Thousands Head to Shambala Festival at Kelmarsh Hall

Thousands of people have descended on Kelmarsh Hall for this year’s Shambala Festival.

The festival combines music, arts and performance with workshops, wellbeing activities and family entertainment.

Pic: Lindsay Melbourne

Around 15,000 people are expected to attend the four-day event, with many festival-goers arriving by train at Market Harborough before taking shuttle buses to the site. Local hospitality businesses and traders are also working at the festival.

The organisers promote rail travel and other lower-impact travel options as part of the festival’s sustainability focus.

Pics: Leora Bermeister/Ezekiel Arzac

The programme includes around 40 venues and stages, with music ranging from folk and dancehall to techno and disco, alongside spoken word, politics, puppetry, dance workshops and an enchanted woodland filled with art installations.

This year’s line-up includes acts such as Bob Vylan, Goat, Los Bitchos, Orchestra Baobab, Hollie Cook and The Selecter, alongside a wide range of performers and non-music events.

Pic: Jessie Myers

Shambala celebrated its 25th anniversary last year and has been held at Kelmarsh Hall and Gardens for many years, describing itself as an independent, family-friendly and radically sustainable festival.