If you like a bit of mystery in your life, then you might like to think about going to Shambala festival. I can tell you the date (25th – 28th August) and some basic info about it (4 days, 200 acts, 9 stages, 99% powered by the wind, sun and vegetable oil for starters), but other than that it’s a secret. I exaggerate a little – they keep the exact programme and location of the festival a secret, but from a bit of sneaky internet research it appears to be around the Northamptonshire area (on a country estate no less!).
Music is a big focus; and with nine different stages you will have plenty to choose from. There really is all sorts: dub step, drum n’ base, dub, acoustic, reggae, latin, jazz, folk and blues. They like to focus on new talent, mixing new acts with previous performers. Whatever your style, you’re sure to find something to groove to.
There is, of course, much much more available. I’ve heard many shambalaphiles giving excited about the famous Shambala Fancy Dress Carnival Procession on Saturday night. Plus there’s a “Lost Cinema”, live poetry, a woodland sculpture trail as well as comedy, workshops and even swimming in the lake.
The aim of the festival is all about discovery. Discovering fresh and cutting edge music, discovering new friends, discovering hidden talents through trying new things, discovering your inner peace and tranquillity in the secluded meadow. As far as I can see, pretty much everything you want from a festival – you can get here.
If this sounds like your cup of tea – you better get in quick as the early bird tickets have already sold out. Full priced tickets are still available however – children can go for £29 (under 5s are free), teenagers for £79 and adults for £119. If you fancy arriving in green style, there are guided cycle rides to the festival from £10 (see the website shambalafestival.org for more info)
We’re off to Big Chill in the morning so I thought I’d post a quick update before we go. Had an amazing time last year and am looking forward to experiencing some more good stuff this weekend.
Last year we cried to Lamb, discovered Steve Judd, watched a crystal healing and contemplated whether the sun is a conscious being. Other highlights were of course Orbital, the healing space and magical ambient tent hidden in a woody clearing.
The lowlights were mainly the loos, which were quite disappointing after a weekend at Sunrise Celebration and even Camp Bestival, both fully equipped with compost toilets. Perhaps they’ll have upped the green ante for 2010. On their website the green section suggests taking a coach as the cleanest method of transport closely followed by a carful of people, which is greener than a train, and advises festival goers to purchase a tent from the green tent company (Or perhaps borrow one off your mate).
Have had a great day finishing off sections of the Oct/Nov edition of The Green Parent and starting to take a look at new publication Green Events, which Jez and I are now officially the publishers of – woohoo! For the next edition of TGP we are doing a readers tried and tested with raw chocolate and we have been sent some to photograph for the feature from the lovely Jennie at Detox Your World, Lisa at the Raw Chocolate Company and also Emma at Consious Chocolate (my favouritest favourite of all raw choc bars ever!) so our office smells absolutely out of this world divine. It’s a hard knock life! Actually it’s blissful and lush and I’m loving it right now. So a big thank you to the ladies that have aided and abetted my wallowing in raw chocolate state.
Interested what the food will be like at Big Chill – have packed some superfood crackers and a basket of fruit to take with us and after that it’s pretty much what’s available on the stands – so let’s hope there are lots of adventurous vegan chefs who like experimenting with raw food. In a couple of weeks time we are going to Sunrise Off-Grid, which promises the Buddhafield Cafe and Pachamamas. Then in September we are going to Out of the Ordinary, which is just down the road from us.
I also really fancy Rivenstone on Dartmoor at the beginning of September with the lush and super earthy Carolyn Hillyer and also a yoga festival that I just got wind of around the Equinox, called the Yoga Groove Festival, which is based in Seaford, East Sussex.
So anyway, better go and pack some festival kit. Where are you off to this summer? Share your favourite festivals here…
Yay – we are off to spend the weekend at the newest most exciting green festival this weekend – Sunrise Off Grid is going to be blowing people’s minds in Somerset from 20-23rd August. There is so much going on but these are a few highlights:
KIDS AREA complete with Forest School where festival pixies can learn to build dens, make fires and even create a totem pole!
LOADS OF DELICIOUS ORGANIC VEGGIE FOOD AND DRINK I’m looking forward to a vegan breakfast at the lovely Buddhafield cafe and chai at the Chai Chapel accompanied by a drumming circle. Mmmm – roll on the weekend!
FIREWALKING ceremony to be held on Sunday night complete with percussionists and firedancers.
ENERGY ALCHEMY A workshop from the lovely Natalie Fee about how to change everyday stresses into creativity and awareness. Come along and change your life!
GET CREATIVE with stone carving, stove building, herb walks and pottery workshops.
MIND EXPANSION WITH JONATHAN CAINER Discover how to build your own time machine and all your questions about astrology answered.
PERMACULTURE WORKSHOP with Patrick Whitefield, which is bound to go deep into the practical application of permaculture.
A CHANCE TO MEET WILD FOOD GURU Fergus Drennan who’s leading wild food walks around the site and showing how to make paper from mushrooms. yes, really!
AND US We’re going to be doing a workshop on sustainable parenting and why it’s so important.
Of course, there’s loads of other juicy stuff going on – check out the website here to find out why it’s the place to be this weekend.
We are off to the unschooling conference this weekend in London. Really looking forward to all the talks, workshops and activities on offer. As well as the chance to meet other home educators and get inspired. It takes place on Saturday 25th July at The Music Room, just off Oxford Street.
There’ll be lectures from Dayna Martin, radical unschooler, author of Radical Unschooling: A Revolution has Begun, la leche league leader, natural birth educator … (I can’t wait to meet this incredible woman!), Matthew Speno, educational consultant and unschooling dad, Wendy Lewis, home educated illustrator of the brilliant practical guides to HE – Unqualified Education and One to One and many other speakers.
The crystal reiki workshop for adults and children will really appeal to my eldest daughter, whilst yoga for families is where my youngest will make a beeline for. All of us are looking forward to creating art with Emma Neuberg. If you would like to attend, I believe that there are still tickets available. Visit The London Unschooling Conference for more information.
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