GLASTONBURY festival is one of the most iconic events in the world.
Every year it is held at Worthy Farm and here’s the history behind the venue…
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Where is Worthy Farm?
Located in the village of Pilton, Somerset, Worthy Farm is the birthplace of the nation’s most famous festival.
The festival is named after the quirky town of Glastonbury, which is the closest big settlement and a 20 minutes’ drive from the farm itself.
One of south-west England’s most famous events, Glastonbury Festival, sees revellers descend on the usually-quiet town en masse.
Glastonbury town is known for its hippy and bohemian vibe, but the locals have always had mixed feelings about the festival, which is as lucrative as it is inconvenient for locals with spare rooms and parking spaces to rent out.
Who are Michael and Emily Eavis?
Michael Eavis, the 84-year-old founder of Glastonbury Festival, is the owner of Worthy Farm.
These days, his youngest child Emily, 40, runs the event as the festival organiser – overseeing the line-up of music’s top names.
The pair are both very political, with lefty activist Michael responsible for inviting Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn to speak at the festival in 2017.
Michael is a devout Corbyn supporter and stood as a Labour candidate for parliament in the constituency of Wells in the 1997 General Election.
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Why was Glastonbury Festival founded?
Michael Eavis inherited the farm from his dad in 1954, but it wasn’t until 15 years later that he had the idea to host a festival.
In 1969, Michael was inspired by a Led Zeppelin performance at the Bath Festival of Blues, and hosted his own Pilton Pop Folk & Blues Festival one year later.
The following year, the festival morphed into Glastonbury Fair, which eventually evolved into the Glastonbury Festival which so many people know and love today.
What started out as a small hippy gathering now attracts around 175,000 revellers each year.
Glastonbury is a huge contributor to the local economy, and much of the festival’s profit is donated to charities.
Why was Glastonbury Festival cancelled in 2020?
Glastonbury was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic as it prepared to celebrate its 50th anniversary.
Taylor Swift, Sir Paul McCartney and Kendrick Lamar were due to appear, alongside Diana Ross and Dua Lipa.
“We’re so sorry that this decision has been made,” a statement said. “It was not through choice.”
