It’s almost time for Beacons Festival again – the cutting edge music and arts festival found deep in the Yorkshire Moors, which found a new home and a new name in 2011. Previously known as the Moor Festival, Beacons is a haven for those with a love of eclectic and diverse music, interactive art, spoken word, film, theatre and lots, lots more. Beacons main event is still a House, Deep House, Indie and Jazz based music festival but it has evolved in to much more besides.
With a capacity of just over 2,500 Beacons is small enough to retain a comforting garden party atmosphere while playing host to the best musical and artistic talent, both local and national. For a full rundown of this year’s festival, which kicks off Thursday 15 August, have a look at the website here greetingsfrombeacons.com.
But for a sneak peak of the best of Beacons Festival 2013, check out our top five tips for things to see and do if you’re on your way to a weekend of fun, music, art and learning in the spectacular North Yorkshire moors.
CATCH A FILM
If you’re a film geek Thursday is the all night film festival and you can get yourself down to the Into the Woods tent for an amazing film night. You’ll be able to choose from movies including Sightseers, The Arbor, the classic Rita, Sue & Bob Too, The Yes Men Fix The World and various Aesthetica shorts. Dip in and out or settle in for the long haul – either way you’re bound to expand your mind and find something you’ll love. There’s also a Q&A session with Shane Meadows!
EXPERIENCE SPEEDQUIZZING
In what could be a first for a music festival, there is going to be a pub quiz on the opening night – but a pub quiz with a difference. Utilising the SpeedQuizzing technology the quiz will centre around music questions and enable teams to play along using their smartphones and the speedquizzing app. The majority of the questions will be about Festivals and Beacons Festival in particular with videos and pics of the artists playing sent direct to your phone for you to answer questions on – giving a taster of the weekend to come. If you want to check out SpeedQuizzing at Beacons then make your way to the Real Ale tent at 7pm sharp and you could be in with a chance to win the big prize of a group ticket for Beacons Festival 2014 – worth £500!
DIDDY RASCALS
Beacons is a family friendly festival and this year has an entire green field site with special facilities and amenities for families and kids. With loads of entertainment for children of all ages there is also a family friendly campsite with great facilities and plenty of space for baby changing. Check out the parents and kids breakfast club and take part in the many activities for kids, including fancy dress, parades and the Ladybird Project.
ARTS & MINDS
All day and all night you’ll find something to fulfil your artistic sensibilities at the Arts & Minds tent. Spoken word and lyrical geniuses abound, including Mr Beaumont’s Platter that Matters and the sessions where you can take part in reading all night by torchlight. Loads of spoken word, slam poetry and workshops will be taking place throughout the weekend so if you want a break from the music stages to refresh your mind and soul, you know exactly where to come!
EAT WELL
Yep, in addition to the music, arts, children’s activities and gorgeous setting there is also going to be the best festival food you can imagine on offer. If you’re a bona fide carnivore and have been suffering through a summer of rubbish barbecues then you have to check out Reds BBQ. They have everything you can imagine on offer, including pulled pork and amazing salmon. All the meat is ethically sourced and is guaranteed to taste absolutely divine. Dig in!
Marc
Marc is a self-confessed nerd. Ever since seeing Star Wars for the first time around 1979 he’s been an unapologetic fan of the Wars and still believes, with Clone Wars and now Underworld, we are yet to see the best Star Wars. He’s a dad of two who now doesn’t have the time (or money) to collect the amount of toys, comics, movies and books he once did, much to the relief of his long-suffering wife. In the real world he’s a graphic designer. He started Following the Nerd because he was tired of searching a million sites every day for all the best news that he loves and decided to create one place where you can go to get the whole lot. Secretly he longs to be sitting in the cockpit of his YT-1300 Corellian Transport ship with his co-pilot Chewie, roaming the universe, waiting for his next big adventure, but feels just at home watching cartoons with his kids….
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