FESTIVALS
With the number of older people heading to festivals on the rise, we chat to some regular attendees and showcase our pick of the best events to be seen at this summer
Benita Hewitt sighs happily as she recalls her five days at last year’s Glastonbury. ‘I had the time of my life,’ says Benita, 62, a marketing consultant from Kettering in Northamptonshire. ‘I was staying in my campervan and walked around 45 miles in five days. I ate amazing food – the Buddha Bowls were outstanding – and saw so many great acts from circus to a Latvian band in the middle of the woods at midnight.’
But the highlight for Benita was the headline set from Elton John on the Sunday night. ‘The field was packed but I was near the front because I’d got there earlier in the day and put down my camping chair to see Cat Stevens – a teenage idol. A group of young people decided to protect the space around me, so I’d have room to dance during Elton. They kept saying I should go on their shoulders and I said, “No, I’m too heavy”. But during Tiny Dancer, a tall man came up behind me and hoisted me up. It was amazing. I looked over my shoulder and couldn’t believe the thousands of people behind me. I was on cloud nine for days afterwards.’
Benita’s a regular at other, smaller festivals, such as Womad and the Shrewsbury Folk Festival, but jumped at the chance to attend Glastonbury – the biggest of the lot – with her 32-year-old daughter and friends.
‘Honestly, it exceeded my expectations. There’s so much more to it than you see on TV – it had everything anyone could ever want, from a cinema and craft fields to Latin dancing. People asked, “Weren’t you worried about mud?” but luckily the weather was perfect. Even the toilets really weren’t the horror story I’d expected. Glastonbury has a hippy vibe but it’s incredibly well organised. I’ve been lucky enough to get tickets for this year too. I can’t wait to return.’
Benita’s far from alone in her enthusiasm. According to our survey of Saga members carried out last year, the number of festival fiends aged 50 and over is soaring, with 39% saying they had been to a music festival or rave in the previous year, and 36% admitting they went to more music festivals after hitting 50 than they had in their youth. Although 38% favoured day festivals, 21% said they’d go for the whole weekend and camp on site. While a handful of festivals (Leeds and Reading to name two) are aimed at rowdy teenage audiences, most are happy to attract a more sedate crowd, luring them with line-ups packed with stars of their vintage. Last year’s Glastonbury headliners included the afore
