Fantasy Forest, a unique UK festival celebrating the popular fantasy genre, will make a spectacular return to the glorious grounds of Sudeley Castle, Gloucestershire next year from 18 – 20 July 2025.
The festival will feature a packed programme of fantasy-themed experiences and live entertainment, with tickets to go on sale on 1st October 2024 at 12 noon from fantasyforest.co.uk.
Fantasy Forest is an independent festival, which first took place in the grounds of the magnificent Sudeley Castle in 2019, and has continued to grow in popularity each year since, attracting visitors of all ages from across Gloucestershire, the UK and even overseas. The 2024 festival was the largest to date and welcomed 18,000 people (both return visitors and newcomers) to experience the magic of this one-of-a-kind event.
Weekend camping tickets for the 2024 festival sold out within days when they went on sale in October 2023, shortly followed by weekend and Saturday day tickets, and by early June 2024, all tickets for the festival were sold out. Tickets for the 2025 festival are predicted to sell out quickly, and early booking is advised from 1st October 2025, especially those wishing to secure camping tickets.
Martin Pelgrim from Fantasy Forest said: “It’s amazing to see the continued rising popularity and support for Fantasy Forest Festival year on year. Our aim is to create a unique, inclusive, joyful experience to bring people together. We’re busy planning the 2025 festival and have some exciting plans in store!”
For 2025, festival-goers can expect a return of the ever-popular Costume Show and Costume Competition. Featuring a remarkable array of screen-accurate, creative and lovingly hand-crafted costumes, in addition to the costumed characters roaming the grounds, creating a fantastical ambience for this inimitable festival.
Costume Competition at Fantasy Forest Festival 2024. Photography credit Mikal Ludlow.
Another highlight to expect for 2025 is the Wicker Fire Ceremony, typically held on the Saturday, in which a large, impressive wicker structure is set alight in a moving and poignant ceremony, taking place overlooking Sudeley Castle’s impressive Cotswold estate.
Wicker stag structure at Fantasy Forest Festival 2024. Photography credit Mikal Ludlow.
It has been confirmed that The Film Orchestra will return again to the 2025 Fantasy Forest Festival with another outstanding performance of recognisable scores from fantasy and sci-fi films and games, including classics such as Lord of the Rings, Pirates of the Caribbean, Star Wars, and Doctor Who, performed on the North Lawn, opposite Sudeley Castle’s impressive ancient tithe barn.
The 2024 festival debuted new features, such as a Post Apocalyptic area, which included an array of post-apocalyptic artists, role-players and live entertainers hosting themed activities, such as post-societal carnival games, talisman making and costume distressing workshops. Martin Pelgrim from Fantasy Forest Festival commented:
“We are continuing to diversify, grow and adapt the programme on offer at Fantasy Forest Festival to span the breadth of the rich and varied fantasy genre, including new and interesting themes, such as the Post Apocalyptic area and Steampunk area, which perhaps aren’t represented at other festivals, particularly the larger, more mainstream festivals. This is part of what sets Fantasy Forest apart from other events, and makes it such a unique, diverse and inclusive festival.”
World-renowned fantasy artist, Anne Stokes – whose spectacular artwork has featured world-wide on everything from t-shirts, posters and book covers to jigsaws, greeting cards and games, including Dungeons & Dragons – is confirmed to return once again to the 2025 festival to host an annual meet and greet, alongside workshops, signing sessions and a costume show based on her artwork.
Organisers have confirmed that the Bodypainting Competition will make a return to the 2025 festival, welcoming another cohort of extremely talented artists to put their skills into action live at the festival in front of world-champion judges.
There will also be multiple stages featuring live music and entertainment dotted throughout the magnificent castle grounds, in addition to the Medieval Village, where visitors can step back in time and try their hand at medieval life skills such as archery, or watch a thrilling, immersive live battle reenactment. The Pirate Camp will return for 2025, where visitors can immerse themselves in a bygone era with captivating story-telling, costumed actors and themed activity sessions.
Martin Pelgrim from Fantasy Forest commented: “Following such a huge sell-out success in 2024, we are working hard on the 2025 programme and are excited to return to Sudeley Castle’s beautiful grounds. We’ve booked the headline act, which will be the biggest international name we’ve hosted at the festival to date. We’re working on some new features, including a Fantasy Writers Market and a special surprise addition that will blow you away! Keep an eye on the website for more details to be revealed very soon!”
A range of ticket types will be available to book from 1st October 2024, including day tickets, weekend tickets and camping tickets. The whole family is welcome, with children under 7 free, and dogs are welcome in most areas providing they remain on a lead and owners clean up after them.
A shuttle bus will be available to transport visitors to and from the festival on Saturday and Sunday, departing from Cheltenham Spa train station taking festival goers to Sudeley Castle and back (£5 one way, £10 return). There is ample onsite parking for those planning to drive to the festival, including in the price of a ticket.
Fantasy Forest Festival 2025 will take place from 18th to 20th July 2025 at Sudeley Castle & Gardens, Gloucestershire. Tickets will go on sale 12 noon on 1 October 2024 and are expected to sell out quickly. To find out more, see https://fantasyforest.co.uk/
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