Hay Festival Welcomes Everyone!
Summertime brings an endless roster of arts festivals, and the Hay Festival is one of the biggies. For years, the international literary event has been at the top of my travel wish list and this year I finally went!
Since 1988, the Hay Festival has attracted major international literary figures. It draws over 80,000 visitors over 10 days to hear notable writers, historians, entertainers and other influencers who round out a colorful docket of over 900 events. Each day is packed with discussions, lectures, presentations, readings, concerts and workshops. It’s a varied program, with something for every taste.
Gift from the Mexican Embassy in the U.K.
Some events I especially enjoyed: Thomas Friedman on America’s decline and complacency, Alan de Botton on religion, Martin Amis on writing, and Claire Tomalin on Dickens. My only complaint was that Claire Tomalin didn’t sign books afterward. All the events I attended started and ended on time.
Thomas Friedman
If you are interested in attending the festival, advance planning is necessary. I booked flights, rental car and hotel (the trickiest component) in the winter, well before festival tickets went on sale in the spring. I bought a Friends membership (£40), which enabled me to purchase tickets in advance. Most events cost £5-10 each.
Ten days in Wales can bring all kinds of weather, and the event is designed to handle most conditions. There are solid, elevated walkways and most everything is covered. All events are held under sturdy tents.
Festival Lawn
The food options were overwhelmingly appealing. The local vendors offered everything from cheese plates to seafood to meat to pizzas and panini. Everything was fresh and most was organic. There was lots of ice cream, pastries, coffee, beer and cider.
The festival is located within a ten-minute walk from Hay-on-Wye’s town center.
Hay Festival, Wales, festival, literary
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