A Summer of Festivals and a Fresh Start for Autumn
As summer draws to a close, I’ve been reflecting on what has felt like a truly vibrant season of festivals and community. Each year, September brings with it a familiar sense of renewal. Perhaps it’s a holdover from “back to school” days, but for me, autumn always feels like a fresh start. After the busy, joyful whirlwind of summer, I find space to pause, take stock, and consider what I’d like the next season to look like.
This summer was filled with wonderful festival experiences, each one offering something unique. I massaged at five festivals in total this summer. Here are some reflections on the last three, which took place in August.
We began with Wilderness Festival, set around a beautiful lake. Morning swims became a refreshing ritual before the day’s work began. This year, there were fewer therapists in the wellbeing area, which made it smaller than usual, but it gave us the chance to really connect with those around us. One of the joys of festival life is the spirit of exchange, and we loved trading massages for coffee and food throughout the week. It is those little moments that make the experience so special.
Next came We Out Here, a festival that has held a place in my heart since its beginning in 2019. Full of jazz and set in shady woodland, its wellbeing area is always a highlight. This year, we promised ourselves to take longer afternoon breaks, so we could soak up more of the daytime music. A standout moment was hearing Nala Sinephro play the harp. It was absolutely magical. With so many friends from Bristol also there, it felt like a joyful reunion.
The season rounded off with Shambala, a festival I had long been excited to experience. The healing area there is extraordinary, beautifully curated, with organisers who genuinely care for both therapists and festival-goers. It was inspiring to be among so many practitioners offering such a wide variety of healing approaches. Shambala is also known for its playful creativity. On one day, everyone dressed in green, and another was themed around puns, with costumes as witty as they were inventive.
What I love most about working at festivals is being immersed in nature. Waking up to birdsong, stepping out of the tent into the morning light, cooking outdoors, and feeling the rhythm of the days unfold all feels deeply restorative. Festivals also offer a chance to bring care and comfort to people who may be experiencing overwhelm or discomfort. Sometimes, we give someone their very first massage. Other times, we ease the sore shoulders or tired backs of those who have danced long into the night. Being that little sanctuary in the midst of it all is something I truly cherish.
It has been a fabulously sunny summer, filled with music, connection, and countless small, joyful moments. Now, as autumn begins, I am looking forward to carrying that energy forward into a season that always feels like a new chapter.
We will definitely be returning to festivals next year, so keep an eye out for where we will be. For now, I am embracing the fresh start that September brings, with gratitude for everything the summer has given.
