the crowds. Not sure if you've done festivals before OP ? Might be a good one to try first if you haven't.
Festival toilet tip... take a packet of travel tissues, open the top and tip half a bottle of olbas oil in. Seal up again. Great for holding over your nose.

The downside is the heat is too much and its very expensive to replace water constantly.

Water is free. There are taps everywhere in every campsite and Water Aid have bottle refill stations.

Everyone is really friendly and it has a great atmosphere but it isn’t comfortable. Everyone of my friends who carried on going post uni takes drugs when they go.

Same here.

I went in 97. The lawless muddy year.
It is huge. I did enjoy it for about 2 hrs when the sun finally popped out.

I get the impression the fence has really improved safety. I wouldn't mind going again.

What’s the drug of choice at Glastonbury?

So if you want a half decent position at the main stage you have to be there basically all day? I can't see how you could go to the toilet or get food and go back to your position. Are people just peeing on the floor around them?

DW wants to go (has been before) but I'd hate it, told her to go with friends and I'll stay at home.

I wanna know what people at the front do, I saw one guy interviewed on tv that he'd been there since 4am to see Elton and was still another 8 hours to go. How do they eat, go to loo without losing their place at the front. Not that I'd be willing to do that!

Most people would have seen nothing, or had to watch the screens, must be it's the atmosphere they go for.

Think if your not bothered about the headliners, it would be better to wonder around and see the smaller acts, side shows etc.

Were wondering the same thing!

I don't get it, rather save my money and see my fav artist on tour in a smaller venue

Same! Two fields, Eavis's farmhouse was open if someone needed to see a GP {GP visited!}- not like that these days! Our Parents went.
There was no perimeter fence then, either.

I have just been reading about people who left early because the headline bands on the other nights were disappointing.

I bet they wish they had stayed for Elton John.

I would simply have hated the crowds, and I prefer watching it on TV.

Re: going to the loo if you have been at the front since 6am, you just have to battle your way out and hope you can find your mates again when you come back (that's when the flags you see come in handy) I once missed an entire Soul 2 Soul set fighting my way out, queuing at the toilets and then fighting my way back in again.
If you are male, you know when you see plastic pint glasses of beer being flung around.... don't try drinking it 😖

Essentially you need to plan your weekend based around bands/events you want to see. Some people go to Glastonbury and never see any of the main band as they are there for other reasons - it is after all a performing arts fesitval not just a music festival.

I wondered this

I remember at a Stereophonics gig in the 90s seeing plastic bottles of piss being thrown in the air