- Words Olivia Winstanley
- Photography Fanatic
Wellness, great music and good food: Wilderness was a magical weekend getting lost in Cornbury Park.
Before I begin, let me caveat that for every amazing extroverted, magical moment of Wilderness, it is probably the safest I have felt at a festival. The magic of Wilderness is built on wellness, great music and good food. The people attending generally just want a really lovely weekend lost in Cornbury Park.
Not to start at the end but in no circumstances can Norman’s colourful and energetic DJ set be snuffed at – a full 60+ minute set of old school bangers entwined with great dancing music Fatboy left no one’s expectations feeling slim… The main stage was also home to the AMAZING Franc Moody!
Other notable moments of the weekend included a lustrous hour in the packed-out tent The House of Sublime which is home to some of the best drag and queer entertainment of the weekend. We enjoyed an hour of chaotic live dating followed by a momentous Drag King and Queen show. Set in a dark and atmospheric tent, if you CAN get in, it is worth every minute.
For those wondering where to enjoy some quiet time over the weekend, The Forum tent is home to a selection of juicy debates – the monarchy debate left me and my friends stood outside in the rain debating a topic I wouldn’t assume would come out of our mouths within the normal constraints of a festival!
For moments when the food has settled and you are looking for an hour of dancing and drinks, highlights included the smaller stages which were home to some of the best memories of the weekend, with the soundtrack lent to us by Los Bitchos and Los Dedos.
For those who can muster up some wellness in the form of pilates and yoga, a trip to the wellness section of the festival is a great hangover cure. Nothing really gets you ready for a second or third day than an hour to wake up the abs in the Pilates tent.
Although there are many different additional cost activities, the festival’s variety of food, culture and music should be enough to narrowly avoid any of the slightly pompous banqueting tables. However, a huge shoutout to the Hunter Gather Cook team who sent us into the forest for an interesting road to canapes and cocktails.
Overall, if you are looking for an enriching experience, Wilderness is the one for you.