June 26th 2024.
As I stood there in the pouring rain, exhausted and shivering, I couldn't help but think that this was not how I had imagined Glastonbury to be. Don't get me wrong, Coldplay's performance was amazing, but at that moment, all I wanted was to crawl into my warm bed. Instead, I found myself trudging through the muddy paths, trying to locate our tent. The thought of our tent being vandalized by fellow campers filled me with fear and anxiety.
Thankfully, after what felt like an eternity, we finally found our temporary home for the weekend. It was still standing, but I knew that I wouldn't get much sleep with all the noise and excitement happening outside. This was not the Glastonbury experience I had envisioned. Being 28 years old, I had always wanted to attend this famous festival, especially after hearing my friends rave about it being a life-changing event.
Despite my doubts about the hefty ticket price, I joined my university friends in a frantic race to secure tickets for the 2011 event. And after a nerve-wracking morning of refreshing the website, we finally managed to snag some tickets. The excitement grew as the festival drew closer, but I couldn't help but worry about the weather forecast predicting rain. In previous years, bad weather didn't seem to deter anyone, but I couldn't help feeling a little apprehensive.
As we made our way to Worthy Farm, my reservations resurfaced. Sitting in long lines of traffic, I couldn't help but wonder if the money we spent on tickets and supplies would have been better used on a relaxing holiday. These doubts continued as we trudged through the fields with our bags and drinks, in search of our campsite.
Of course, the weekend did have its unforgettable moments. Coldplay's performance of "Yellow" was enchanting, with the yellow laser lights illuminating the night sky. And Beyoncé's show was nothing short of spectacular. We may have been miles away from the stage, but her performance still had us captivated. We did all the typical festival activities, like exploring different parts of the site and sipping on cider when the sun decided to make an appearance. And of course, we donned the classic Glastonbury fashion statement of shorts and wellies.
But despite all these memorable moments, Glastonbury will always stick in my mind as one of the most challenging and stressful experiences of my life. As much as I wanted to make the most of my expensive ticket, I quickly realized that it wasn't as great of a deal as everyone claimed. The entire weekend required intense planning and organization, and even then, we found ourselves unable to see all the artists we wanted to. The long distances between stages and the campsite also made it difficult to enjoy a few drinks without feeling like we were competing in a marathon.
When I returned home, my husband asked if I had an amazing time. The truth was, I did, but only to a certain extent. It was a unique experience, but one that I was happy to cross off my bucket list and never repeat. In the eight years since then, I have not been tempted to attend Glastonbury again, even with the rising ticket prices.
But this doesn't mean I'm against festivals altogether. In fact, I've attended several smaller events, from local food and drink festivals to more niche gatherings like the ALSO festival and CarFest. These events may not have the same hype as Glastonbury, but they offer a calmer and more manageable experience. And this year, my friends and I have decided to try something different and attend BugJam, a car-themed festival with a more affordable ticket price.
Perhaps I missed something at Glastonbury, but I also know that I'm not alone in my experience. Many of my friends who have also attended the festival have not returned, and I can't help but wonder if it really is as great as everyone claims. But for now, I'm content with my decision to only attend once.
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