With Glasto approaching there is one unique product that comes to mind, sky lanterns. They have, in recent years, become an integral part of any Glastonbury-goers experience. In an interview in 2008 the headliner’s, Kings of Leon, cited the release of sky lanterns from the Stone Circle as their enduring memory of the festival. If you do not directly launch one from the magical Stone Circle you are likely to witness their unearthly presence as they drift up and across the rolling Somerset landscape. It is no surprise that the release of the lanterns, with their connotations of peacefullness and optimism, have become intrinsically associated with the Stone Circle. This field is where festival goers seek rest in the depths of the night, sitting and talking together around fires in the liberating spirit that remains at the heart of the festival. As is traditional with sky lanterns, a wish is made with each one released. It is a powerful experience to watch from the hillside of the Circle as the wishes float across the vast festival, oblivious to the frenzied crowds beneath them, up in to the sky and out of view. Watching the sky lanterns take this journey in to the clouds is a divine moment to reflect and escape. It is one of the reasons that in spite of its ever sprawling size, Glastonbury remains unparalleled.
