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What are the dates for the Festival in 2013?
Thursday 23 May through to Sunday 2 June 2013
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Where is the Festival?
In a tented village in Hay-on-Wye, on the edge of the beautiful Brecon Beacons National
Park. We’re bang in between Hereford and Brecon just off the A438 –
see travel.
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How do we get there?
Trains to Hereford from North, Midlands and South are met by festival buses. It’s
a beautiful but exacting bike ride, and a stupendous drive from any direction –
see travel.
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Where do we stay?
There’s spectacular and reasonably priced camping all around. B&Bs and
hotels tend to get booked up year on year by regular visitors, but there’s
a festival bedfinder service who’ll make the many many calls to get you a
roof for the pauperly fee of £10. Call your friends and family for the number
of anyone with a spare bedroom within 40 miles!
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How much does it cost?
There is no charge for entrance to the main festival site, you just buy tickets
for the events you want to see. And there are lots of free events. Most ticketed
gigs range from £5 to £19 (for household name comedy and music). It’s
free for students though. Student applications can be made from 1 May by calling
the box office.
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How did it start?
Some say big bang, some believe in a freak poker game... more likely there were
a bunch of friends round a kitchen table wanting something to do of an evening.
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How are the writers chosen?
We invite the writers and performers (great writers work in all media) we most admire.
We try to bring the greatest contemporary practitioners and the most exciting new
voices. The directors talk to publishers, writers and a huge range of advisors –
including many of the festival-goers.
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Who goes?
Well, according to the survey results... Hay-goers have very little socially, economically
or politically in common other than the festival. Debate results suggest they are
sceptical about monarchy and religion, not much bothered about hunting, very bothered
about illegal invasions of other countries conducted with no medium and longer term
planning, and passionately engaged with the environment, good food and having a
good time. Writers say they’re exceptionally well read and pretty smart. They’re
all fairly gorgeous too.
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Is it good for families?
There’s a great kids programme and lots of events with broad family appeal,
and a whole section of the Festival is devoted to toddlers and parents. Step off-site
and you can walk, swim, ride, paraglide and enjoy the most beautiful countryside
in Britain.
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Singletons?
Give it a go. There are thousands of people here to make friends with. We’ve
had 29 weddings of couples who met at the festival. And they’re just the ones
who got hitched. It’s not the ideal location for solitude or misanthropy,
unless you’re after a cure.
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Can I bring my dog on site?
Unfortunately only guide dogs are allowed inside Hay Festival events and within
the main festival site. The site can get incredibly busy, the tents can get hot
and need to be quiet when events are taking place. Although we love dogs and know
the majority of dog owners are responsible, we have to have a one rule for all policy.
We hope that this doesn’t stop you from coming to the festival. The town and
surrounding countryside is great for dogs. There are many lovely walks nearby, including
the mountains above Hay and a path along the river. See the
Hay Tourist Information Bureau website for some ideas.
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I can’t get there this year...
Sorry. Come again next year? Stay home and watch us on Sky Arts, listen to us on
Radio 3, read the daily coverage in The Telegraph, and catch up with the events
you would have heard live on the audio and video archive at
www.hayfestival.com/archive
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