the lovely Croissant Neuf Summer Party makes people want to return
Croissant Neuf Summer Party 2011 review
Tuesday 23rd August 2011
Sunday morning dawns fine and warm, and we all comment on how well we've done with the weather. Before we left on Friday, the forecast wasn't looking so good and we had expected the worst but apart from a bit of drizzle occasionally, it's been alright.
We get the hang of the cooking a bit better today and we manage to make it for The Sunday Service by Father Green. We've heard about this from people who saw it at Glastonbury and it comes well recommended. A take-off of a real church service, the 'hymns' and sermon are lighthearted and accompanied by Biggles Wartime Band and we spend a pleasant hour sitting on the grass laughing.
I wrote earlier of the beautiful site for the festival, and we decide to take the opportunity to explore the lovely surroundings and take a walk towards the Healing Fields. We've spent lots of time in the healing areas at other festivals but I think that few of them rival the beauty and tranquillity of what's on offer at Croissant Neuf. Set in a wood, it's like walking through the enchanted forest, and I can think of few other places that would be better to receive a healing treatment or tarot reading. The whole place has a lovely vibe to it that really makes Croissant Neuf stand out. We keep on walking and find other hidden treasures in the woods – it's easy to imagine the history of the place, and our children get carried away with imagining the types of fairy folk who might live in the trees, and the people who lived there years ago.
Back down to the arena, we manage to get just a couple of songs from Rory McLeod before the tea dance starts. I have always fancied going to a tea dance, and I have to say that I thoroughly enjoy the experience. To enhance the atmosphere, the big top has been transformed with tables sporting proper tablecloths, and afternoon tea with bone china cups and cake stands. Everyone is having a great time getting into the "swing" of the dancing and we're soon breathless. The enthusiasm is a bit short-lived from the children's view so we decide to do juggling – they have been inspired by the circus show last night so we go and sit outside the juggling stall and have a go on their demonstration equipment. The hula hoops are the biggest hit, but there are loads of things to try, and it keeps us occupied until we remember the craft workshops that we saw on Saturday. My husband goes off in search of the LED workshop (which is a new one on me) to design a festival hat, and I take the children to the bead workshop. I'm really impressed that the ladies there tune in totally to the slightly reticent attitude of a ten year old boy towards a bead workshop, and get him inspired to make a "boys" necklace which he is really impressed with.
I briefly see some of Biggles Wartime Band who we saw earlier at the Sunday Service. I see enough to know that they're good fun and that I'd like to hear more of them, but not much more than that. I try to catch some of Goodnight Lenin but don’t make a great job of it, as we sort tea out.
I make a better job of seeing Dizraeli and the Small Gods who were recommended by a friend. Hip Hop isn't really my thing but I've heard that this guy is more than a hip hop artist which is immediately obvious when there's a battle a between the decks and a flute, and then some bagpipes appear! I think his use of words is really clever, and he affirms my opinion when he asks the audience to suggest random subjects for him to create a song out of – I have no idea how he manages to make a credible song from subjects as diverse as Margaret Thatcher, drinking carrots, shaving badgers, and "a word you shouldn't say in front of your mum!" But he does, and the result is excellent.
It's time for the procession and the sad realisation that the festival is drawing to a close. A new take on a festival favourite, the Croissant Neuf procession is a lamp-lit affair through the woods culminating in a fire show. We had noticed earlier that the lantern workshop has been popular, and we suddenly make the connection that these are the lanterns that will be used in the procession. I really wish we had made that connection earlier because it would have been nice to be carrying a lantern that we had made. We make our way through the woodland path to the top of a hill where we see fire poi, fire diabolo, fire juggling, and fire eating; all performed by the enthusiastic artists who gave us the circus show last night.
Despite the warm day, the evening is chilly, and we decide to head back early this evening to get warm while the gentlemen go out to see the headliners, The Beat.
I'm really sad that our time here has come to an end. Both our children have asked if we can come back next year, and we both feel the same way. We've met some lovely people, and experienced a lovely festival. I think that Croissant Neuf will become a fixture on our festival calendar, and I'm looking forward to doing it again next year!
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