As thousands prepare to head to Glastonbury, we take a look at why there’s so much more to festivals than just beer and bands.
Festivals have been around as long as there have been rock bands and pop music, but it’s only in recent years that the events have become such a huge fixture in our summer calenders. No longer just for teenagers and students, festivals are now seen as family events, and music is just one small part of the experience.
Organisers have responded well to what seems to be a growing need in city dwellers to escape their fast paced lives and pitch up a tent somewhere rural and often pretty basic; happy to brave the elements in return for a bit of entertainment and a few days of laid back, simple living.
By adding attractions like theatre, poetry, cabaret and film into the traditional festival programme, events like Latitude, Bestival and Green Man have attracted a much wider audience, and the formula seems to be working. But let’s not forget that Glastonbury has been promoting itself as a family event for many years; a fact that is often overshadowed by its popular musical acts.
For many, this is all part of the appeal of festival life, and even those who dread the camping element will often admit that the fresh air and the chance to get close to nature does them good. As well as the obvious health benefits of spending a few days in the great outdoors, the relaxed combination of camping and entertainment leads to a slower and easier pace of life, even if only for a few days!
Image: RusselJSmith
