Secret Garden Party is quite simply one of the best festivals the UK has to offer. With its incredible attention to detail, jaw dropping art installations, impressive sound system this is a serious party that is rivaled by only a few. For veteran SGP goers this is the social event of the year and for the virgins well prepare for an experience you are unlikely to forget. Taking place in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire between the 24th and 27th of July, Secret Garden Party boasts two Lakes, an Action Camp, a party in the woods, plenty of arty farty stuff and of course first class entertainment. What SGP lacks in big names on its line up it makes up for in atmosphere and eccentricity.
Lucky for anyone who still wants to go tickets are still available and anyone in their right mind should try and get hold of one and here are a few reasons why:
Go for a swim
Long before Glastonbury talked about building their own pool Secret Garden Party had its lake and for years the gardeners have been enjoying a nice refreshing dip in it. Since 2013 and to cope with a growing demand of swimmers SGP built a man made lake, which is solely for swimming and sits on the other side of the site. On a hot summers day and after a heavy night spent raving a nice dip in a cool pool is the perfect way to recover.
Pretend to be a gladiator
Infamous for its nighttime parties the games arena (formerly known as the collisillium) has also some pretty decent daytime activities and that generally includes a naked mud fight. So come and find out if you are man or woman enough to face your destiny in this infamous arena. (It’s also a great way to let out some steam)
Check out The Forum
Who said music festivals couldn’t be educational? When you party like an animal sometimes you need to take a break and what better way to do so then to get your brain cells working again. The Forum is the place where you can take a break from the party and titillate your academic taste buds. Last year David Nutt gave a very interesting speech on drugs and David Icke talked about his leftfield views. This year will undoubtedly also have its fair share of interesting talkers.
Become a naturist
SGP is all about discovering yourself and letting the festival take over. This is not a place where you come to look for something, instead that something will find you. And maybe you’ve always wanted to be a naturist and what better way to enjoy your body in all its glory then to do it with like-minded people. Back in the day Secret Garden Party even had its very own naked rave, which would take place on the Saturday, whether this will be the case again this year we don’t know but there’s a chance.
Go to the Lake and Pagoda stages
With their beautiful views the Lake and The Pagoda stage are some of the best spots for a dance. Sitting in the middle of the lake and only accessible via canoe transfers The Lake stage is also great fun and one of the most exclusive places of the festival. If you fear you might feel a bit claustrophobic in the middle of the lake then check out The Pagoda instead which sits on the edge of the lake and has some of the best DJs playing on the decks.
Pamper yourself
Secret Garden Party has a whole sanctuary village dedicated to the sole purpose of making you feel amazing. You can enjoy a fresh face do (and you will feel like you need it too), a fresh hair do too, and massages and even attend yoga and meditation classes. Anything that you might give you the energy to power through you find in this eden.
Watch the fireworks
Every SGP is different, you enter its gates and the familiar site has slightly changed and new adventures await. One thing that doesn’t change though is its Saturday night fireworks, which are always packed with a huge audience ready to be dazzled by fire.
Get ready to paint fight
This infamous event, which takes place on the Sunday is not to be missed. Virgins fight veterans and the result is a colourful mess which sums up Secret Garden Party.
Party hard
It says so on the website and if you’ve been then you know that this is a serious party and therefore you have to give it all you got. Whether at the Temple of Boom or Pagoda or even in the Drop there’s always a stage for you to show off your dance moves and there’s always a DJ that will blow your mind with new beats that you’ll never hear anywhere else again.
Meet new people
Secret Garden Party is great place to meet new people, whether they are freaks, goblins or your average Joe, there will be someone there that will spark a conversation (or maybe that will be you). This is a place where you can make friends for life as they just like you have discovered the wonders of the garden.
If none of this does it for you then maybe you’re not human, only joking (maybe) but how could you not want to be part of this amazing adventure?
For more details on Secret Garden Party head to their website.
