The legendary Glastonbury Festival is known just as much for its vibrant array of entertainment and attractions as it is for the epic musical lineup. Beyond the main stages, you’ll find a colorful wonderland of arts, theater, and old-fashioned fun at the aptly named Unfairground. Whether you’re a Glastonbury veteran or a first-timer, no visit is complete without spending time at this magical and thrilling corner of the festival.
Table of Contents
Overview of The Unfairground
The Unfairground has been a beloved fixture at Glastonbury since the early 1980s. Located in a dedicated field within the festival grounds, it offers a dazzling lineup of amusements and curiosities to delight festivarians of all ages. Here you’ll find traditional rides and games like the helter-skelter, coconut shy, and dodgem cars interspersed with unique attractions like the mirror maze and fire pit.
When the sun goes down, the Unfairground transforms into a neon-lit playground full of late-night entertainment. Festivarians flock here to enjoy the carnival atmosphere, with food stands selling hot cinnamon churros, sweet shops overflowing with candy, and talented buskers on every corner. It’s no wonder the Unfairground has reached an almost mythical status at Glastonbury Festival over the past 40 years.
History and Origins
The concept for the Unfairground was first dreamed up by Arabella Churchill, the original organizer and driving force behind the Glastonbury Festival in its early days. She wanted to create a magical, mystical playground harking back to old-fashioned village fairs and traveling circuses.
The first primitive Unfairground debuted in 1981, with a few simple stalls and attractions scattered around the festival site. It quickly became a hit among festivarians seeking a break from the music stages or alternative entertainment to spark their imagination.
Over the years, more rides and features were added to transform the Unfairground into the sprawling, surreal wonderland it is today. It now spans over 4 acres with hundreds of attractions showcasing international performers and experts at their crafts. From sword swallowers to fire jugglers, tightrope walkers to dancing robots – you never know what fantastical sight you might discover next at the Unfairground!
Key Areas and Zones
The vibrant expanse of the Unfairground holds different zones, each with their own distinctive flavors:
Jubilee Field: This is the heart of the action where spectacular rides like the helter-skelter tower over festivarians. Classic fairground games, food carts, and arcade stalls also line the bustling alleyways.
Naughty Corner: True to its cheeky name, here you can get a tarot reading, have your fortune told, or learn fire eating and other quirky circus skills at the Sideshow School.
The In-Between: Festivarians come to chill in this ambient space amongst new age therapies, holistic workshops, and healing. Massage therapies, sound baths, and meditation sessions happen here.
Trash City: Fringe performers and street theater performers gravitate towards this punk zone for edgy late-night gatherings. Expect pyrotechnics, eccentric costumes, and circus punk abandon.
Kidz Field: Families with little ones find rides, games, and entertainment perfect for younger ages to enjoy the carnival excitement too.
And connecting it all are vibrant streets where buskers, food carts, and colorful stalls set the mood. Wandering these crowded bazaar-like alleys is half the delight of the Unfairground!
Navigating Your Way to the Unfairground
The sprawling Unfairground is located between the Jazz Stage, Theatre and Circus, and Left Field areas of the Glastonbury festival grounds. Some key landmarks to look out for include:
- The giant crane with glittering lights that towers over the skyline
- Flags and banners with the Unfairground’s “U” logo
- Signposts pointing the way towards unusual amusements
If you get turned around among the tents and crowds, ask any steward or vendor for directions, or consult the official festival map. Several main footpaths cut through the site, including the Railway Track that links two of the main stages. Following these familiar routes can help you orient yourself on the long journey to the magical Unfairground.
Tips for Reaching the Unfairground Faster
With sprawling fields and massive crowds, navigating your way through the 900 acres of Glastonbury grounds can be dizzying for first-timers. Here are some insider tips for reaching the Unfairground faster:
Go Early
Aim to arrive first thing when gates open to beat the intense foot traffic. The crowds and queues will only multiply as each day progresses. Getting an early start lets you enjoy attractions at the Unfairground with shorter wait times.
Travel Light
Don’t weigh yourself down with heavy luggage, gear, or supplies. Pack smart in a compact backpack so you can navigate faster without struggling your way through muddy fields. Consider renting a locker to store non-essentials.
Wear Sturdy Shoes
Break in your shoes long before arriving as you could easily walk 10+ miles per day at Glastonbury! Comfortable, waterproof boots will prevent misery. Many festivarians decorate their footwear with bright colors, glitter, and graffiti to embrace the creative spirit.
Use the Back Paths
Spot shortcuts between tents and areas that stray off the heavily trodden main drag for lighter foot traffic and obstacles. Being nimble and ducking down side paths could shave crucial time off your journey.
Take Pit Stops
Schedule occasional breaks so you don’t get overwhelmed trudging across the sprawling site. Hydrating, refueling, and resting those weary feet will make the long hike to the Unfairground more pleasant. You set the pace!
Top Unfairground Rides and Attractions
Once you enter the neon paradise of the Unfairground, an endless array of rides, games, and entertainment await. Here are some must-do attractions you won’t want to miss:
The Helter Skelter
A Glastonbury Legend Since 2000
This epic helter-skelter tower has been constructed from old oil rig parts and stands over 55 feet high, making it the largest ride of its kind in Europe. Festivarians flock here to queue up for a thrilling slide down the steep spiral on sackcloth mats. With its rustic scaffolding and patched-together construction, this landmark ride has become a site of pilgrimage for Glastonbury fans.
The helter-skelter only debuted at Glastonbury in 2000 but quickly gained legendary status. One of the key designers and builders behind the giant spiral vision was eccentric engineer Bill Drummond of KLF fame. He pioneered a unique recycled aesthetic utilizing discarded oil rigs and industrial junk parts to assemble the structure. This fittingly aligned with Glastonbury’s sustainability ethos and innovation with recycling ‘waste’ into art and experiences.
Over the years, various legends and myths have emerged about the iconic structure:
- It was first modeled using dried spaghetti noodles glued together to get the spiral ramp angles right
- One festivarian rode the helter-skelter 120 times in a single day back in 2003 (unverified)
- A “love lock” garden featuring padlocks engraved with couples’ names has sprung up at the entrance as they queue for their turn
Riding down the rickety wooden slats under strings of rainbow lights, the helter-skelter gives an unmatched birds-eye view across the Glastonbury valley at sunset. Just be prepared for the thrill – you could hit speeds up to 35mph before a hillbilly band greets you at the bottom!
This Glastonbury centerpiece encapsulates the creativity and community spirit that makes the Unfairground such a magical realm for festivarians.
The Mirror Maze
Enter If You Dare…
This disorienting mirror maze promises giggles and confusion in equal measure as you attempt to navigate through its corridors of mirrors. The walls, ceilings, and floors reflect kaleidoscopic distortions of yourself and other lost souls trying to find the way out. Beware dead-ends that will have you doubling back, and other surprise elements waiting within. Expect the unexpected!
While most festivals might offer run-of-the-mill entertainment like Ferris wheels and Dodgems, trust Glastonbury to deliver far more envelope-pushing and experimental options. The legendary mirror maze has reached cult status since its addition in 2014 for delivering surreal thrills.
This carefully constructed house of mirrors and illusions took expert designers over five months to handcraft. Only non-toxic materials were used across its 500 square meters of reflective surfaces. Interactive elements activate throughout your adventure, triggered by sensors that play with your senses of direction and reality.
Be prepared to confront your multiple reflections, distorted proportions, and lost sense of depth perception. Fearless visitors have reported complete disorientation, stumbling into strangers intimately, or yelping at shadows and shapes materializing from dark dead-ends. It’s all part of the hilarious horror entertainment!
But if navigating the maze becomes too much, helpers are stationed to guide you out safely. Finding the exit delivers an immense rush of relief along with the realization of how distorted your perceptions had become. The Mirror Maze plays imaginative tricks that you have to experience firsthand to appreciate its baffling glory.
The Coconut Shy
A Classic Game with Sweet Prizes
Stacks of coconuts tempt players to test their throwing skills to win tasty prizes. This traditional British fairground game has been popular for over a century, first using hard balls known as “cokers”, now using softballs. Knock down the pyramid of coconuts balanced on posts to win your choice from giant lollipops and candy floss to cuddly toys. Get ready to hurl balls while the stall vendor touts to attract crowds in this classic game of skill and luck!
While more modern video games and VR experiences have popped up at the Unfairground over the years, traditional skill games like the Coconut Shy endure thanks to their nostalgic charm. They seem plucked straight from the Victorian era to offer familiar fun. And who can resist that satisfaction of toppling the coconuts with a good throw?
You’ll need both precision and power to land enough force amid the pyramid of 3-6 coconuts. Skewering hits don’t count – only fully toppling them scores a win. Tip: aim for the highest coconut balanced on the pinpoint to take down the whole stack.
Once you prove your throwing prowess, browse the vibrant prize stall showcasing massive lollipops, generous bags of cotton candy, plushes, trinkets, caps, fidgets, and more novelty goodies. You might play multiple rounds just to snag different keepsakes and treat yourself to midway snacks.
With loud sales pitches, cheering spectators, and the alluring glow of carnival fairy lights, the Coconut Shy satisfies nostalgic cravings for old-world fun you won’t find on any video screen.
Food and Drink: Fueling Up On Fairground Flavors
All that gluttonous fun works up hearty appetites. Luckily the Unfairground serves unlimited options to satiate any cravings from time-honored carnival bites to exotic fusion flavors. You could eat your way through this foodie paradise for days!
Navigating narrow lanes choked with festivarians makes choosing just one tempting treat an impossible mission. World cuisine aromas mingle with incense and sounds of sizzling grills.
Sweet Indulgences
If you have an insatiable sweet tooth, clouds of pink spun sugar beckon you towards candy floss carts churning out the classic county fair favorite. Fluffy bundles larger than your head guarantee flavors of sugary ecstasy.
Or allow the heavenly scent of Mexican churros to lure you in. These freshly fried, cinnamon sugar sticks satisfy deep-fried cravings and make deliciously addictive snacks for carrying on adventures across Glasto. Served warm, dipped in chocolate sauce, or stuffed with dulce de leche, churros equal instant joy.
Doughnut walls are another hot trend, displaying “hole in the wall” windows lined with gourmet flavors. Brimming trays showcase decadent glazed, sprinkled, and stuffed rounds ready for grabbing. Enjoy an ever-changing array from salted caramel to maple bacon options!
Savory Bites
When you need more substantial fuel, dozens of savory street food vendors whip up quick, aromatic bites reflecting worldwide influences.
Crêpes offer sweet or salty fillings wrapped conveniently for walking. Chow down on any combination of hams, cheese, tomatoes, mushrooms, onions, spinach, chocolate hazelnut spreads, and more tucked inside delicate pancake pockets.
German sausages sizzle on grills serving hearty links paired with crunchy onion rolls and spicy mustard. These biergarten favorites make budget-friendly, protein-packed meals.
Masala dosas see chefs deftly ladle aromatic chutneys and curries into a large, crisp fried flatbread for Indian cuisine on the go.
The sheer diversity at the Unfairground dazzles the senses and palate. You may discover new addictive flavors from Ethiopian injera spongy breads to Pakistani kebabs, Chinese bao buns to Peruvian ceviche. Over 200 food traders set up shop annually so the variety evolves each year.
Check the official website for the latest lineup of exciting eateries that will be setting up a satiating shop. Then brace those tastebuds for an insatiable world tour!
Liquid Refreshments
Mere moments after losing yourself among the food stands, the heady scents shifting in the air could send you veering toward tipple temptations next.
Independent brewers offer craft pilsners, pale ales, and fruity ciders to guzzle from giant steins as you meander. Or try specialty soda carts for homemade lemonades, ginger beers, fruit frescas, and other bubbly quenchers.
Of course, hot drinks provide soothing warmth during chillier British evenings. Seek out rich espressos, steamy chai tea lattes and bad weather antidote mulled wine.
And did we mention butterbeer? The divinely creamy drink invented in Harry Potter lore has become a festivarian favorite. Sweet toffee notes spike the smooth, butterscotch beverage served hot or cold. It’s liquid magic in your mouth!
Wash down those global flavors with diverse drinks constantly pouring. With so many options everywhere you spin, proper hydration is both easy and irresistible.
The Energy After Dark
As evening descends and the Unfairground lights up in a blaze of neon, festivarians know the fun has just begun. Special events like Skylarking transform the area into a late-night party playground. Music pumps through the air as performers, dancers, and circus acts take over the streets. You’re just as likely to witness drumming circles, hip-hop shows, comedy acts, and poetry slams emerge out of nowhere in this corner pulsing with creative energy long after midnight.
The vivid nightlife also brings its share of quirky characters and unexpected sights after the sun dips. Here’s what the festivarian night owls may encounter wandering the electric alleys of Unfairground after dark:
Roving Performers
You may literally stumble across a fire juggler, hula hooper, clown, stilt-walker, or dance troupe suddenly appearing to work the crowds. Photos with some of the more bizarrely dressed characters make for fun spontaneous souvenirs!
Tip: Carry some spare change or pounds to tip volunteers roaming in creative costumes or showcasing death-defying stunts.
Themed Shows
Themed events create interactive fun like “Disco Bingo” sessions, costume karaoke parties, circus skills workshops, erotic poetry readings by candlelight, blacklight reactive bubble parades, and more. Evening programming constantly changes so spontaneous surprises wait around every corner.
Check the official Unfairground schedule to preview planned performances, then simply wander to witness improvised gatherings manifest out of thin air too!
Night Market Shopping
The abundant stalls remain brightly lit and brimming with wares until midnight or later. Take time to browse the boutique shops without noisy daytime distractions. Here you can discover handcrafted clothing, pagan jewelry, dreamcatchers, vintage vinyl, and obscure oddities. Bartering is welcome; quirky currency exchanges keep trade lively.
Leafy Hideaways
When sensory overload strikes, recharge inside peaceful gardens and holistic spaces around the Unfairground. The Green Fields offer spiritual oases with healing workshops, hot tubs, saunas, and soothing sounds. Seek out labyrinth walks, gong baths, chanting circles, and moonlit mediator meetups among the trees.
Quieter pockets create a sanctuary from the nonstop stimulation. And the enchanted forests guarantee magical sights like dancers, lanterns, and impromptu jam sessions more likely to emerge under starlight.
Late Night Nourishment
Most food vendors run hot grills into the wee hours SATISFYING those midnight munchies. Tantalizing aromas might lure you toward street food stands dishing Indian curries, Chinese dumplings, or Aussie meat pies. And plenty of hot cider and mulled wine provides festive warmth on cold nights.
Those with more vampiric constitutions can even find juice bars and smoothie outposts whipping up energizing blends from berries and bananas if 3 am hunger strikes. The all-hours fuel sources assure late, great tastes at the Unfairground around every corner.
Chilled Out Venues
When you need to refuel emotionally, the Unfairground offers various chill-out venues to decompress. The stone labyrinth makes a mindful walking meditation to recentre yourself and release negativity back into the earth.
The healing area sees holistic therapists offer sound baths, reiki, and crystal workshops. Receive a tarot reading or get crafty by making bracelets, dreamcatchers, and mandalas alongside new friends. However you recharge, the Unfairground supports soothing your spirit.
Sunrise Options
For those night owls still flying high come sunrise, keep the party pumping by joining ecstatic dance workshops. Here, move freely to transfer energy into the breaking dawn light. stems. Or hit up Morning Gloryville events in the stone circle sacred spaces with laughter yoga, insightful speakers, cacao ceremonies, and more activities promoting mindfulness as you greet the new day. Positive vibrations infuse whatever you pursue at first light in the Unfairground wonderland.
When to Visit
The Unfairground runs nonstop day and night during Glastonbury Festival’s full five-day extravaganza. But savvy festivarians plan to time their visits strategically based on goals and crowd preferences:
Mornings are best for short queues riding top attractions like the Helter Skelter with lesser wait times. Enjoy easier navigation and lighter foot traffic upon early entry when gates open at 8 am. You’ll have ample daylight for getting your bearings.
Afternoons see peak energy and crowds packing the grounds. Events and entertainment stay plentiful but queue lengths and claustrophobic congestion also escalate – stay patient!
Sunset Hours deliver dramatic views atop thrill rides like the Ferris wheel or helter-skelter spiraling over the awakening nightscape. Festoon lights also create photogenic vibrance across the carnival landscape after dark each evening.
Late Nights promise surreal attacks and adult-oriented entertainment unveiling as daylight fades. The eclectic energy intensifies in this nocturnal playground so prepare for total immersion!
Many also seek out the Unfairground upon final closing hours on Monday morning to extend the magic as long as possible before farewells. Ride the helter-skelter sunrise run or rave until the last seconds of silence. Either way, the nonstop surreal thrills run all hours!
Check the official Unfairground Map with 24-hour listings of what’s on to optimize your schedule.
Avoiding Peak Times
Braving the chaotic crowds proves integral to the Unfairground’s allure for many hardy festivarians! But those preferring smaller crowds or faster queues may want to note lighter phases:
- Early weekdays are less mobbed than prime weekend nights
- Morning and daylight hours see shorter lines than late-night mania
- Weekend late-night/overnight stretches get quieter as most revelers migrate
- End of the festival on Monday finds lighter populations overall
Ultimately the vibrant energy stays crackling 24/7 so any time holds highlights. But planning your visit timing around goals, whether people watching or riding faster, assures you maximize the delight!
Tips for Enjoying the Unfairground
While simply going with the flow allows the whimsical nature of the Unfairground to sweep you up in its unpredictable ride, a bit of preparation helps enhance the experience. Follow these top tips from veteran festivarians for getting the most magic out of your visit:
Pack Light Carry only essentials (tickets, cash, ID card) so you’re free to dart through crowds and climb over obstacles spontaneously following the fun.
Go Cashless Wristband RFID payment systems are now available across the festival site allowing cashless purchasing. Upload funds to tap-and-pay for quicker queueing.
See It Both Day & Night Schedule time to witness how the Unfairground transforms from daylight activity to a nocturnal neon-lit spectacle after sunset.
Use the Secret Shortcuts Find quicker routes criss-crossing between stages and dense tent zones revealed only to savvy festivarians. Ask stewards for the inside scoop on back paths to bypass bottleneck areas.
Download the App The official Glastonbury App has maps plus daily Unfairground schedules and last-minute lineup changes or surprise act pop-ups.
Pack a Power Bank
Recharge phones and devices frequently as lack of electricity access can drain batteries rapidly while navigating. A backup power bank keeps cameras rolling and connections flowing seamlessly.
See Something, Say Something If an attraction enthralls you, let the vendor or artist know! Buskers and performers thrive on audience energy and appreciation fuels them to push their craft further.
Most importantly, unleash your inner child to play and embrace the present moment. The Unfairground sparks imagination and creativity, so come immersed in that spirit of adventure – the magic finds you!
Can’t Get Enough? More Dazzling Sights
Even with packed programming across 400+ acres, the larger-than-life wonders never cease at Glastonbury’s aptly dubbed “Unfairground.” More family-friendly rides, enticing food and drink temptations, healing sanctuaries, and impromptu performances hide around every corner.
Make time between seeing scheduled musical acts on main stages to keep exploring this TripAdvisor top-rated zone for five years straight. At the Unfairground, entertainment stays jam-packed across all 35 acres with interactive thrills awaiting beyond just the signature attractions covered here.
Didn’t get your fill of adrenaline rushing down the legendary Giant Helter Skelter ride? Find sideline alternatives on the mini Ferris wheel or twirling teacups for gently psychedelic views across the valley landscape.
Want more games testing your aim throwing balls at targets or darts at balloons? Plenty of such analog amusements spread down the游戏巷 “game alleys” with pony rides, bouncy castles, and carnival-style shooting galleries lined up along the way. You’ll also discover mystery maze puzzles, funhouse mirrors, and VR experiences blending technological interactivity with old-school physical skill challenges.
If riding rollercoasters and 60-foot sky swings wasn’t stomach-flipping enough, amp up into extreme machine territory like the mechanical bull and bungee trampolines launching thrillseekers stratospheric. No height minimum exists preventing kids from also giving the gravity-defying jumps a go either – safety harnesses secure all brave visitors.
Feeling peckish for more international street food flavours and libations? Over 400 vendors cycle through annually so fresh finds always pour forth. What exotic elixirs, savoury sandwiches, and sugary confections might materialize this year? Surprise tastes seduce festivarians wandering further into unmapped lands beyond the periphery stalls.
And did we mention sheep races? Yes, prepare for hilarious ovine athletes chasing rainbow flags toward the finish line as crowds cheer them on enthusiastically. Just one of many examples of wonderfully weird woolly entertainment awaiting discovery!
Wherever your feet may roam between familiar zones, pause frequently to marvel at the costumed characters, visual eye candy, impromptu music, and sideshow spectacles that spring up spontaneously. No matter how many consecutive years attend, the Unfairground’s ever-evolving energy captivates lifelong.
So carve out copious hours upfront – this adult wonderland overflows with opportunities for enchantment and you won’t want to leave!
An Adventure Like No Other
As the core hub for old-world amusement and new-era creativity, the Unfairground at Glastonbury Festival offers an adventure escapade like no other. What begins as giddy excitement riding the enormous helter-skelter or screaming through the hall of mirrors soon becomes deeper awe at the passion and vision that manifests in this enthralling realm annually.
Everywhere you look glows with intricate craftsmanship, global representation, immersive theatrics, and loving detail despite the crowds and elements challenging builders nonstop. It stands as a spectacular collaborative achievement in temporary architecture, performance art, and participatory community unmatched across Europe.
And the world comes together here – both the attending crowds and the vendors themselves. The Unfairground sets an inclusive stage welcoming all nationalities to share their cultural gifts, artistic talents, culinary specialties, and far-flung curios.
The vast lineup of quality homegrown and humanitarian organizations also connects charitable causes to conscious festivarians wanting to support needed initiatives on site. Like the Glastonbury Festival overall, the lively Unfairground promotes sustainability, equality, and social responsibility through every dazzling ride, talk, workshop, and spectacle shining inspiration under the stars.
This peak of fantasy and phenomenal vision comes to life solely because thousands dedicate months to manifesting magic to share. And the awestruck crowds get to witness firsthand how individual passions fuse into an ephemeral metropolis unlike anything else the rest of the mundane world ever hosts.
For many lifelong Glastonbury faithful, the Unfairground provides a peak highlight – like their own secret city built just once for this community before disappearing overnight as mysteriously as it materialized. A visit here feels like a sacred pilgrimage to some surreal plane existing only in this five-day window…before astronauts must return reluctantly back down to earth.
But oh, what an unforgettable trip it offers every time! Whether unwinding at a massage clinic or hugging circus performers, riding the helter-skelter or the Ferris wheel sunrise run, eating like royalty or spinning glowing poi as the sunrise greets sequined revellers still grooving – the Unfairground delivers total immersion into living art.
So come ready to play and imagine beyond limits in this adult playground made for adventurous souls like you. Glastonbury’s Unfairground invites you to unwind with inner childlike wonder unrestricted by the mundane world and beam that vibrant energy out into the wider world yearning for more living magic!
Leave a Reply