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The Isle of Wight Festival was originally held in 1968 at Ford Farm, near Godshill. In 1969, it was held and Wootton and in 1970 at Afton Down, near Freshwater.
The 1970 event drew so many people, many of whom were not ticket holders, that Parliament passed the “Isle of Wight Act” in 1971, preventing gatherings bigger than 5000 people on the island, without special licensing.
Because of the act and because of concerns among local authorities and event organisers, there was no festival for many years. But in 2002, Nokia sponsored a revival of the outdoor concert.
The organisers were, of course, better prepared for the crowds. In 1970, no one really expected the huge influx of people to an area of that size. So, the 2002 event was a hit and has been held annually ever since.
The location is now adjacent to Seaclose Park on the outskirts of Newport in the fields of the eastern Medina valley. Before the revival of the Isle of Wight Festival, Seaclose Park was a popular destination for skaters, tennis players and other outdoor enthusiasts.
Since the revival, investors have worked to maintain its condition for the annual event. It is now one of the best maintained community parks in the UK, according to some sources.
Although the dates for the concert vary, it is typically held the first or second weekend in June and lasts for three days and nights; Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are available year round at the official website and through the usual outlets.
There are special rates for children. Campervans are allowed with special permits, but all occupants must have their own ticket. Although camping is the “traditional” way to enjoy the concert, other accommodations are available in Newport and the surrounding area.
The event was booked as the “Nokia Isle of Wight Festival” in 2004, 2005 and 2006. Starting in 2007, the event has been organised by the Solo Music Agency. The word “Nokia” was dropped from the title, when the company stopped sponsoring the event.
Highlights of past festivals have included performances by Neil Young, The Police, The Rolling Stones, Coldplay, the Foo Fighters, Prodigy, REM, David Bowie, The Who, Counting Crows, Bryan Adams and Robert Plant.
Attendance ranged from 50-60,000 annually during the years 2005-2008. That’s more than 10 times the original maximum set down by parliament in 1971, but far less than the estimated number in attendance during the 1970 festival. Roughly 600,000 showed up to hear Jimi Hendrix, Chicago, the Doors and the Who, as well as a dozen other performers.
Create some special memories by attending the Isle of Wight Festival this year. You may become a part of history in the making.
Mandy Miller is an author and travel writer who writes about holiday and leisure related topics, including the Isle of Wight for many quality web sites. To find out more about the Isle of Wight, visit http://www.aboutbritain.com/counties/isle-of-wight.asp.
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