Reliving my HUGE festival summer as the official videos are released

Hideout Festival 2013 on the Island of Pag, Croatia, was the biggest week of my year. I partied around-the-clock for seven days straight with my boyfriend and amazing friends from home and university. I even made some new friends while out there that have since become my raving buddies. It was a huge week and so much fun. I watched the sun rise and set every single day, I danced on stages, sand, in pools and the sea, on buses and boats and anywhere else I could find. I made incredible memories and can be sure I’ll never forget them. It’s amazing to see the final video, but to be honest this is a very tame version of the Hideout I experienced. However, I can’t deny that when I hear that beat and bass kick in, it’s like being back on Zcre Beach! If only I was, instead of in chilly old England!

Boomtown Fair 2013, in Winchester, was officially the craziest weekend of my life. I saw so much while I was there than my brain felt like it was melting and my eyes couldn’t take in any more. The festival was vast, the stages huge and the music was incredible. I loved every second, again went with fantastic old friends and made some new ones there. It was such a peaceful place and yet so intense and mind-boggling. The theatre acts and side-shows were my favourite because they were always what you least expected and transported you into crazy new worlds. I still don’t believe, and can’t explain half the things I saw there. It was like falling down the rabbit hole.

Part 2: A busy summer touring round as many festivals as possible – Secret Garden Party and Boomtown Fair

After a few weeks break, I was anxious for my next fix of freedom, music, and a lot of amazing entertainment – all washed down with lashings of smelly portaloos and sleeping in a field. It was time to pack up the car again as we headed to Secret Garden Party in Huntingdon, just a short drive from where I live, and just me and the boyfriend again.

The tickets were a Christmas present from my other half and I was expecting big things – this was the festival I was most looking forward to over the course of the summer. And boy, did this one deliver in more ways than I ever imagined! It was a magical place centred around a beautiful lake for swimming, and the weather was amazing so perfect for this, with entertainment that varied from live music all day, swing dancing, puppet making and crafts, literature talks and comedians, and even pig racing!

And there were huge art installations and constructions throughout the festival which included the huge sad-looking fox in an Indian headdress…

 My homemade flower fairy costume…

Watching Bastille play live – one of the best sets of the entire summer!

John Newman was amazing as ever…

Especially when we managed to meet the man himself!

 The paintfight was an incredible sight…

 Faithless live was fantastic!

 Every stage was buzzing and packed and we were thrilled when we stumbled across a secret performance by Chase and Status and Nero!

 Finally, the pirate ship – an incredible stage construction in the middle of the lake that was the centre for a huge fireworks display – the best I have ever seen – and was burnt down on the second to last night!

This festival was beyond imagining, unfortunately because of personal reasons I found I couldn’t enjoy it quite as much as I would have liked, but it was amazing and worth every penny. I can’t wait to go back to this one again – not next year, but perhaps the year after.

Two weeks after, we were joined by a group of mates and headed to Boomtown Fair – a huge reggae and ska festival in Winchester and one that I was also really looking forward to. It was the only festival where I paid no attention to who was playing and just went where the group guided me. It was amazing and there are so many sights I still cannot explain – so much theatre and weirdness! Unfortunately, because I had my phone stolen I was unable to take as many pics as I would have liked.. but here are some I stole from a friend as well as the few I captured.

The Lion’s Den – amazing stage!

A very bizarre wrestling ring stage that we came across..

An amazing lightning show..

The Arcadia blew my mind…

  checking out the fairground rides at sunset…

 The gang enjoying some reggae in the afternoon…

Chilling out in the beautiful sunshine before heading off to see another amazing reggae band..

Such an amazing experience this festival – would recommend it highly and definitely plan on going back!