THOUSANDS of festival goers donned sparkly outfits and elegant costumes for four days of fun in the forest.
Last weekend’s Wilderness Festival came to a rousing finale on Sunday night, rounding off a feast of music, dancing, fine dining, crafts and country pursuits at Cornbury Park, near Charlbury, in the Oxfordshire Cotswolds.
The festival – held among the trees of the ancient Wychwood Forest – is among the most beautiful events of its kind, attracting a fun-loving crowd, hailed by organisers as the "incredible" stars of the show.
They were joined by an eclectic bill featuring stars of music, stage and screen.
Headliners The Chemical Brothers, Christine & the Queens and Fatboy Slim were joined by artists as different as Sugarbabes, Arlo Parks, DJ Todd Terry and The Zombies, and surprise guest performers including Benedict Cumberbatch, Noma Dumezweni, Emma Corrin, Claire Foy, Taron Egerton, Jordan Stephens, Dolly Alderton and Sinéad Cusack – who entertained the audience with spirited readings of amusing and poignant letters in 'Letters Live' sessions.
The weekend featured everything from wild swimming, messing about in rowing boats and forest running, to late night dance parties, risqué burlesque shows and banquets prepared by top chefs.
Among those hosting long table feasts was Ukrainian chef Olia Hercules who delighted diners with platters of exotic creations from her wartorn homeland.
Talking to the Oxford Mail after showing diners how to raise a traditional Ukrainian toast, she said: “This has been really good. It has been amazing to come here to enjoy Ukrainian cooking and show people how wonderful it is.
Fatboy Slim. Picture by Tim Hughes
“The festival is very laid-back and relaxed, and it’s a beautiful place; I really like it.”
Treats included Odessa-style grilled vegetable caviar, juicy kefir and herb roast chicken, grilled sections of succulent cabbage topped with sunflower seed paste, and delicate poached peaches with rose cream and butterscotch sauce.
Approving revellers donated thousands of pounds towards a charity backed by Ms Hercules to help those affected by the war in Ukraine.
Festival director Rory Bett paid tribute to the stunning venue, saying the site and festival goers were as much the stars of the show as the performers.
He added: “Wilderness shrugged off a wet Saturday with a stellar finish on Sunday.
"A host of incredible content across all the stages and restaurants led the path to the most amazing performance from Fatboy Slim and committed this year to what we hope is a great memory.
Chef Olia Hercules. Picture by Tim Hughes
"Thank you to all our crew, performers, chefs and artists – and to the incredible Wilderness crowd for their resilience, joy and participation in equal measure.”
While the festival was hit by rain on Saturday, it did little to dampen the enthusiasm of revellers, and with the sun returning on Sunday, festival-goers enjoyed organised runs through the woods (accompanied by guides carrying huge speakers on their backs blasting out house music), and cooled off with swims in one of Cornbury Park's large lakes.
Festival-lover Lucy Silver from north Oxford has been at almost every Wilderness Festival since it launched in 2011.
Dressed in sparkly dress and floral headdress, she said: "This is without doubt the best festival in Oxfordshire and probably the best in the country. Nowhere else has such a lovely site and makes the most of the landscape with stages in dips and hollows, fun around the lakes and an amazing hidden dance party every night in a hidden wooded valley.
A rabbit dress-up theme brought out all manner of creative costumes. Some less cute than others. Picture by Tim Hughes
"The beautiful people who come make an effort by dressing up - or down - and look amazing. In fact the whole place is special."
Stephen Daniels, also from Oxford, agreed it was the best festival in the county.
He said: "What I love about it is that everyone is so friendly. You've got a few families with kids, lots of people in their 20s, 30s, 40s and 50s, and even people a bit older. But everyone is here for the same thing - to have a good time with like-minded souls.
"The music reflects that too with everything from dance music to folk, and some pretty risky shows to big sing-alongs and even a cricket match.
Arms in the air for Chemical Brothers. Pictures by Tim Hughes
"Where else would you get that?"
A day of rain on Saturday did nothing to dampen festival goers’ spirits, and the fancy dress and elaborate costumes returned with Sunday’s sunshine.
Among Sunday's highlights was a request session where revellers suggested songs for the Wilderness Orchestra to perform, each choice accompanied by a poignant message, and with the audience invited to join in with the singing.
Christine and the Queens headlined on Saturday. Picture by Tim Hughes
They included a moving rendition of Nothing Compares 2 U in tribute to the late Sinead O'Connor and versions of Zombie by The Cranberries and Lou Reed's Perfect Day. It culminated in a rousing rendition of Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody.
Phoebe Williams, from Witney, said: "It was an amazing sight and sound. There was barely a dry eye in the field. That's the magic of Wilderness - it brings everyone together.
"I'm going to miss it. Life always seems flat after a weekend like this."
Pictures by Tim Hughes
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