Back to Worthy Farm we go!
After Covid-19 basically put an end to hosting large gatherings for the foreseeable future in March 2020, Glastonbury festival’s main event – its 50th anniversary, no less – has been canceled for the last two years. Unsurprisingly, this news came much to the dismay of the UK’s most popular festival’s loyal fanbase.
But, some cracks of light have appeared. Glastonbury Festival has been granted a license to host a special one-day event at its home site, Worthy Farm. It’s scheduled to take place in September this year, rather than the usual June date, and will have a capacity limit of 49,999 people.
After the trademark five-day was canceled in January, organisers submitted an application to Mendip district council for this event – named Equinox – to be held. After talks with the council and local residents, the application was approved but asked for over 50 conditions to be met.
These conditions, as reported by the Somerset County Gazette, largely concern the safe running of the one-day festival during the Covid-19 pandemic. Sam Phripp, MDC’s chair of licensing, said: “Any event would have to be Covid-safe, and Mendip will work with other organisations and the organisers to make sure that’s the case.”
The event will not allow camping, and the capacity of 49,999 includes any performers and festival staff. Moreover, performances will only be held on the Pyramid Stage.
This Saturday (May 22), a live-streamed Glastonbury festival takes place, boasting sets filmed on the deserted Glastonbury site. Artists such as Coldplay, Dua Lipa, Kano, George Ezra, Haim and many more. You can catch the Live At Worthy Farm event online from 7pm.
Phripp added: “We hope that, Covid-depending, this event will be a success, and we look forward to welcoming music lovers back to our corner of Somerset this autumn.”