Frost Fayre is advertised as being when “Glastonbury’s Community comes together to Celebrate Peace and Goodwill to All at this Festive Time of the Year”. I’d say the organizers achieved this aim admirably this year, with sleigh bells on in fact. There is such a lovely, friendly atmosphere in town, so many visitors and so much to do I couldn’t fit it all in (even in eleven hours!).
Peace and Goodwill
The entertainment started with the official Frost Fayre Opening at midday, numerous, mostly local, live bands performed on the four stages: The Melodrome Stage at the top of the High Street, the Fringe Stage outside Hawthorns, Dave Sanger’s Horsedrawn Stage opposite the King Arthur and and the GFM Stage outside St Dunstan’s House. There were choirs, Santa’s Grotto in The United Reformed Church, children’s fairground rides and face-painting, all day buskers, live street entertainment and a display of classic cars and lorries. 140 Stalls lined the High St, Northload Street and Benedict Street, many of them featuring locally produced arts and crafts. 15 Farmer’s Market stalls sold local food and drink. There were Christmas Markets at St Benedict’s Church & St John’s Church and an indoor market at the Assembly Rooms. Plus Morris Dancers, because there always has to be Morris Dancers.
The Pilgrim Reception Centre reported that there were lots of positive comments regarding the Frost Fayre…this is just one of them, and I think it sums it all up beautifully:
“Standing in a line for a cashpoint with a fully dressed Viking behind you, can only be Glastonbury, what a lovely frost fair, I saw elves, fairies, Vikings, vicars, goddesses, witches, Cossacks, steampunks and monks all getting along together and much merriment……..I really enjoyed just sitting listening to live music and people watching, and loved the parade with the unity candle, the witch and the vicar and drummers and children with lanterns plus the mayor and town crier for light switching on ceremony, well done Glastonbury and your diversity what a fantastic day you put on xx”
Well done and thank you to Glastonbury Town Council and everyone else involved in organizing such a wonderful day. Also, well done to the ladies from Wales who were all dressed as elves for making me smile every time I saw you. Did you miss the Frost Fayre? Check out my Gifts from Glastonbury for Christmas and Winter Solstice 2017 gift-guide post for locally produced present ideas.
I hope you enjoy the photos (click on them to make them bigger) and videos. If you’d like to see photos and videos of 2016’s event (I managed to video the opening ceremony for that one) click here.
Invisible Gem played a great set outside Hawthorns Hotel.
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Thanks for your amazing coverage of this years Frostie Ms Normal.. Great photos.. One thing though, you forgot to include the GFM Stage in your summary..!
We had four Stages this year.. The Melodrome Stage, Sangers Horsedrawn Stage, The Glastonbury Fringe Stage (Or The Hawthorns’ Stage) and then The GFM Stage outside St Dunstan’s House.
Also, Father Christmas visited the United Reformed Church at this years Frost Fayre, instead of the Abbey, as he will be visiting them in December and bringing his reindeers with him for this visit too… Wasn’t it great to get a visit from his Elves? They told me they will be reporting back to Mr. Christmas about all the good children they met!
I so hope they will come next year!
Thanks Denny, there was so much to do I didn’t get round to it all so I knew I would get something wrong! I’ll correct it now. I hope the elves will be having a word in Santa’s ear for me too this Christmas. I quite like the idea of being Ms Normal, makes a change from Ms Purple xx
You most definitely will not be getting a lump of coal this year Ms Normal! lol
I did put a word in for you and for all you do for our Town n Community! x
Thank you! and thanks for all you’ve done for the Frost Fayre.