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Gary Lineker opens new social housing in Pilton

Last modified: June 15, 2023


Earlier today, Michael Eavis and his family welcomed ex-footballer and TV presenter Gary Lineker to Pilton to celebrate the completion of a further 20 social rent homes in the village, bringing the total number of affordable homes built on land donated by Michael to 52.

Gary Lineker planted a tree with Michael and his grandchildren at the site – named Athelstan’s Meadow – just around the corner from where the Festival takes place.

The land and the stone for these new houses – built by EG Carter in partnership with the Guinness Partnership – was provided free of charge from Worthy Farm with contributions for dressing the stone from the Workers Beer Company, who provide bars at the Festival.

“Pilton is really important to me,” says Michael. “It’s where I was born, where I have lived man and boy, where I have brought up my family, and, of course, it has been home to the Festival for more than 50 years now. With rural house prices so often out of reach for local people, these houses give villagers, most of whom are working families who live around here, the opportunity to live here for the rest of their lives at a social rent.”

“I started to build these houses 30 years ago with funding from the government and now that this scheme is finished, it brings the total number of houses available to 52. Of all the things I’ve done in my life, this is the one I’m most proud of.”

Ex-footballer David Beckham officially opened the previous set of homes to be completed at the site in 2017, with the the Prince of Wales opening the first wave of houses in 2010.

Tips for bringing Children to Glastonbury

Last modified: May 24, 2023


There’s no doubt that exploring the sensory pick ’n’ mix of Glastonbury with wee ones in tow is a little different to discovering it without. But bringing kids to the Festival can be a hugely rewarding and family-bonding experience.

From a child-centric perspective, there’s enough family fun at Glastonbury (where anyone aged 12 and under gets free entry) to keep even the most adventurous tykes and teens entertained. From the veritable wonderland of the Kidzfield – with its big-name entertainers and infectious silliness – to the good ship Cadmus and eco-conscious heart of Green Kids and the day-to-night shenanigans of Theatre & Circus fields; there’s enough craft, comedy and craziness to fill the entire summer holidays. The activity-driven havens of the Greenfields and Green Futures further engage and inspire, and older kids are mesmerized by the Greenpeace skate ramp and notorious drop slide. And when you just need a bit of a rest, you can recharge whilst catching a film at the Pilton Palais cinema.

Of course Glastonbury is not just about entertaining the kids. And the whole family will want to soak up the site-wide spectacle – from the huge mainstage artists to the immersive alternate worlds of Shangri-La and Unfairground. But before you head for those big stages and busy late-night hot spots, it’s worth taking a moment to consider what impact it might have on your kids.

Glastonbury is a pop-up city – big and bustling – and the same notions of responsible childcare reign here as they would in any city centre. That means staying compos mentis. 

Please never leave kids unattended – even if they seem happily asleep – and just as it wouldn’t be appropriate to take a toddler in a pushchair into a busy Saturday night pub, neither would it be advisable to deposit a buggy in the midst of a crowd or drag it deep into a main-stage throng. Also, be conscious of where big crowds are likely to be – for example, if there’s a very popular act playing – and expect it to be tricky to navigate those crowds (both on the way there and at the stage itself) with a buggy or small children in tow. The Festival is generally a very safe and friendly environment, but if your child happens to get lost, please contact a steward so we can help reunite you with your wandering offspring. 

If you intend to party late into the night, much in the same way as one would appoint a designated driver, it is worth deciding in advance who will head back to the tent or remain in the calmer reaches of the Festival to look after the children. 

Large crowds and tents can be boring and even scary if you’re two-feet shorter than everyone else. That means you’re better advised to stay on the periphery if you’re going to catch the action from these stages. But while you may miss out on the moshing, there’s a whole new perspective to be gained from catching the headliners from the sloping edge of the Pyramid Stage just beyond the sound desk. Not only is there some breathing space here, but watching the gig above the sea of people on a hillside lit by smouldering campfires, is a spine-tingling experience all of its own. When the show is over, it’s best to wait and let the crowds disperse around you instead of joining the melee and risk people tripping over your buggy.

And what to do if you and the kids want to keep going once the big stages are finished for the day? Some busy adult-orientated late-night areas, particularly our venues in the South East Corner, are simply not appropriate for younger audiences at certain times. We strongly advise families with younger children under the age of 13, to leave these areas before 10pm. And even for teenagers under the age of 18, these are areas which may not be suitable late at night.

For families with older kids and teens, the late-night buzz of the North West Corner is a counter-pivot to the bacchian South East Corner. Here you’ll find the sylvan sanctuary of The Wood – with its treetop walkway and enchanting lights – and Woodsies which, while busy until 11pm, really comes into its own once the main stage closes and its convivial campfires spark to life. Head to the Theatre & Circus fields to be charmed by twinkly entertainment in Glebeland, or treat those still awake to some fabulous late-night fireshows and aerials at the Outdoor Circus. Across the site, it might be a little boisterous for pushchairs, but older teens – and their folks – can get their wiggles out courtesy of the finest DJs, under the Rave Tree at the Greenpeace field.

Here are some tips to help families get the most out of the kaleidoscopic sights and sounds of Glastonbury:

Pitch your tent in Family Camping. Less rowdy at night and more forgiving to the early risers, there are two Family Camping Fields: the Cockmill Meadow near the KidzField and another on the north-west of the site at Wicket Ground. Families do not need a special ticket to camp in the Family fields, but it is not possible to reserve space in advance (and they can fill up quickly).

Find some space. At the big stages, there’s no need to throw yourself into the thick of it to get a good view of the bands or take in the vibe.

Get some ear protection. For little kids, ear defenders are a must to protect their hearing. As kids get older, they may prefer more subtle ways to avoid ringing ears. There are many decibel-reducing earplugs on the market to save their hearing; and even a pair of regular foam earplugs will do a very worthwhile job.

Pack snacks. Visiting Glastonbury is energetic work and you can never have enough cereal bars, breadsticks and custard pots! Yet it’s worth mentioning, one of the best things about Glastonbury is its friendly, utopian vibe. People are just nicer here. And in that spirit, when it does come to meal times, it’s worth asking at food stalls if they’ll do you a children’s portion — they’ll usually say yes, and often charge you very little for it. Milk can also be bought on site.

Make your little ones stand out. If you intend to navigate the site with a buggy or a wagon, it is worth investing in some battery-powered or solar charged fairy lights to festoon over your vehicle. Not only will it enchant your mini-me, but it will crucially help make your load more visible to other Festival-goers so they won’t trip over it in the lower light of night. You might also want to consider dressing your toddlers in bright clothing or even a little hi-viz vest to help you spot them in the melee of the Kidzfield.

Please don’t attempt to take buggies and wagons into dense crowds. Even if those crowds are moving, it’s best to hang back and wait for the crowds to disperse.

Eschew peak time in the South East Corner and opt instead for inspiring art trails, stimulating talks and daytime raves. Once the sun sets, the adult-orientated late night South East Corner – comprising Shangri-La, Block9, The Common and Unfairground – is really not the place for kids in arms or bulky buggies and under 13s. But in the warm light of day, there’s plenty of opportunity to marvel at the mind-bending installations and out-of-this-world creations of Unfairground and Shangri-La; and audacious, detailed builds of Block9 and The Common. For added mental stimulation, pitch up at Totem Talks in The Common throughout the afternoon on Friday and Saturday or visit Shangri-La’s Nomad stage for daytime talks and events or loosen your limbs at a daytime rave!

Get intimate with an iconic Spider. Visit Arcadia between 7pm and 9.30 Friday – Sunday to get up close and personal with the infamous Spider before its performance begins. Although the Spider itself won’t be on, her resplendent sister, The Bug, and its ace resident DJs will be on hand to warm-up the brewing crowd.

Take in the sights. Head up to the iconic Glastonbury sign above The Park Stage and take in a cracking view of the Festival beneath. Or drop in at Strummerville – high in the hill beyond the Tipi Field – park yourself on a cosy sofa around the campfire, enjoy some tunes, and take in the easy vibe.

Immerse yourselves in the interactive pleasure lands of Theatre & Circus. From acrobats and fire-eaters; comedy, trapeze acts and clowns, the surreal world of the Theatre & Circus Field is underscored with a big, healthy dose of anarchic silliness. While the Big Top headliners can sometimes have a post-watershed flavour and Bella’s Field offers older teens something a little more risque, there’s always the wonderlands of the Outdoor Circus and twinkling Glebeland to entertain and delight all ages well into the night.

Take in the atmosphere. The Festival site is vast; don’t just run from stage to stage to try and fit in everything. Make time to explore and stumble upon the unexpected. After all that’s where the true Glastonbury memories are made.

Don’t forget to pack…

Sunscreen and hat
Wellies and waterproofs
Snacks. Loads of snacks.
A snuggly rug/blanket.
Shower curtain or tarpaulin – infinitely useful!
A child-vehicle of sorts – with a rain cover. If your kids are under 5, it’s definitely worth bringing something to cart them about in, like a wheelbarrow, wagon, off-road pushchair or bike trailer buggy.
Bucket/travel potty — for midnight wees and must-go moments
A first aid kit (with Savlon, plasters, insect repellent, Calpol, etc).
Wash cloth for cleaning grubby hands
Anti-bacterial hand foam or gel
Torch, of course.

N’famady Kouyaté wins 2023 Emerging Talent Competition

Last modified: May 5, 2023


After a fantastic night of live music at Pilton Working Men’s Club, Guinea-born, Cardiff-based musician N’famady Kouyaté was named the winner of our 2023 Emerging Talent Competition, which is supported by PRS for Music and the PRS Foundation. N’famady wins a slot on one of the Festival’s main stages, plus a £5,000 Talent Development prize from the PRS Foundation.

The judges – who included Emily Eavis, Glastonbury stage bookers and music business professionals – gave the two runners up places to infectious indie band Prima Queen and Glasgow post-rockers VLURE. Both acts receive a £2,500 Talent Development prize from the PRS Foundation.

While announcing the winners, Emily Eavis also confirmed that all nine acts on a night of memorable performances will be given slots at this year’s Festival.

Here are Rick Mav’s photos from a fantastic night at the Working Men’s Club.


Cordelia Gartside


Naomi Kimpenu


Ezra Williams


EVA


VLURE


The Love Buzz


Prima Queen


N’famady Kouyaté


FFSYTHO?!

 

 

Oxfam ticket prize draw raises over £1 million

Last modified: March 8, 2023


UPDATE: We’d like to send a huge thanks to the 46,932 supporters who helped the prize draw raise an incredible £1,044,190 in 21 days. We’re absolutely blown away by that total.

Your donations will help the continued effort to support people living in the areas most affected by the earthquake by providing access to food, restoring water systems, and supporting people’s livelihoods through financial support.

In just a week’s time the 10 winners of once-in-lifetime Glastonbury tickets / experiences will be selected so please keep an eye on your inbox.

Want to win one of 10 pairs of tickets & experiences for Glastonbury 2023? We’re donating 10 sets of tickets, each with once-in-a-lifetime experiences to raise money for the Disasters Emergency Committee’s Turkey-Syria Earthquake appeal with Oxfam. Enter the prize draw here.

Enter the prize draw and you could be watching a set from the Pyramid Stage viewing platform, introducing an act on The Park stage, or enjoying a backstage tour of West Holts.

DEC member charities, including Oxfam, are working in Türkiye (Turkey) and Syria with local partners to support survivors of the earthquakes. By entering, you’ll be helping them to reach as many people as possible with clean water, food, sanitation, shelter and other urgent support.

Glastonbury Festival’s new Connectivity Partner is Vodafone

Last modified: March 2, 2023


We’re pleased to report that Vodafone has today announced a multi-year partnership with Glastonbury as the Festival’s Official Connectivity Partner.

Vodafone’s award-winning network will be increased to the highest capacity ever at Worthy Farm, making sure friends and families can stay connected to each other.

The partnership will see the launch of a brand-new Official Glastonbury Festival app, with a host of new features. Vodafone will also offer free phone charging to everyone at Glastonbury 2023.

Vodafone customers will be able to gain access to Glastonbury 2023 tickets via its VeryMe Rewards programme. VeryMe promotions and experiences will also be available to everyone who is at the Festival.

Throughout the partnership Vodafone will also use its technology to support the Festival in its technical and network requirements.

Bid for Glastonbury 2023 tickets & experiences in aid of Trussell Trust

Last modified: February 6, 2023


How would you like to come to Glastonbury 2023 and watch a set from the Pyramid Stage viewing platform? Or press the Arcadia spider’s fire button? Or introduce an act onto the Cabaret Stage?

For the next week, you can bid on once-in-a-lifetime Glastonbury experiences – each with a pair of 2023 tickets – with all proceeds (minus auction listing costs) going to the Trussell Trust.

Money raised will support the charity’s network of food banks to provide emergency food and practical support, as well as work towards a future without the need for food banks in the UK.

Check out the auctions on eBay now (there are ten in total – they’ll be appearing every half hour from 12 noon today, Monday 6 February).

Elton John to headline Sunday at Glastonbury 2023

Last modified: December 2, 2022


We are incredibly excited to announce that Elton John will headline the Pyramid Stage on Sunday night at Glastonbury 2023, for what will be the final UK show of his last ever tour.

Said Emily Eavis: “It gives me enormous pleasure to let you know that the one and only Elton John will be making his first ever Glastonbury appearance, headlining the Pyramid Stage on the Sunday night next year. This will be the final UK show of Elton’s last ever tour, so we will be closing the Festival and marking this huge moment in both of our histories with the mother of all send offs. We are so very happy to finally bring the Rocket Man to Worthy Farm!”

Glastonbury 2023 tickets on sale in November

Last modified: November 3, 2022


We’re pleased to announce that tickets for Glastonbury Festival 2023 (21st – 25th June 2023) will go on sale in early November.

TICKETS PLUS COACH TRAVEL ON SALE AT 6PM GMT, THURSDAY, 3RD NOVEMBER

GENERAL ADMISSION TICKETS ON SALE AT 9AM GMT, SUNDAY, 6TH NOVEMBER

A £50 deposit (plus coach fare if booking a ticket + coach travel) is payable when booking in November, with the balance payable in the first week of April 2023. Tickets will be exclusively sold at glastonbury.seetickets.com.

REGISTRATION

As part of our ongoing efforts against ticket touting, anyone who would like to attend the Festival will need to have registered in advance of the ticket sale.

Registration remains free of charge and only takes a few minutes here.

Registration will close at 5pm GMT on Monday, 31st October, after which there will be no opportunity to submit/re-submit a registration until after the November ticket sales.

We strongly advise that you submit your registration at least a week before registration closes, to allow time to resubmit your photo if you need to, as without a valid registration number for each person for whom you wish to book a ticket, you will not be able to book tickets.

If you are already registered with the Festival, you do not need to re-register. However we would advise you to check your existing registration here and update your photo if it is no longer of a good likeness, at least 7 days in advance of registration closing.

Children aged 12 and under when the Festival takes place are admitted free of charge and do not need a ticket, and do not need to register.

Please note, registration does not guarantee you a ticket (and in recent years, demand for tickets has outstripped supply).

BE PREPARED

In order to make a booking you will need the registration number and registered postcode for each person you are booking a ticket for, as well as a valid debit (UK only) or credit card with sufficient funds to cover your full transaction, and all the security information for that card.

Please be careful to enter all of your details accurately, as any details which don’t match will cause your transaction attempt to fail.

GO GREEN! CATCH A COACH!

The first chance to buy tickets for the 2023 Festival will go to those booking a ticket + coach travel option, as part of the Festival’s continued commitment to green travel. These ticket + coach travel options will go on sale at 6pm GMT on Thursday, 3rd November, via glastonbury.seetickets.com.

You may book up to 6 coach tickets per transaction. When booking a ticket + coach travel option you will need to pay the deposit (£50) plus full coach fare, with the Festival ticket balance due in the first week of April 2023.

A full list of departure towns and prices can be found below.

WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN TICKETS GO ON SALE

Standard weekend tickets will go on sale at 9am GMT on Sunday, 6th November. Tickets will cost £335 + £5 booking fee. Your ticket fee includes:

– Entry to the Festival, with over 3,000 performances
– Five nights camping (with no early entry fees)
– Free programme
– Free miniguide
– Free mobile phone charging
– Free on-site newspaper
– Free mobile app
– Free firewood
– Kidzfield, where all entertainment, rides and activities are free of charge
– Support for Oxfam, Greenpeace, WaterAid and hundreds of other worthy causes (£2m given
annually in recent years)
– Funds to improve the Festival’s infrastructure and environmental impact

As in previous years, tickets will be sold exclusively at glastonbury.seetickets.com. You may book up to 6 tickets per transaction by paying a deposit of £50 per person, with the balance due in the first week of April 2023.

A limited number of people will be given access to the booking site at any one time. Whilst you are waiting to access the booking site you will be held at this page until there is a space on the booking site for you to start the booking process. The page will automatically refresh to look for space on the booking page every 20 seconds.

If the amount of traffic on the website is particularly high, you may see a reduced version of the See Tickets booking site, with a minimal version of the holding page. This does not mean the site has crashed! (Quite the opposite in fact – this means the site is serving the maximum number of people at the same time.)

Once you reach the first page of the booking site, you will be asked to enter the registration number and registered postcode for the lead booker and up to 5 other individuals.

When you proceed, the details you have provided will be displayed on the next page.

Please check that these are the people you expect to be booking tickets for, as these cannot be changed once you proceed with your booking.

If you are booking a ticket + coach travel option, you will be asked to choose the departure town (and time for towns with multiple departures). It is only possible to book tickets from one departure town in a single transaction. If the option you have selected is not available, please choose a different town or day that is convenient for you. Travel on the coach you have selected is mandatory in order to receive your Festival ticket, so please only book on routes that are feasible for you.

Once all your information is correct, please proceed to the payment page.

Once you reach the payment page you will have 5 minutes to submit your payment information, so please take your time to enter this information accurately. The time remaining will be shown on the right hand side of your screen:

Please note, your registration numbers will be locked for up to 10 minutes if your details are entered incorrectly, an attempt to book is already held against your registration number, or your 5 minutes on the booking page ends. If the transaction fails and tickets are still available, your registration number will be released to give you the chance to try again.

If the page ‘hangs’ and you can’t get any further, try pressing back once and then continue your booking from that point.
If that doesn’t help, close your browser and start again. Please don’t continue to refresh the page more than 10 minutes after entering your details as your access to the page will have expired. You will need to close the browser and start again to gain fresh access to the booking page.

BE REASONABLE AND CONSIDERATE

Every year, the amount of devices trying to connect to the Festival’s booking site increases. Whilst we understand that everyone wants to have the best possible chance of booking a ticket, running multiple devices simultaneously to attempt to access the website is a waste of valuable resources, and doesn’t reflect the ethos of the Festival. Please stick to one device and one tab, so that you can focus on entering your details without confusing your browser and help us make the ticket sale as quick and stress free as possible for all.

DON’T GIVE UP

Even if you aren’t successful in securing tickets in the ticket sales in November, you will have another chance to book in the Spring resales, when any returned tickets go back on sale.

DON’T BE FOOLED

The demand for tickets has been high in recent years, but please don’t be tempted or fooled by bogus sellers.

Tickets will be sold exclusively at glastonbury.seetickets.com, do not attempt to book tickets from third parties.

ACCOMMODATION

Further information campervan/caravan tickets, tipis and pre-erected accommodation will be available on the Festival website later in the Autumn.

MORE INFORMATION

For more ticket information, please click here.

 

Pilton Party 2022 in photos

Last modified: September 3, 2022


Here are our photos from last night’s Pilton Party at Worthy Farm, where fantastic performances from Elbow, Easy Life, The Velvet Hands and Inkara helped raise money for Pilton village funds. Thank you to everyone who came along to what was a glorious evening on the farm!

Photo: Mav Rick

Photo: Mav Rick

Photo: Mav Rick

Photo: Mav Rick

Photo: Mav Rick

Photo: Mav Rick

Photo: Anna Barclay

Photo: Anna Barclay

Photo: Anna Barclay

Photo: Anna Barclay

Photo: Mav Rick

Photo: Mav Rick

Photo: Mav Rick

Photo: Anna Barclay

Photo: Anna Barclay

Photo: Mav Rick

Photo: Mav Rick

Photo: Mav Rick

Photo: Mav Rick

Photo: Mav Rick

Photo: Mav Rick

Photo: Mav Rick

Elbow and Easy Life to play Pilton Party 2022

Last modified: August 25, 2022


After a three-year break, Glastonbury Festival’s annual ‘thank you’ fundraising gig for villagers, workers and local people – known as the Pilton Party – returns to Worthy Farm on Friday 2nd September, 2022.

The show will be headlined by Mercury Prize winners Elbow, who played one of the standout Pyramid Stage sets of Glastonbury 2022. They’re joined on the bill by Leicester band Easy Life, who also gave a sparkling Pyramid performance at this year’s Festival.

Support from The Velvet Hands and Inkara.

Following the locals release of Pilton Party tickets on Saturday 6th August, tickets can now be bought in person from the Festival Office on Worthy Farm. 

Tickets are also now available online from See Tickets. 

Pilton Party gates open at 5pm. Live music is due to finish around 11pm, with a DJ set from Patmandu until midnight.

We are pleased to confirm introduction of a new Pilton Party shuttle bus excursion ticket for 2022 with shuttles to the site running from Glastonbury Town Hall and Shepton Mallet Cenotaph between 5pm – 7pm, and return shuttles starting from 11pm. Excursion tickets (adult £45 / £25 child) include entry to the event plus return shuttle bus travel.

Please note: Due to planned industrial action by postal workers, bus excursion tickets for Pilton Party are now only available to purchase in person from Worthy Farm.

E-tickets for entry to the event only remain available to purchase online from See Tickets

Worthy Farm office open 10am-6pm Thur 25 Aug and 10am-6pm Tue 30 Aug–Thur 1 Sept.

Please note, there is no accommodation / camping at Pilton Party, but head to Visit Somerset for info on places to stay.

* £15 concession rate for children aged 12 and under. All under 16s must be accompanied by a ticket holding adult at all times. Challenge 25 age identification will apply both at the bar and at the gate. The Organisers reserve the right to confiscate alcohol from anyone who is unable to verify they are 18 or over, or carrying an excessive quantity.

Pilton Party Terms and Conditions

• Gates open 5pm.

• Admission by ticket only.

• Tickets are non-refundable and strictly non-transferable. Photo ID required.

• Lost, destroyed or stolen tickets cannot be replaced.

• The artist and performer line-up and all billed attractions may be subject to change at any time without notice.

• The Organisers reserve the right to
– refuse admission in any circumstances
– evict any person breaching the terms and conditions of entry, committing a criminal offence, behaving in a disorderly manner or in a way that has an adverse effect on public safety, or behaving in an anti-social manner or in a way that causes a public nuisance.
– evict all members of any group of persons where that group is behaving in a persistent anti-social manner.

• All persons who enter do so at their own risk and are responsible for their own safety.

• Challenge 25 will apply both at the bar and at the gate.

• Bringing your own alcohol to the event is permitted, however you may be searched on entry, and subject to other discretionary checks on volume, and asked to show formal age verification ID. The Organisers reserve the right to confiscate alcohol from anyone who is unable to verify they are 18 or over, or carrying an excessive quantity. Anyone under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a responsible adult (aged 18 or over, who would usually be the parent, carer , legal guardian or other adult entrusted with the care of that child) who accepts full responsibility for all under 16s attending under their supervision.

• Those who are aged 16 or 17 are allowed to attend the Pilton Party unaccompanied, but it is strongly advised that this decision is made with the consent of a parent or legal guardian.

• No re-entry.

• No glass.

• Please note: vehicles left in the car park are left at owners’ risk. The Organisers cannot be held responsible for any loss or damage.

• Strictly no dogs/animals allowed on site (except registered guide dogs).

• Please use the litter bins and recycling points provided.

• Please respect our neighbours and leave quietly to help the event to continue in the future.

• Medical treatment is provided by Festival Medical Services (FMS) who are a separate legal entity. Any claims resulting from medical treatment on-site should be directed to FMS. The Organisers accepts no liability for any injury, claim or damages resulting from any medical treatment at the event

• Please be aware: Excessive exposure to high levels of noise could damage hearing. Please take appropriate precautions.

Please click for full list of Contraband Goods and Prohibited Items.