Banned Items At Glastonbury Festival

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Banned Items at Glastonbury Festival

So, Glastonbury Festival is one of the biggest and most iconic music festivals in the world, but did you know that there are certain items that are strictly prohibited on the festival grounds?

That’s right, just like most large public events, Glastonbury has a list of banned items to ensure the safety and comfort of all festival-goers.

Now, I know you’re probably thinking “what could I possibly have in my bag that’s so dangerous?” But trust me, some of the items on this list might surprise you. For example, did you know that gazebos, drones, and anything made of glass are all banned at Glastonbury?

That’s right, no impromptu rain dances beneath your private gazebo or drone-aided aerial group photos allowed!

And it’s not just objects that can get you in trouble, certain substances are also banned from the festival, including nitrous oxide canisters. I mean, who wants to carry hundreds of those jingly metal things anyway?

So, when you’re packing for your next adventure to Glastonbury, just remember to leave your drone, nitrous tank, and fireworks at home and bring your sunscreen, water bottle, and good vibes instead!

1. Gazebos

Gazebos might seem like a convenient way to shield yourself from the sun or rain during a festival and also a fun addition to your little of circle of tents with your mates, but they’re actually a no-no at Glastonbury.

No Gazebos at Glastonbury Festival
This sign makes it pretty clear

Why you ask?

Well, they take up too much space when camping space is already so limited. Plus, they can pose a safety hazard in crowded areas.

Also, they can fly away!

If your gazebo was to fall on someone or hit the power lines, it would be a disaster.

This damage – however hilarious it was when it happened – will reduce your willingness to take it home. Gazebos are one of the big problems at the end of the festival. You can see their torn fabric and broken poles sticking up out of the field, like old bones.

Even if your gazebo survives, they can be difficult to repack especially if it’s the first time you’ve had to do it or the original box or bag is lost. So they get left behind.

People still get away with putting up gazebos near their tent, but there’s a risk that you’ll be asked to remove it.

See also: 6 Reasons Gazebos Suck at Festivals

2. Fireworks

Sparkling lights and booms in the night sky might seem like a good idea to bring along, but fireworks are not allowed at Glastonbury. This is for good reason, too.

Fireworks can be dangerous and cause harm to people and animals, and can also start fires in dry areas. Not to mention the fact that it’s literally a city made up of 100,000 nylon tents!

There is a great firework display on Wednesday evening at Glastonbury, up near The Park on the hill of the Stone Circle. So, leave the fireworks to the professionals.

So leave the fireworks at home and enjoy the beautiful light shows put on by the festival instead. You won’t regret it.

3. Drones

Drones are such a cool way to capture aerial footage of a festival, but they’re actually banned at Glastonbury.

Flying drones can pose a safety hazard to other festival-goers, as well as interfere with emergency response efforts.

Don’t worry, though. There are plenty of other ways to capture memories at the festival, like taking photos and videos with your phone instead. Who brings a drone to a festival to fly it for 45 minutes then have to worry about keeping it safe all weekend!?

4. Glass Bottles

Glass bottles may seem like a convenient and eco-friendly way to carry your drinks, but you cannot bring glass bottles into Glastonbury Festival for safety reasons.

This is for a very important reason: broken glass can be dangerous and cause harm to people and animals. No need to panic, though. There are plenty of alternative options for carrying your drinks, like aluminium cans or plastic bottles.

Remember that Glastonbury Festival is held on Worthy Farm, a working dairy farm containing herds of cattle. Glass bottles pose a risk to these animals as well as other wildlife living in the area.

In short, leave glass bottles at home. Bring cans or plastic instead.

Decanting From Glass Into Plastic

Now that you know about the dangers of bringing glass bottles to a festival, it’s time to consider alternatives.

Not only is glass (including mirrors) banned from most festivals, but they also pose a huge risk to the safety of yourself and others around you.

That’s why I highly recommend bringing your alcohol in plastic bottles instead of glass.

Not only will it ensure that you’re following the festival’s rules, but it will also ensure that you and others are safe from any potential accidents that could happen with glass bottles.

Plus, with plastic bottles, you don’t have to worry about them breaking and ruining all your other festival essentials in your bag.

Isn’t Plastic Banned From Glastonbury Festival Too?

The festival organisers have made a commitment to reduce plastic waste by eliminating the use of single-use plastic items such as plastic bottles, straws, and cutlery.

You can bring plastic bottles in with you but no single-use plastic will be sold at the festival. All the drinks you buy there will be in cans or paper cups.

This decision comes as part of the festival’s ongoing efforts to become more environmentally friendly and sustainable.

The festival has a long history of promoting environmental causes, and this ban on single-use plastics is just the latest step in that direction. Glastonbury Festival is known for its progressive and forward-thinking approach to environmental issues and this ban is a great example of that.

The festival encourages attendees to bring reusable bottles, cups and other containers to the festival to reduce their environmental impact. This ban is also expected to reduce the amount of waste generated at the festival and make it more sustainable.

Overall, Glastonbury Festival’s ban on single-use plastics is a step in the right direction and a great example of how events can take action to protect the environment.

5. Mirrors

Mirrors might seem innocent enough, but they’re actually banned at Glastonbury.

This is because they’re made of glass and therefore not allowed on the farm. If your mirror breaks, you’ll get 7 years of bad luck and you may even cause harm to other festival-goers, especially in crowded areas.

People walk around and sit on the grass, so a broken mirror could cause serious injury to someone.

But what about…

  • Checking yourself before wrecking yourself
  • Contact lenses, eye drops and skincare
  • Shaving
  • Applying make-up, face paint and festival glitter

How are we supposed to manage!?

Non-Glass Camping Mirrors

Non-glass camping mirrors provide an ideal option for those who want to enjoy their outdoor activities without worrying about the fragility of a glass mirror.

6. Sky Lanterns

Sky lanterns are not allowed at Glastonbury.

This is because they can pose a fire hazard and cause harm to people and animals. They also cause a lot of litter as they can float for miles and end up anywhere.

But don’t worry, the night sky at Glastonbury Festival is well and truly lit up without the need of silly gimmicks like sky lanterns.

Just head to the Arcadia field… it’s a giant spider that shoots flames and lasers, much better than a sky lantern for sure!

Arcadia, Glastonbury Festival

7. Portable Lasers

Portable lasers, just like sky lanterns, might seem like a fun way to add some sparkle to your festival experience, but they’re actually banned at Glastonbury too.

They can interfere with emergency response efforts and potentially injure other festivalgoers.

Remember… you’re at Glastonbury, how is a tiny portable laser going to compete with the giant Arcadia spider? 🤔

8. Nitrous Oxide

Nitrous oxide, also known as “laughing gas,” or even “hippy crack” in certain circles is a lame part of festival and rave culture, and, of course it’s actually banned at Glastonbury.

Those small silver bullet looking things that are actually intended to be used for whipping cream? That’s nitrous oxide.

Nitrous Oxide gives a 2 minute high causing dizziness, nausea, and even loss of consciousness. Then the small silver capsule is discarded on the floor, causing lots of litter that has to be cleaned up.

It’s a well-known fact that people who taken Nitrous at festivals don’t clean up after themselves.

9. Illegal Drugs

Drugs might seem like an obvious way to escape reality and enhance your festival experience, but they’re not only banned at Glastonbury, they’re also illegal.

Using drugs can be dangerous and harmful to your health, and can also put others at risk.

So forget about the drugs and focus on having a safe and enjoyable time at the festival. Remember to drink plenty of water, eat nutritious food, and take care of yourself and those around you.

In conclusion, the banned items at Glastonbury Festival are there for a reason. They are for the safety and well-being of all festival-goers, as well as for the protection of the environment. So be sure to follow the rules and have a fantastic time at the festival!

Bill board at Glastonbury festival letting you know to not be a dick

Final Thoughts

So, to wrap things up, Glastonbury Festival is one of the biggest and most anticipated events of the year, and the organisers go above and beyond to make sure the festival is a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone.

From drones to nitrous oxide canisters and drugs, there are certain items that are strictly prohibited on the festival grounds to ensure the safety and comfort of all festival-goers. But don’t worry, there’s still plenty of fun to be had, as long as you leave the banned items at home and pack the permitted ones instead!

So, in conclusion, if you’re planning to attend Glastonbury Festival or any other music festival for that matter, it’s always a good idea to check the list of banned and permitted items before packing your bag. That way, you can have the best time possible and create memories that will last a lifetime.

So, don’t forget to pack your sunscreen, water bottle, and good vibes, and let’s rock on at Glastonbury Festival!

See you on the farm!


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