Attendees of this year’s Glastonbury Festival have accused organizers of mismanaging crowds, citing incidents of overcrowding at various stages. Despite the event being well-managed overall, some festival-goers reported long queues and difficulty accessing smaller stages. Meanwhile, performances at larger arenas like The Pyramid Stage were at times sparser than expected. Overcrowding was severe enough in some areas that security was forced to stop access to certain performances.
This year’s festival, which took place from June 26-30, saw a record turnout of over 210,000 people. With crowds that size, Glastonbury briefly became the most densely populated place on earth. As such, the festival’s organizers have been alerted to potential difficulty and are working on measures to address it.
According to a statement from organizers, Glastonbury maintains a “dynamic crowd management plan” that works closely with authorities to put in place measures to anticipate and respond to crowd movements. Major artists wanting to perform at smaller stages with limited capacities is part of the festival’s unique charm, but it can also be a source of disappointment for fans. However, the organizers prioritize safety and will pause or stop shows as needed.
While some attendees have criticized Glastonbury’s planners for allowing in too many people, others have faulted organizers for placing mainstream pop acts and not providing enough space for popular sets. Avril Lavigne’s set on Sunday afternoon was so crowded that people were forced to watch from a nearby campsite. Groove Armada’s set was even canceled due to safety concerns over crowd size.
Despite these issues, Glastonbury remains one of the world’s premier outdoor music festivals and draws massive crowds every year. With its unique blend of iconic performers and smaller, more intimate stages, it will likely continue to be a beloved destination for music lovers around the world
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