Opening / Closing Ceremony

[payneruk]

In following the Olympics/Pararlympics wouldn't it be cool to have opening and closing ceremonies. Not sure how it would work but it would be cool if it did.

[Kyelo]

Maybe an opening parade on the Thursday with all the entertainers and vehicles would be cool, no point in a closing one as everybody would be wrecked and watching stuff or partying!

[thesecretingredientiscrime]

There already is an opening one on the Wednesday.

[Kyelo]

There already is an opening one on the Wednesday.

[Mud Dweller]

Strummervilles campfire is our very own Olympic flame

[Pinhead]

Its a good point and I've often wondered why Glasto doesn't have an official one (though there are a number of events that could be interpreted as such from some areas of the site and other one-offs from year to year).

Years ago the fireworks on Friday night felt a bit like the 'opening event', but with official 5 days running now this does not really have the same relevance I guess.

I suppose they let the performances speak for themselves and the different areas are no doubt permitted to submit any plans they might have for one of their own.

[Pinhead]

There is?!

[thesecretingredientiscrime]

Probably means the Cider Bus meet. The eFests football opener a few years back could be seen as an example of one organised by a specific party, though the logistics needed to get this approved at the time exposed just how difficult it is to clear this sort of thing these days with the festival organisers. A pity since it effectively removes much of the spontaneity that could lead to some good opening events kicking off around the site Wed / Thur / Fri.

[Pinhead]

Ah, right I'm with you now.

Think WOMAD has some sort of opening parade doesn't it?

[dan05delaney]

Isn't there usually some sort of event up stone circle... with fireworks and stuff... or was I just drunk :/

[UEF]

This would be a great idea. Do it on Friday (so as not to rush more people onsite earlier in the week) then something on Sunday maybe earlier in the day (again so as not to cause issues with people 'hanging on' til the last minute)

I guess Glasto isn't big on having "one focal point"... I dare say there's not an area on the site where ALL ticket holders could congregate at once (though I'd bet the Pyramid field and surrounding area during the World Cup in 2010 could challenge that)

Edited April 29, 2013 by UEF

[payneruk]

I'm thinking each stage / area could have their own ceremony so each would be different in their own way. Plus if they all set off fireworks/pyrotechnics at the same time the site as a whole would look pretty amazing!

[Pinhead]

That big pyrotechnic thing in around what I thought was Glebeland nr Ped C, organised by Mutoid Waste (?) used to be a sort of psychological start of the festi for me. Oh, and the druid ceremony up in King's Meadow sort of.

[Wanderlei]

Please, no! Opening and closing ceremonies are SOOO boring. The 2012 Olympics opening and closing ceremonies were the best ceremonies ever and they still sucked. If there's cash left over for ceremonies they should be bringing in bigger headliners! lol

[incident]

There used to be a closing ceremony in the Green Fields, with the burning of the Wicker Figures.

Not heard of it happening for a few years, so it might have stopped.

[payneruk]

Or the NY NYE ball drop onto the Pyramid.

[kingjamma]

Isn't there usually some sort of event up stone circle... with fireworks and stuff... or was I just drunk :/

[pehaw]

Please, no! Opening and closing ceremonies are SOOO boring. The 2012 Olympics opening and closing ceremonies were the best ceremonies ever and they still sucked.

[dan05delaney]

Yep, there was that thing where they set fire to a paper mache phoenix and set off a load of fire works, or something along those lines. I was pretty gone at that point! I'm definitely heading there again this time, was an awesome laugh dancing with the guy playing the bagpipes last time.

[eoinca]

There was loads of fireworks etc on the Wednesday in 2011.

[kingjamma]

yeah was I there with you when it happened? and I'm definitely gonna head there too... see what fun there is

[dan05delaney]

Yep, if I remember correctly we went on a mental one after it finished.

[kingjamma]

yeah gin and orange in some bar... same again this year?