Your guide to major events in Glastonbury Town for the last quarter of 2023
I love Autumn and early Winter in Glastonbury, after a hectic summer the community regroups and holds many events which bring colour, visitors and vibrancy to the town. Cafes and pubs become cosier in the colder months, there are plenty of gigs, gatherings and great places to eat. It’s generally easier to find visitor accommodation than in the Summer and it may be cheaper too.
Most shops in the Town are open seven days a week, Winter closing times are sometimes earlier than would be normal in Summer. All the usual attractions and places of pilgrimage remain open in the winter. The Abbey generally closes just before dusk.
Be Prepared!
Many of Glastonbury’s best and most popular events take place in Autumn. If you are attending a large community event please be aware that the town becomes very busy with visitors. Ideally travel here by public transport or car share. If you are coming in a vehicle best arrive early and park considerately, there are two car parks which are often opened to the public for these events, they are Herbie’s Field and St Dunstan’s School Car Park. Please be aware that if the town becomes too busy it is not unknown for roads to be closed off and entry prohibited.
Keep an eye on my Normal For Glastonbury Facebook Page where I will endeavour to keep you informed of special parking arrangements and event timings as soon as I become aware of them. Whatever you do, please do not park in residential areas, it makes life very difficult for the very residents who are putting so much time and effort into creating these events. Vehicles which block access for emergency services endanger lives and the future of community events in the town. When visiting the Town, please contribute to the continuation of our vibrant community by supporting local shops and businesses.
October
Dragons Wild Hunt and the Horde Procession
Saturday 21st October, commencing at 2 pm on the Market Cross
Morris dancers, drummers, stilt walkers and horned and cloaked figures will perform and process through the town, led by the magnificent Glastonbury Dragons and the Horde This is not just a spectacle, visitors are invited to dress up and participate.
Faery Ball and Fairy Fayre
Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd October
This event takes place in Glastonbury Town Hall, where you will find purveyors of fairy finery, with a big old fairy knees up with live bands up in the evenings. Entrance to the Fairy Fayre is free, but you need to buy tickets in advance for the ball.
With both these events taking place on the same weekend expect to find plenty to do and see, the town will be packed with people, many of them dressed spectacularly.
Update – here’s what you missed!
Zombie Walk
Saturday 28th October
A popular, if somewhat gruesome spectacle, organised by Glastonbury’s fantastic Children’s World Charity. You are invited to dress up and take part in this shambling procession of the undead. Kids in particular seem to love this event.
“Zombie Walk details….
After the road closes at 3.00pm – face paints, blood (fake) and rags will be available at the King William Skittle Alley (huge thanks to all at the Billy) to help you find your inner zombie!
Meanwhile – outside there will be entertainment generously provided by the following legends; the Dragon Drummers, Glastonbury Border Morris, CW Youth Committee, Mark Foot and Haggis McLeod! The walk follows at 5pm – kicked off by our awesome Town Crier!
We can’t wait to meat you all, in all your undead glory!”
See the Glasto Zombies Facebook page for more info.
Last years walk – to get you in the mood!
The Glastonbury Community Samhain Celebration will take place in the evening at the Assembly Rooms, entry by donation.
Also on the 28th – a quick book signing with me!
12 noon to 1pm at Unit 3, The Gauntlet, Glastonbury High St
We can chat about what inspired me to write my Normal For Glastonbury book and blog, and create my funny map of the Town and Crap Views of the Tor. Or you could just ask me why I wear a crocheted Viking helmet despite being old enough to know better.
The Normal For Glastonbury Tote Bags, 2024 calendars and my illustrated books will be available for purchase. (If you want one signed you can buy one, bring your own copy, or just come and say hi). Please do browse Unit 3’s lovely menswear and unisex clothing too.
Then at 3pm we can brave the zombies together.
Samhain / Halloween
Tuesday 31 October
Chalice Well Celebration
At Chalice Well from 4 pm – 6 pm, there will be a gathering under the ancient Yew Trees with music and the Samhain fire. At the Vesica Pool, you can light floating candles for the ancestors. Refreshments are available. Please note there is free entry to the Chalice Well that morning from 10 am to 12 pm, but normal admission applies after 12 pm.
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November
Shepton Mallet Bonfire Night Firework display
Glastonbury does not hold a Bonfire Night Firework display, but I see there is one in nearby Shepton Mallet on Saturday 4th November. Shepton Mallet Rotary Club Fireworks.
Where: West Shepton Playing Fields, Old Wells Road, Shepton Mallet, BA4 5XN. Gates open at 6.15 pm, Bonfire is lit at 7 pm. Price: £5/6 Adults; Children (5-15) £3/4; Under 4’s FREE; Family £15/18
Food and bar, bonfire and an even better firework display! No sparklers or fireworks can be brought into this event.
Glastonbury Guy Fawkes Carnival
Saturday 18th November
For one night a year, Glastonbury Town Centre is host to an unbelievable spectacle of light and sound. The scale of this event is simply gobsmacking, first time visitors are easily spotted by their open mouths and wide eyes as huge carts go past illuminated with thousands of lightbulbs.
The procession starts at 6.45 pm. Take a look at the carnival website, as you need to know about the road closures and parking arrangements.
For an idea of what to expect see my blog:
Frost Fayre
Saturday 25th November
Ostensibly it’s a Christmas street market, but actually, it’s so much more. Live music, good food, mulled cider and a great vibe. This is a very well-attended event, so if you are coming get here early and park responsibly! Find out more on the Frost Fayre Facebook Page.
Here’s my Complete Guide to the Frost Fayre 2023:
Winter Solstice / Christmas in Glastonbury
Glastonbury is a brilliant place to do your Christmas shopping if you are buying for people who like unusual and imaginative gifts. Glastonbury has jewellers, clothes shops, potters, painters, photographers. I hear other High Streets in previously busy towns are now full of empty shops, not so with our High Street. I can’t actually think of a single empty shop, rather, it is thriving with independent retailers. You can get unique, handmade items here directly from the maker that you are unlikely to find anywhere else and you’ll be supporting our community.
May I take a moment to mention my Normal For Glastonbury books, calendar, tote bags and more? Ideal gifts for everyone who loves Glastonbury Town!
Local eateries will be hosting slap-up Christmas dinners (the Queen of Cups Christmas Menu is inspired by Middle Eastern flavours and looks awesome), the pubs will be serving Mulled Cider, Hot Spiced Wine and Mead if you’re lucky, and there will be the usual great entertainment on offer at local venues.
Don’t be expecting festoons of Christmas lights however, this is Somerset, not Oxford Street and the Town decorations are limited to some illuminated trees above the shop fronts. Due to a long-running series of mishaps, resulting in misshapen, tiny or tumbled-down efforts, the Christmas Tree on the Market Cross has become a running joke. Last year I made things even worse with my suggestion for a new seasonal celebration:
Having spoken to our Town Clerk, who has the unenviable job of sourcing and choosing the tree, I now appreciate that, like many things in life, getting the perfect tree is a much more difficult and time-consuming job than most of us realise. I have every confidence that this year he will come up with something magnificent for us.
Also, any lack of municipal decorations is more than made up for by the effort that the shops go to with their Christmas window displays. Here’s a little taste of my photos from last year:
The run-up to Yule also sees markets taking place around the town, the town’s regular Tuesday markets at St Dunstan’s Car Park, the Town Hall and The Assembly Rooms will feature oodles of gifts from local creators. There will be extra markets too, for instance, the Wytches Market will be hosting their event on Saturday 9th December in the Town Hall.
Looking ahead to 2024
How about 2024? Do you want to know what’s happening and when so you can attend (or avoid!) major Glastonbury events? Pick up a copy of my fun, handy and hilarious Crap Views of the Tor Calendar 2024
Inside you’ll find 12 brilliantly crap views of Glastonbury Tor, the dates for Glastonbury major events, the Celtic Wheel of the Year Celebrations and Bank Holidays. Makes an ideal gift and they sell out every year, so if you want one please order now!
For up-to-date event information see the Normal For Glastonbury Facebook Page and Glastonbury Online which has an easy to refer to calendar of all sorts of cultural events. The free Oracle magazine is distributed at the start of every month and is Glastonbury’s Spiritual / Holistic What’s On guide.
I’ve not been paid to compile this post, so if you want me to be able to continue keeping you informed about Glastonbury’s goings on, please support me!
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All good stuff; but I’m a little sorry to see the Wild Hunt celebrations reduced to an event which is ten days early; surely Allhallows/Samhain is date-specific?
This seems to echo Guy Fawkes Night, a very magic (and very specific) date in my childhood which now drops that particular magic by morphing into a vague and extended “season”.
Good to see the Well getting its dates right, however!