Your unofficial - official start to the festival

[StoneCircle]

We set off on Monday and stay overnight in a campsite behind a pub, so meeting up with friends there highers the excitement levels. As we are in the East campervan fields we set up on Tuesday and that is the start of the festival for me.

Seeing old friends, having a BBQ and a few drinks, everyone around you is so excited about whats to follow. 

[youngatheart]

BBQ on tuesday night in campsite west with a couple of beers 

[BambooShanks]

There is no sweeter beer than the one cracked after finally getting your tent up. 

Seeing Glastonbury from a distance, being in the queues and getting your wristband are all moments where it starts to feel real but it's only when I'm set up can I feel that the festival can properly begin.

 

I'm getting bloody excited now.  The next 90 odd days can not go quick enough!

[gigpusher]

My key excitement bits are

1. Stopping at Gloucester services to pick up some bits to eat when we arrive

2. Queuing to get into the campervan fields

3. Getting everything set up and finally getting to sit down

4. The BBQ or Picnic the night before

5. The queue to get in. 

6. The first sit down up at the park by the Glastonbury sign then you know you're home!!

[Seldom Seen Kid]

There's a few mini moments on the way; sitting in Manchester coach station on the Tuesday night with other festival people, the final approach on the bus in the morning and getting the wristband on, but  I'm a bundle of mixed emotions until I'm in. The real start is once the tent is up and a drink is in hand, I'm sat on the grass and feeling like I'm home.

[giantkatestacks]

Normally on the coach coming round that corner and getting your first glimpse of the site. I always want to start whooping but noone else makes a noise so I am whooping inside my head.

[Mardy]

Just now, giantkatestacks said:

Normally on the coach coming round that corner and getting your first glimpse of the site. I always want to start whooping but noone else makes a noise so I am whooping inside my head.

Exactly this. Craning my neck to get that first sight. Usually the JP tent or something. I almost burst with excitement at that point. Then remember there’s an hour of queuing, lugging the gear across site and putting the tent up. But just for that briefest of moments, as the medieval view of those tents and flags and bunting appears framed by the hedgerows, ah man, if i could bottle that...

[jonnyisRFC]

Leaving work on the Tuesday before is one of the best feelings in the world. 

[Badlands]

I'm usually a bundle of nervous energy all the way through till Thursday. I rarely get a proper nights sleep on  Monday with the anticipation, so I'm knackered on Tuesday. Then it's the 9pm drive through the night in our convoy, with loads of delays due to our negligence in checking to see if the route has  over night closures (3 years on the trot that's happened!!).

The fun starts as soon as the car is parked up. A few cans and hugs meeting up with our pals from Sheffield, then to get stuck into the queue.

[Avalon_Fields]

7 hours ago, baggienick68 said:

Jumping in my lovely old campervan and heading down the M5 full of expectations.

Yeah, me too, and passing the first few cars or CVs that are obviously heading the same way, and giving them a wave!

[bombfrog]

8 hours ago, JoeyT said:

- First drink after tent is up?

This. Can't concentrate on anything else until this is done.

[carlosj]

Walking past the long drops at Gate C with a new wristband, and getting inside the site, through to Avalon and the Park, with a drink. The long drops themselves aren't the highlight, except for the door bangs.

A sentimental moment for that noise.

[stuartbert two hats]

Actually, once I've bought a couple of hats is quite a moment.

[oneeye]

Out of Office on.

[deebeedoobee]

Tuesday evening with the traditional village meeting of friends and visitors, in the Crown inn, Pilton. 

[bennyhana22]

1 hour ago, carlosj said:

 The long drops themselves aren't the highlight, except for the door bangs.

A sentimental moment for that noise.

It’s my text alert tone. I’m never changing it...

Ben

[ourkid1984]

For me it's the same for every festival. The moment when I see the festival site for the first time. 2016 was my first Glastonbury and my first glance was the best.

[deebeedoobee]

3 hours ago, bennyhana22 said:

It’s my text alert tone. I’m never changing it...

Ben

As you know I have the same text alert. The looks I get when people hear it! Worth every minute of recording the sound.

[Funkyfairy!]

Top of cv east Tuesday night sitting on the hill meeting friends and the feeling of excitement for what’s to come 

Edited March 29, 2019 by Funkyfairy!

[WillyC3000]

Always the first tin after the tent is up.

[Ayrshire Chris]

4 hours ago, bennyhana22 said:

It’s my text alert tone. I’m never changing it...

Ben

I am definitely going to make a recording of that wonderful sound this year. Incredible how you become immune to it after the first day. Remember blackadders quote, going like a privy door when the plagues in town. 

[sedra]

Finally packing up car, putting tickets in bag and setting off at 6am to drive through Dorset villages  on our traditional route cross country - usually getting stuck behind a milk lorry on the way- when we drive past Castle Cary station and see all the queues of people lining up for the shuttle and then pass the drop off point at BWSG and put the car park sticker on and know we are nearly there! 

[MetaKate]

The excitement kind of begins for me when I get on the plane from Canada. I tend to go somewhere beforehand (greece this year) but that's the first hint that vacation had started. I get excited again when I get to London and buy all my food/liquor etc supplies. Shopping in your stores is different and it's super exciting to buy/try new stuff.

The morning, the train, the line, the bus, the line, the bracelet (not excited yet but its building). Theres a slight relief after the bracelet is done. The trek to the camping spot... popping up the tent and throwing everything in. That's the moment for me. Holy shit we made it again and we're here and the entire festival is in front of us. 

[ian the worm]

When my Mrs finally cracks and tells me to “JUST GO NOW!”. These days it’s usually on the Sunday afternoon but with the fallow year I’m hoping for at least Sunday morning or possibly Saturday evening. 

[Robofish]

Tent up, beer opened, and a hug. (Stranger or friend, doesn’t matter which).