Glastonbury 2010

The air is full of campfire smoke and the sky lit up with torches and lanterns. It’s the last few hours of sunny Glastonbury 2010.

People are chilling out, thinking about the last few days – celebrating the last few hours of what’s been a fantastic, sun-filled festival.

Lisp, Matt, Jed, Sami, Hayley and Jenna, from Liverpool, lit a lantern at the Stone Circle to mark the end of their second Glastonbury. Last year they said they did a lot of wandering but stuck mainly to the main stages.

“This year we’ve seen so much more – the Healing Fields, the Acoustic Stage, the Fields of Avalon and of course the Pyramid Stage. We’ve loved everything.

“We’re still learning though – you do every year. If you’d met us on hour one, you’d have seen us struggling to drag our stuff in a kids’ sandpit on a rope. Not a good idea. We’ll be back next year – there’s always more to explore.”

It’s 3am and there’s a real pagan feel to the Stone Circle tonight, with hundreds of people huddling around campfires, and a few people doing some decidedly more dangerous things with flames.

Lantern launching from the Stone Circle has become a Glastonbury tradition. On a still night like tonight it’s quite wonderful to see all the paper lanterns gently drifting into the night sky. Each lantern is gently warmed by the flame and when each one launches the crowd all cheer.

Glastonbury first-timers Anna and Joe have just finished their GCSE exams and are here with their mates for an end of exam treat. “It’s been a long day but we’ve all loved it. Can’t wait until tomorrow when the music kicks off”.