GlastonBARRY festival sees thousands people come together

GlastonBARRY takes over Romilly Park every summer, with this year taking place on July 25 and 26, welcoming in 18,000 locals and visitors from as far afield as Australia and America.  

Edith Roche and her herd had a “great weekend” (Image: Edith Roche)

Music fans took in 22 different tribute acts over the course of the weekend, with a star-studded lineup including Tom Jones, Foo Fighters, ABBA, Coldplay and Queen, among others.

What began as a “silly idea” between friends to host tribute gigs in a theatre has grown into a major event that thousands of people look forward to each and every year, using it as an excuse to reunite with old friends and family members.

Daniel Quick took his sons to the Juniors event for the first time, this year (Image: Daniel Quick)

Many even use the Juniors event on the Friday as a way to introduce youngsters to the festival world. It’s a family friendly version of the main event that gives kids their first taste of a real festival, filled with games, workshops and entertainers to keep little ones busy between acts.

The people of Barry have come to love this event since its inception in 2013, when just 600 people attended at the Memo Theatre. Now, it’s a highlight of many residents’ year.

Sheila Thomas has a great weekend celebrating her birthday (Image: Sheila Thomas)

Liz Margetson said: “[GlastonBARRY] was amazing again this year and by far the best run festival I’ve been to.

“It was my 7th year, and they just keep getting better and better.”

Beckie Giltinan said that she “had a fab time” and she and her family and friends “look forward to this festival every year”. Like many others, they believe it’s the “best thing that happens in Barry.”

Jo Nutt and her friends travelled from the New Forest for the second time (Image: Jo Nutt)

Attendees like Jo Nutt are relatively new in their GlastonBARRY experience, with this being the second year that her and her friends travel from the New Forest to attend. She says the festival is “so friendly,” “so safe,” and “so well run.”

Amanda Meyer and her friends use the festival as an excuse to meet up and “have a yearly university reunion” as part of a group that trained as teachers 33 years ago. They’ve had this reuinion at GlastonBARRY for the last three years and “love it.”

Tickets are already available for GlastonBARRY 2027, with the first 1,000 on sale now through the festival’s website.