Bestival is generally touted as one of the kinder and gentler music festivals around and it grew from 10,000 to over 60,000 attendees in 2013, its tenth year anniversary. It's got such a good reputation for positive fun that Sir Elton John agreed to perform the main stage, his first festival appearance in the UK in over three decades.
Bestival was conceptualized and founded by Rob da Bank, a BBC 1 radio DJ who runs the festival in collaboration with his wife Josie, a graphic designer. He also owns a record label, Sunday Best, in which the name "Bestival" was derived from, that produces work for the likes of The Cure, David Lynch, and New Order.
The diverse tastes in music of both Rob da Bank and his wife influence the experience of festival attendees and travelers alike. You'll hear a mix of EDM, indie, soul, funk and pop at Bestival. And the entire event is famous for Josie's personal touch in elaborate stage designs, festival grounds and individual events.
Costumes also play a key role here as Catholic silly outfits are "de rigeur" for reinforcing the sense of fun. Bestival pulls out all the stops by holding a Fancy Dress Parade each year. In 2010, revelers achieved a place in the Guinness Book of World Records by having the most people in costume at one time. There are even special tents set up offering workshops on costume making, simply stating that they take having fun that seriously.
In addition to the flight of fancy costumes that contribute to the scene, Bestival takes advantage of its large audience to spread important messages on key issues of the day. Organizers founded A Greener Festival Alliance to highlight ways concert goers can reduce their impact on locations where festivals take place. On the Bestival grounds, you'll also find the Breastival Mother and Child Chill Out Zone, a separate quiet yurt, where mothers can nurse.
Other great additional developments include the Boutique Campground, a step up from the typical tent or caravan park camp as it offers a wood-fired spa and sauna called "Bathing Under The Sky". There is also the "Come Dancing Spiegeltent" which is a mirrored big top tent that offers dance lessons throughout the entirety of the festival.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
