Going to Festivals Alone

[snowdragon]

I am going to 3 festivals this year all on my own. How many people here go to festivals on their own and are they happy about it?

I must admit I feel a bit nervous but I am someone who doesn't mind doing things alone but have never been to festivals alone.

[Alcatraz]

I wouldn't say I've ever been totally alone, usually if its been the case I've had 3 or 4 people who I see a mixture of over the festival, but haven't necessarily camped with because they work at the festival or whatever.

The bad side of it is the camping experience. Particularly when there are lots of other big groups around you, which inevitably there will be.

As for the rest of the festival, you may just find out you'll enjoy it more than if you were in a group. You get to do exactly what you want!!

[snowdragon]

Yes I am camping at the festivals. I hope I have nice neighbours. I went to my first festival last year on my own but had day tickets so no camping. I really enjoyed it so this year I thought I would go and check out some other festivals.

Edited May 5, 2012 by snowdragon

[kaosmark2]

I did Bestival on my own last year and while I would have far preferred doing it with a mate, it was a fantastic time and I'd definitely do so again if it was a festival I liked.

I've done Reading on my own, but going home in the evening (50 minute journey), so don't really treat that as much different to doing a gig on my own, nor any of the day-festivals I've done alone.

Just strike up conversations with the people you're camping near. Ideally, try and get there early, then ask people pitching if they mind if you pitch your tent next to them, and keep on moving and asking until you find a group that seems happy to include you.

There's a thread not far down about going to gigs on your own, might be worth seeing what people have said ther.e

[rexclark]

I went to Rockness 07 alone but when I arrived I decided to camp with fellow efesters and it was one of the best decisions I ever made. I met some great freinds and met my girlfriend as well.

I think to go alone to a fest you have to have a certain personality. You have to be quite happy spending time alone and you have to also be good at integrating with strangers.

I used to go to Leeds every year with my mate but we both wanted different things from the fest. He'd want to spend the weekend getting wasted and I'd want to see as many bands as possible. I'd see him in the morning at the tents then head off for the day and that would be the last I saw of him till we got back after the bands finished. I was always quite happy doing my own thing and going at my own pace and meeting new people.

All I can say is if you want to go to a festival and nobody else wants to go, never be afraid to go on your own as there's always plenty of people to talk to at a fest and you should never let others make you miss out on what could be a life changing experience.

Edited May 6, 2012 by rexclark

[snowdragon]

Thanks for your reply Rex. Cheers.

Edited May 6, 2012 by snowdragon

[grumpyhack]

You're only alone at a festival if you want to be. It's usually easy to make friends with your neighbours so even if you go alone you don't have to end up alone.

I went to Glastonbury solo a few years ago when my daughters, who I was supposed to be taking, ended up going to Spain instead with friends.

There I was struggling to push my wheelbarrow up the hill. As I reached an encampment already set up by a group of women they suggested I should quit while I was ahead. They helped me put up my tent alongside theirs, made me a coffee, offered me lunch and we became firm friends and still meet up at occasional festivals.

The next year I went with my usual gang and we met up with the women and all camped together.

Edited May 6, 2012 by grumpyhack

[greenfairy43]

If you're going alone out of neccessity rather than choice, then you're in the right place. Look on the festival's forum page thingy on here & there will more than likely be an efest camp being planned. If not, suggest one.

If you're wanting to be alone out of choice, then you'll still more than likely meet folk you can share a pint with should you choose.

Have fun, whatever you get up to!

[Paul ™]

I love going to festivals on my own, but I always seem to end up camping next to a bunch of loonies

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

I've never been to a festival on my own but could imagine no better place to be on my own should the need arise. That said I'm not sure I'd want to do a purely music festival on my own - but that's because I'm not really into music like some and prefer a festival with other things going on too. What better place to be than that filled with wall to wall entertainment to keep you occupied during the day and / or night. Infinitely better than staying at home watching the telly, for example.

Go for it and you'll get a life experience one way or the other. In my opinion it's highly likely to be a satisfactory one. I have yet to meet someone who has gone to a festival and not enjoyed it.

[theampersanddevil]

I went to alchemy on my own. Was meant to be going with one of my mates, who inspite of being a top bloke, can't tell the time.

Anyways, it was a fantastic decision and because I met so many efest guys at it, I think it would be difficult to find a fest one of my mates weren't going to.

I also did loopallu on my own and it was great.

[Gnomicide]

I went to Glastonbury on my own last year and loved it. Obviously it's better with mates but it was either go on my own or not at all. A no brainer really.

I went to the efests meet up at the Cider Bus on Wednesday night and had a great time. During the festival I wandered around at my own pace, spoke to quite a few people (mainly when waiting for bands to come on). I wouldn't hesitate to do the same again. Off to Bearded Theory on my own later this month.

If you're bored, I uploaded some stuff to You Tube last year:

Part one

Part two

[Gnomicide]

Part three

http://Part three http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxUveMT3m-8&feature=relmfu

Edited May 9, 2012 by Gnomicide

[dondo]

The first time I went to Glasto in 2003 I went with a mate but quite a bit of the time we did different things so I was on my own quite a bit but loved it- met good few randoms plus some people I knew from a clubbing site. Also last year and in 2010 I worked there with friends but again did quite a lot of it solo as we wanted to do different things or were on different shifts but again was good fun

[DizzyRum]

I am going to Reading on my own this year, my usual festival partner is away and there is no way I am missing the Foos!

I live quite close, so I may not camp though.

If anyone wants to meet for a beer, let me know.

[Paul ™]

I went to alchemy on my own. Was meant to be going with one of my mates, who inspite of being a top bloke, can't tell the time.

[jammy2211]

Me and a mate are going camp loner at DL this year... let us know if anyone has any experience with it. We prob could of easily just pitched up ourselves and met people, but figured the CL thing made more sense. Apparently some 200+ people show up and camp there, so it actually sounds really cool. A completely different camping experience at a festival, especially as I'm used to camping with 20+ mates.

I reckon the position of being thrown into a festival alone and needing to socialize would bring the best out in me in some ways. Something I should probably do in my life - I'm not a shy person but I'm not overly social, but when you're put in that position where you have to meet people I seem to do just fine... like the first week at uni all over again .

[grumpyhack]

Doing Wychwood on my own this year though one of our gang will join me for the last day. If any others of you are going let me know.

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

Doing Wychwood on my own this year though one of our gang will join me for the last day. If any others of you are going let me know.

[eFestivals]

Doing Wychwood on my own this year though one of our gang will join me for the last day. If any others of you are going let me know.

I'll be there.

[Rufus Gwertigan]

I'll be there.

[grumpyhack]

I'll be there.

[joe1990]

love going alone all ways do,)

[eFestivals]

Maybe we'll get to have the meet that almost but didn't quite happen in Bristol. It will be my first outing with my newly acquired caravan - a rather elderly Lunar Meteorite. Look out for the daffodil windsock on the flagpole and call round for a drink.

will PM you this week.

[MyTwistedWords]

Camp with Efests, I went to Glastonbury alone last year, camped with Efests and I have friends for life, hooked up with them and lots more at bearded theory this year and it was one of the best weekends I've ever had... You won't regret it