My Time At The Last Ever Leopallooza!

This year, the Pearl Exchange had once again teamed up with Leopallooza to provide people with the opportunity to earn a ticket by giving a little time to help setup the area for crafts and a multitude of creative activities. I am writing this post, simply to document my experience and give my gratitude to everyone that made this possible! I won’t detail everything; but here are the broad strokes.

Thursday 20th - Preparation & Setup

After arriving at The Wyldes entrance, I got my wrist band and proceeded to make my way down to the Pearl Exchange site; whereupon I found a massive double ‘TP’ structure in all its glory. I was then waved over to assist with unpacking everything required for the Pearl Exchange space and helped configure and setup for the days ahead.

We collectively created workshop areas, the DJ booth, hung signs, bunting and erected a star-shaped sign for people to leave messages on. Once we had done what we could, I dropped my stuff off for the following days and got a lift back into Bude with Tom.

Friday 21st - Event Day 1

I made my way to the Pearl Exchange to help Tom grab the last bits required for the space at Leo’. Arriving at the Leo site around 11am, I went to get my tent pitched before the looming rain clouds were over-head, which luckily; I did successfully. I then spent the next couple hours helping with final preparations for the festival.

The buzz of people arriving slowly built through the day and I spent most of it exploring the Leo grounds, and later on, met up with some friends and chatted to people that I hadn't seen for a while. The first night's headliners were Orbital, who appeared on stage like two silhouetted; other worldly beings with lights for eyes, which I enjoyed immensely.

Saturday 22nd - Event Day 2

I woke up on Saturday to the sound of rain on my tent and took my time to get up. I wandered around the site, got a coffee from ‘Campers coffee’ and then ~ “damn that was good”, got another coffee.

I wandered over to the Pearl Exchange site to help them with anything they needed and assisted with cleaning silk screens as people came in out of the rain to do something creative. The Pearl Exchange brought a welcoming relaxing space for creativity to the festival.

As the day went on the rain built and started to turn the ground into what can only be described as what looks like smooth chocolate icing ~ Everything is mud. After spending most of the day with friends in the rain, I was soaked to the core. My coat had reached a point of critical saturation where it was actually making me more wet while wearing it and my feet had their own en-suite swimming pools situated entirely within my boots.

I headed back to my tent and spent that evening wringing out my sleeves, drying my boots with paper towels and made a makeshift washing line in the port of my tent to try and drain the water from my coat. I got a fairly early one and hoped for a dryer day tomorrow.

Sunday 23rd - Event Day 3

I woke up to no sound of rain on my tent, which doesn’t sound like a big deal - but at the time, it really was. I then proceeded to remove the wads of paper towels from my boots and hope that they were drier than the day proceeding.

I strolled down to the market to imbue myself with life essence from the coffee gods and quickly met my Dad, who had got a day past to come and see Aurora. I got a breakfast wrap and spent the morning with him watching various bands. In doing so; I introduced myself to a couple of friends that had come down for the day too.

As the day progressed, the clouds retreated from the skyline and the Sun began to shine - a welcome prospect. As the evening rolled on, I met up with my newly ingratiated friends and watched Aurora with them and spent most of the night dancing in the smallest club you’ve ever seen.

Monday 24th - Packup & Tidy

Luckily it wasn’t raining too hard when I woke up, so I made a start on packing my bags and tent for the festival ‘close-up’, which miraculously fit back into the bag that it was designed to fit in.

I made my way down to the Pearl Exchange area to make a start on getting everything packed up and spent a large portion of the morning stacking hay bales like jenga towers and walking up and down a dirt track that had become too caked for the van to get down.

As I was dropped off, Tom showed his thanks for my assistance and I made my way home to unwind and dry everything out.

It was great to work with The Pearl Exchange and spend some time with friends; and even made some new ones! I slowly ate my way around the marketplace at Leo over the duration of the weekend and enjoyed a multitude of foods, the Thai chicken noodles most of all.

With that ~ I give you my thanks, Leopallooza; for a great weekend, Pearl Exchange; for the opportunity to get a ticket. For my friends; old and new. It’s the last Leopallooza, but i’m sure I will be seeing you around.