Going solo at the festival

[CY 2019]

I'm going solo this year.

Has anyone done this before and how did you find it?

Do the good folk of efestivals arrange any meets for this?

[tumbles]

I did it in 2014.. I still had friends on site that I met Weds/Thurs but for the most part it was otherwise all by myself and yeah at times it was tough because sometimes you need that mate to bounce off to go and do something.  But on the other part I was completely free to do what I wanted, when I wanted. 

I think there is usually a thread/group on here where solo campers all camp together so you aren't completely on your tod!

[CY 2019]

1 minute ago, tumbles said:

I did it in 2014.. I still had friends on site that I met Weds/Thurs but for the most part it was otherwise all by myself and yeah at times it was tough because sometimes you need that mate to bounce off to go and do something.  But on the other part I was completely free to do what I wanted, when I wanted. 

I think there is usually a thread/group on here where solo campers all camp together so you aren't completely on your tod!

Nice one!

[Hotchilidog]

I did it in 2017 when my car driving friends spurned the opportunity to get a coach ticket.

How did I find it. I found it just fine. Given how much there is to do at Glastonbury not hanging around waiting for friends can  be a liberating experience as you can come and go as you please. 

As for company I had what I called a load of 'five minute friends'. People that you find yourself sitting down with or standing next to at show or a bar. You just strike up a pleasant conversation. On day 1 2017 these conversations took place with fellow festival goers seeking some shade from the heat and we discussed the weather. People are quite open to have a chat  and given that we have a major mutual interest in the festival there is always something to chat about.

Efestivals does have a meet up on the Wednesday at the Ridge and Farrow in the Theatre and Circus fields and I attended on this occasion. it was great, a nice friendly bunch as you would expect.

If you do a search on this forum (or others) I believe there is a Camp Solo for solo festival goers who would like to camp in a group and there is plenty of online support for solo attendees.

Going solo can be great fun, I really hope you enjoy your festival!

[Gnomicide]

I've done it a few times and really enjoyed it. It's different, you get to see loads more stuff than when you're with a gang of people as you can go anywhere at any time with no hanging about. The first time in 2011 I saw so many acts it was ridiculous. I was never lonely at any point, as @Hotchilidogsaid, you make lots of 5 minute friends particularly in bigger crowds for some reason. I probably spoke to more people when at The Pyramid than anywhere else. 

The 2nd time I did it in 2014 I camped with a solo group that was formed through these boards. Many from this group still camp together now. Lifelong friendships have been made and we've even had a marriage. As a result I don't think I'll ever ne truly solo there again.

[deepkittycaz]

Me - both previous times ('17 and '19) and this time as well. It's a little different for me as I am working the festival, so I do have people on shift to chat to, but I spent a lot of my non-working time by myself.

It was good to be able to please myself what I did, and I found people were generally just happy to start chatting. Offering people a sweet was a great icebreaker!

[CY 2019]

Thanks for the replies, it doesnt sound as daunting now!

I'll do a search for the solo campers thread and see if a meet is going to be arranged !

I'd camp there but I'll be in East campervan fields!

[siblin]

I've done various degrees of Almost-solo.  2009 and 2010 although i did have people i camped with, I didnt see much of them and generally spent a lot of time by myself.  Mostly it was great but Glasto can be an emotionally and mentally draining place and its easy to have a mini meltdown and become aware of your loneliness, just so you gotta look after yourself.

Recommend going to meetups like the efests meetups or get involved with the various social media groups, and as others have said have a look for a solo campers thread, theres usually a group who will get together.

Side note: there used to be a group of solo and small group campers on here named after a certain geometric shape, but for historic strange, amusing and confusing reasons I'm not sure I fully understand, their name is now taboo 😄.  

[kemosabe]

47 minutes ago, CY 2019 said:

Thanks for the replies, it doesnt sound as daunting now!

I'll do a search for the solo campers thread and see if a meet is going to be arranged !

I'd camp there but I'll be in East campervan fields!

Absolutely go with Camp Solo. They have a big bar crawl on the Thursday, a WhatsApp group to meet up at various stages during the festival, and hundreds of solo people from across the world all camping together. You get that mix of flexibility from being solo and not compromising over acta with anyone else - with also loads of people to socialise if/when you want. 

Im sure one of the Solo organisers will be along to help soon 🙂

[D-Low]

Camped with a group in 2016 from here and it was still hands down one of the best times I've had there. I've camped with friends since but if the opportunity ever arose again to go solo I wouldn't hesitate to join them again.

It was great always having someone back at the camp no matter what time you ventured back and there was always someone heading off to see a band you wanted to see so you always had someone to tag along with.

[Skier68]

As so many have said already even if you are 'going alone', you aren't ever by yourself because you are surrounded by 100,000+ other people who are all there to have a good time like you. The fields brings out the absolute best in everyone and you will end up having conversations with randoms wherever you go.

The best bit about solo is that you can do your own thing. Bimbling around the site and stopping at whatever bizarre act you come across that would have never featured on your Clashfinder. These are the true gems of the festival and its much easier to stop and watch those if you are not in a big group who are all heading to one of the main stages. Similarly if you find yourself getting bored at one of the 'big acts', just move on.

I always meet up with a group of mates after the headliners but during the day we pretty much do our own things. You can have whatever 'your best festival' is and around you will be plenty of others sharing those same moments with you.

Enjoy and don't let entering the gate by yourself put you off or worry you in any way!

[BambooShanks]

Every so often, I have a little pang of jealousy for the soloists.  Being able to do 'your' festival without any compromise is pretty damn neat.

I've done Glasto nearly solo (either working and only catching up with my friends briefly or going with a couple I barely know)  a couple of times and enjoyed it just as much.  Generally everybody is so welcoming that you feel like you're surrounded by friends anyway but definitely check out the solo campers thread as that'll be your best bet to find a group to camp with/near.

if you do have a little wobble and get hit with a brick of loneliness during the festival, just remember how much of an ordeal it is organising a group to do anything at glastonbury.  Between waiting around for friends to turn up, go to the toilet, suddenly decide that they need food, fill up a water bottle and getting distracted by shiny things sold in the stalls, getting around can take a frustrating amount of time compared to being on your own. 

[EMorgz92]

I've never been solo! But stewarding solo this year. I'm absolutely buzzing to be able to spend more time wandering, exploring, people watching and I also want to take the time to do things I haven't done before - like crafting something in the Green Fields, or visiting Lost Horizons!! Also still a bit scared of being "alone", but I do have friends who are going and I'm sure I'll make friends stewarding!

[Charm]

I’m just a bit worried about camping alone, know it will be fine in the fest as I will talk to anyone but going back to my tent by myself is sure to make me anxious. 
Charm x

[clarkete]

1 hour ago, Charm said:

I’m just a bit worried about camping alone, know it will be fine in the fest as I will talk to anyone but going back to my tent by myself is sure to make me anxious. 
Charm x

It will be all good, you make friends everywhere here and wherever you lay your hat you won't be far from an efester 😊

[deepkittycaz]

1 minute ago, clarkete said:

It will be all good, you make friends everywhere here and wherever you lay your hat you won't be far from an efester 😊

I need to try to make the efests meet this year - sadly I was on shift during the 2019 one. It sounds like a good opportunity to meet some other solo'ers.

[Crazyfool01]

1 minute ago, clarkete said:

It will be all good, you make friends everywhere here and wherever you lay your hat you won't be far from an efester 😊

Talking of laying your hats … if any solos see me … please come and say hello if you fancy a chat I’m often bimbling about on my own or anyone on here for that matter 

[Wanderlei]

I did it in 2008, and it was a great experience. Don't even feel like you have to make friends. It's brilliant when you can just wander and enjoy your own company.

[jfaragher]

I love doing festivals solo.  As others have said - not having to do all the ballache of arranging what you'll do or where you'll meet, just leaving something if you're not really enjoying it, not leaving to get to whatever your mates want to do if you are really enjoying it, pottering about, relaxing.  I do occasionally find it lonely - especially when I'm a bit run down / hungover - but I have a couple of ready-to-go plans in my head so that I don't end up moping in my van feeling sorry for myself.

Having said all this - I am genuinely delighted that my wife will be at Glastonbury with me for the first time in ~20 years, as she's finally quit teaching!

[tumbles]

11 minutes ago, crazyfool1 said:

Talking of laying your hats … if any solos see me … please come and say hello if you fancy a chat I’m often bimbling about on my own or anyone on here for that matter 

I will try. Although I am camping with friends I am generally going to be solo for most of the days I think!  I'll be the one with the very worn somerset cricket hat.. its almost ded but its survived 8 glastos so far. 

[philipsteak]

I've done varying degrees of solo. Although I volunteer so it is different. It's varied from knowing absolutely no on else, to having friends going as punters and meeting up with them. The times when I've known no one, sometimes I've made friends with people I'm working with or camping near and spent time with them, other times I've spent time when I'm not working pretty much on my own. With the occasional 5 minute friend. The group I go with now all met while going solo. We don't have a marriage yet, but we do have a couple.

And to echo everyone else, sharing those moments with your friends is amazing. Equally, not taking 40 minutes to leave camp, then stopping 5 minutes later cos someone needs a piss. Then 5 minutes after that cos someone else needs a piss and someone needs to fill their water bottle is also amazing.

[CY 2019]

Super!

Thanks for all the helpful advice!

I'll have to get involved with the solo campers groups.

The pub crawl on Thursday will be a blast 🙂

[Olshansky]

I did 2010 and 2014 alone 

I'm not bothered spending time with myself so for me it was fine.  I didn't do any of the meetups (probably should have) but made friends with tent neighbors and enjoyed not having any pressure to do anything but what I wanted to do.  It was a great time.  I'd absolutely do it alone again 

[dondo]

As I have posted previously I have done most of my Glastonburys solo working on the recycling crew.

It has its pros and cons

The pros are flexibility and being able to see the acts you want to see or just have a bimble around if you want to.  Even though I go on my own I have friends I have made on the recycling crew as well as other friends that have tickets that I will meet up with/bump into.  This will be further widened by getting to know people on here on the virtual meets (which I highly recommend) and real life meets who I'll hopefully catch up with too. I find this a really good mix.

Cons are sometimes if you are on your own and watching an act that has put on a great show you kinda wish you were with family/friends to share the moment.  I miss a bit of the social part of being back at the tent if you're camping on your own- though the recycling crew has a good bar/catering tent to wander down to.

Edited March 30, 2022 by dondo

[blue6field]

Going Solo for the first time this year, albeit I’m stewarding so as had been said on this thread I’ll al least be on shift with people, never done the efest meet before as always arrived late on the Wed, so shifts allowing would like to come along to that, finally get to meet some of you good people!