For over 50 years, Glastonbury Festival has reigned as one of the world’s greatest cultural events. While the marquee musical acts inspire 150,000 pilgrimages to Worthy Farm annually, they represent just a slice of this festival’s magic. Underpinning the extravaganza is a kaleidoscopic atmosphere blending music, theater, art, wellness, spirituality, community, and environmentalism into a paradise of creative expression.
From secret shows to spa sanctuaries…protest walls to champagne bars…rock stars to retailers, Glastonbury spans across nearly 900 acres bustling with endless variety. To properly experience its essence, wander beyond the main Pyramid and Other Stages to discover the delightfully weird and wonderful.
Chapter 1: Opening Weekend Rituals
The opening days of Glastonbury bring special events setting the tone for the long weekend ahead. Warm up for the revelry by:
- Witnessing the Opening Ceremony’s musical celebration at the Healing Fields on Wednesday morning. Colorfully dressed performers pipe music across the fields to awaken attendees’ spirits.
- Ooh-ing and aah-ing at the starry Fireworks Display launched on Wednesday night. Find a spot on the hill and crane necks skyward as fireworks burst in dazzling streams across the darkness – a perfect inaugural party.
- Embracing spontaneous discoveries vs rigidly scheduling every minute. Part of the magic is stumbling upon unexpected moments…so allow yourself to wander aimlessly too!
Chapter 2: Tune Into Worthy FM Radio
Worthy FM serves as Glastonbury’s own dedicated radio station broadcasting locally on 87.7 FM. Launched in 2007 after the BBC pulled out of providing coverage, Worthy FM keeps attendees tuned into the latest news, updates, secret set rumors, weather alerts, and other happenings to enhance the experience.
Beyond real-time announcements, it also streams archived live recordings of previous festival performances! So tune in from home or onsite across the weekend to discover entire uniheard vintages sets from iconic acts like David Bowie, Orbital, Pulp, and Amy Winehouse.
Chapter 3: Quench Your Thirst on a Glasto Pub Crawl
With over 100 bars spanning beers to boutique wineries dotting the sprawling landscape, a rollicking pub crawl makes for a merry activity. While individual favorites abound, below is a starter trail of highlights:
- The historic, cider-slinging Stone Circle Bar located aptly within the Stones themselves
- Alice in Wonderland-esque Rabbit Hole inn pouring Pilton Palais Festival Ale
- Steampunk time-traveling pirate ship bar The Rum Shack serving over 101 rums
- NYC Downlow’s legendary immersive underground club with secret tunnels and debaucherous dancefloors
- The Astrolabe celestial glass tavern adrift the astral planes
- Gully Inn warehouse pumping 90s hip hop and garage/rave nostalgia
Work up that thirst dancing across the arena, then discover a new favorite refreshment portal! The variety ensures beer buffs, wine connoisseurs, and cocktail lovers alike joyously imbibe their fill.
Chapter 4: Embrace Getting Lost in The Green Fields
This creative hub offers a portal into Glastonbury’s hippie soul with areas like:
*Greencrafts -* Learn artisan skills from stone carving to basket weaving with Glasto’s community of creators
Healing Field – Get your chakras aligned, aura read by mystics, or experience sound baths
The Temple – Craft prayer flags imbued with manifestation energy
The Common – Build recycled art, enjoy medicinal mushroom soup from the Magic Hat
And much more! Across 30+ acres, it’s impossible to uncover all the Green Fields magic so embrace intentionally wandering aimlessly. Discover surprise activism performance art or innovative eco-solutions serendipitously. Expect abundant inspiration, consciousness-expanding workshops, futurology discoveries and blissful vibes in the Fields!
Chapter 5: Discover Secret Sets by Superstars
Unannounced special performances happen annually! Keep eyes glued to the paper schedules posted around and Worthy FM announcements for covert confirmations.
Hot rumors circulating for 2023 already include:
1. Elton John late night show at the 550-capacity Pussy Parlure
2. Beyoncé DJ set under her Sasha Fierce alias at NYC Downlow
Part of Glastonbury’s magic is stumbling upon these once-in-a-lifetime impromptu moments. Linger near smaller stages late nights where surprise sets often transpire!
Chapter 6: Indulge Body & Soul through Pampering
Beyond standard food stalls, venture into specialized sanctuaries offering indulgent pampering of mind-body-spirit:
- The Genius Bar – Sample futuristic dishes like lab-grown meat, insect protein, spirulina, and innovative vegan molecular gastronomy.
- The Heaven Dome – Sensory experiences like group reiki sessions, medicinal cacao ceremonies, sound baths and gong baths to cleanse the soul.
- The Sanctuary – Silent darkness meditation domes saturated in soothing binaunral audio landscapes and therapeutic fragrances.
- Fair Ground Cafe – Relax over refreshing cucumber, apple and ginger cold press juices.
Through these sanctuaries and more, refresh your body and spirit between revelries!
Chapter 7: Marvel at Mutant Vehicles Across the Landscape
Glastonbury invites attendees to roam an imaginative landscape dotted with delightful architectural marvels and art. Specific landmarks include:
The Ribbon Tower – Gaze over the full festival panorama from 100 feet high through a kaleidoscope tunnel
The Great Stage – Climb colossal timber sculptures and pose atop this sprawling monument fashioned from reclaimed materials
Stone Circle – Rest among the Stoneshed at this ancient Neolithic monument humming with sacred geomagnetic energy
The Crow’s Nest – Perch in a nest-like woven willow dome Bambooze bar
Hitch rides across the fields aboard art cars and mutant vehicles like the Blunder Bus or Sky Train soaring above trailing comets.
Chapter 8: Celebrate Sustainability
Glastonbury honors environmentalism and social consciousness through areas like:
Greenpeace Field – Inhabit hand-sculpted hobbit homes and igloos while learning about ecological activism
WaterAid – Bring own bottles to fill for free at WaterAid stands providing clean drinking water globally
Oxfam Field – Shop second-hand bargains with proceeds fighting poverty
Healing Field – Discuss universal justice and wellbeing
Speakers Forum – Digest talks on ethical consciousness
Glastonbury aligns with organizations aiming for a better world. Between dancing, connect with causes calling you!
Chapter 9: Come Together in Community
Above all, Glastonbury signifies togetherness as attendees find unity through:
- All-night marathon dance raves at NYC Downlow
- Mass singalongs of Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ On A Prayer” across Pyramid Stage fields
- Spontaneously joining peace circles, silent disco yoga classes, group fire breathwork sessions
On Worthy Farm, strangers become family amid the ephemeral magic. Partake complementary sound healing therapies or traverse tunnels with new friends. Discover why Glastonbury promises much more than chart-toppers alone through connections and collective effervescence!
Chapter 10: Catch a Circus & Some Comedy
Contrast musical acts with entertainment like:
Circus & Cabaret Arena – Jaw dropping circus theatrics, cabaret, and burlesque daring acts
Comedy & Cabaret Tent – Stand up comedy, improv, drag shows, competitions and open mics
Pilton Palais Cinema Tent – Outdoor screenings, singalongs like Moulin Rouge, Sofia Coppola Q&As
Kidzfield – Storytelling, workshops, music, play zone exclusively for children
Teenage Kicks – Events for 13-17 year-olds avoiding potentially explicit content
Laughing lengthens life – and Glastonbury offers endless amusement beyond tunes!
Chapter 11: Further Afield – Hidden Venues
Imbibe underground creative counterculture by sniffing out covert venues like:
Rabbit Hole – Follow thepsychedelic pied-piper to this trippy burrow for bands and DJs
Toad Hall – Within a sculpture resembling a giant regal toadhead, dance in the jewel-hued innards!
The Underground Piano Bar – Weave through passageways near Stone Circle to discover candlelit pianists and classical raves
Gully Stage – Tucked away oasis for poetry readings and acoustic acts daytimes; DJ dance club nights
Unfair Ground – Avant-garde arts plus piercing underground techno/acid house soundtracks
The Rum Shack Backstage – Access exclusive secret gin parlour via performing on the mechanical pirate ship stage
Navigating Glastonbury’s hidden gems earns euphoric rewards!
Chapter 12: Sunrise Over the Stones
While silent discos pump until sunrise, also wake early to experience:
Stone Circle Sunrise – Watch daybreak over the ancient stoneshed with chill electronic beats Worthy FM
The Park – Yoga sessions like laughter yoga amidst the central green gardens
Healing Field – Start days with sound healing, meditation, permaculture lessons
The Tipi Field – Sip smoothies, take part in spiritual gatherings within the canvas village
Embrace Glastonbury’s peaceful pockets by rising with the sun!
Chapter 13: Getting Around Glastonbury Festival
With endless attractions across 900 acres, pace journeys through:
- Illuminated walkways stringing zones together so wander aimlessly
- Camp nearby venues of interest or establish a homebase tent
- Coaches circle site on routes like Broadway, Springfield Road, Pennard Way
- Pedicabs ferry passengers to destinations for tips
- Mutant vehicles like the Blunder Bus or Magic Party Elevator for novel transport
- Mark waypoints in smartphone maps to navigate unfamiliar land
Most importantly, build in buffer time for catching performances in case trekking takes longer than expected!
Chapter 14: Insider Tips From the Glasto Community
For additional guidance about optimizing the Glastonbury experience straight from the experts, read words of collective wisdom below:
“Pack baby wipes – the best festival hygiene hack. Use them to clean hands and faces on the move.” – Sarah H., 5x Glasto Veteran
“Grab food from stalls early/late when queues are shorter and venues restock!” – Jamie T., Food Vendor
“Secret sets often get revealed last minute on the schedules posted around so keep checking!” – Lauren O., Glastonbury Radio
“Have meeting points in multiple areas if friends separate, like flags next to stages or weird landmarks.” – Mikka D., Glastonbury Performer
Got your own questions about making the most of Glastonbury? Ask in the comments below and we can crowdsource pro tips from past attendees!
Final Thoughts
Navigating Glastonbury Festival goes far beyond the challenge of parsing the packed music lineup itself – with endless fields and a schedule spanning 5 intense days, the sheer scale seems daunting.
Yet year upon year, thousands flock to Worth Farm heartened by plentiful pleasures promised beyond world-class chart-topping sets. Underpinning the headliner hullabaloo awaits a wonderland dripping with delightful Distractions, from cinema sanctuaries to stone circle sunrise gatherings…healing sound baths to hitchhiking mutant vehicles whizzing past in shimmering comets…all unified by the infectious spirit of camaraderie breeding fast friendships over spontaneous peace circle dances.
Arrive open-minded, embrace getting wonderfully lost in the fray, and let curiosity guide your Trail into the fields – skipping between secret poetry readings, culinary wizardry winkles, group past life regression therapy sessions or bands brandishing flaming bagpipes!
Use this definitive list highlighting 50+ things do to at Glastonbury serving up both greatest hits and uncover hidden gems for your choose-your-own-adventure itinerary across the long weekend. Here’s to reveling with the magic awaiting!