The Enchanting World of Secret Garden Party: A Festival Experience Unlike Any Other

Picture this: a sprawling, idyllic landscape, bursting with colour and life, where the boundaries between reality and fantasy blur. A place where creativity, music, and celebration come together to create an unforgettable, otherworldly experience. Welcome to the Secret Garden Party, a festival that will leave you spellbound.

For those who have never had the pleasure of attending and for those yearning to return, this year’s organisers promise to take you on a journey through the magic of the Secret Garden Party festival. From its inception to its unique attractions and unforgettable moments, let us remind you why this enchanting gathering is a must for any festival aficionado.

After a brief hiatus, the Secret Garden Party festival made a triumphant return in 2022, and the excitement for this year’s event is palpable. In this interview, we chat with the festival founder ‘Head Gardener’, Freddie Fellowes on what led to the festival’s brief end, its rebirth, and the improvements and innovations for 2023.

The founder explains that the decision to end the festival in 2017 was due to a disconnect between the organisers and the audience. The festival had become a “bucket list” item, and the revolving door of attendees made it difficult to understand the value exchange. The return in 2022 was inspired by a film screening request, which evolved into a small reunion garden party to celebrate the festival’s 20th anniversary. From there, the festival embraced a new direction as a social enterprise.

The direction of this form of business for SGP is to help in the ‘rehabilitation of at risk and disenfranchised individuals via the arts’. In accordance with the rules of being a Social Enterprise at least 65% of profit will go to front line organisations in these sectors. The charities will be chosen by the artists playing and the people coming, and the remainder will go toward in-house partnerships and apprenticeship schemes (such as Bridges For Music).

For 2023, the festival has addressed waste disposal issues, with new contracts for compostable cups and food stalls. There are also exciting changes, such as a new stage by the small swimming lake, and improvements to the popular pagoda stage. Art installations will be heavily influenced by a 70s and 80s sci-fi feel, in line with the festival’s ‘New Hope’ theme. “It is a real Declaration of Independence as we are ensuring that Secret Garden Party (Version 2.0) is a force for good by officially becoming a Social Enterprise.”

In terms of inclusivity, the festival is proud to be a sex-positive space, “everyone should be” as Fellowes states, with areas dedicated to promoting a responsible approach to drugs and alcohol, “harm reduction and welfare are a vital part of hosting any event” this includes the ground-breaking introduction of MAST drug-testing. As the cost-of-living crisis impacts festival-goers and production alike, the festival is working to offer affordable ticket payment options, and on-site kitchen facilities to help mitigate costs.

With a lineup as diverse as its attendees, there’s always something to immerse yourself in, which brings me to the headline acts this year and they’ve really pulled it out the bag with this bunch including the Libertines, Underworld, Roshin Murphy, Fat Freddy’s Drop, 2ManyDJS, De La Soul and an emotional Faithless DJ set from Sister Bliss. Amongst the other music stages you can drop in and out of folk artists, world music acts, electronic and dub to name some making the festival’s eclectic mix a testament to the creative ethos that underpins the event. It’s not just about the music, though; there’s a wealth of other surprises and secret performances, whimsical activities, and immersive installations, all designed to ignite your imagination.

Memorable moments from past years include a stage invasion by Florence and the Machine during a Grace Jones performance, “Grace welcomed the surprise with open arms, and the rest of the set was nothing short of spectacular. Florence spent the performance crouching between Grace’s legs, who in turn stroked her head in a monumental manner as they sang together. The scene was completely mesmerising.”

As for the future, the festival’s ambitions include “expanding its social enterprise and integrating apprenticeship and student schemes into the site”. Fellowes hopes to strengthen the connection with local communities and charity partners.

With a capacity of around 20,000, the Secret Garden Party festival is set to provide an intimate and unforgettable experience for attendees in 2023. The founder’s enthusiasm is contagious, and we can’t wait to see what this next chapter in the festival’s story will bring.

For those who have yet to experience the enchanting world of the Secret Garden Party, now is the time to embark on an adventure like no other. A place where magic is tangible, and creativity runs wild, the festival will leave you with memories to treasure and stories to tell for a lifetime.

For those who have already been touched by the magic of the Secret Garden Party, this is a reminder of the experiences that await you when you return. So, don your most fabulous attire, gather your tribe, and come together to celebrate the magic, mystery, and wonder that is the Secret Garden Party.

SGP 20-23 July 2023