Web exclusive: Bestival the spectacular

Festivals, like Marmite, you either love them or hate them. My last festival, in July, was Latitude in Norfolk, which has been described as the “Waitrose of Festivals”. When I was tracking down tickets for the Isle of Wight’s Bestival, a friend, Laura, who lives on the island and is an experienced festival go-er, described it as “a more traditional festival – and magical”. I was intrigued.
    
Laura and I arrived late Friday evening, and were greeted by a spectacular sunset. It was warm and strangers smiled. From the top of the hill we looked down at a sea of colours, the landscape decorated with stars, balloons, flags and, of course, tents – so many tents. As we journeyed further into the festival the noises became familiar. The atmosphere hummed with happiness and solidarity. There is something special about thousands of people gathering together, in this case 12,000.