What's On at Beltain 2024
Celebrate the beginning of summer with us! Get ready for an afternoon and evening of spectacular entertainment, with a packed agenda of live music, living history, battles, ancient crafts, talks, fun, festivities, and, of course, fire.
Keep reading to see what’s on — attendees, check your inbox for the full programme!
Music & demonstrations
Performing the main stage this year are Feckless, Damh the Bard, and the Courtiers — but don’t miss the roving bands, storytellers, and performers all round the site. Explore to see living history encampments, reenactor battles, fire performances, Morris dances, and the Beltain classic Pentacle Drummers.
Talks & activities
Try your hand at archery or axe throwing, learn about ancient music and hunting, hear storytelling in a roundhouse, join a drumming workshop, and more! Don’t forget to craft your headdress of local greenery and make a wish on the wickerman before he’s burnt.
Food
Enjoy more food choices than ever before, with delicious options for all tastes — including kid-friendly, gluten free, vegetarian, and vegan. Find hog roast, falafel, pierogi, tacos, stews, crêpes, loaded flatbreads, dhal and more, all at affordable prices.
Drink
Quench your thirst with a summery selection of drinks, from our elderflower and hawthorn mead cocktails to the very best local beers, bitters, and ciders. There’s also plenty for non-alcohol drinkers, including delicious apple juice from fruit grown and pressed locally.
Win ancient treasures
Make sure you get your raffle tickets! As well as supporting our research, you’ll be in with the chance to win a gorgeous Celtic torc or bronze ammonite.
Get your limited-edition cup
We’re reducing plastic waste with our reusable festival cups. Rent or buy one for just £1, or bring back yours from last year.
20% off annual family passes
Enjoy a year of great family days out at Butser with this exclusive offer! Find the Butser stand to claim your discount.
See what’s on with the full programme — now in your inbox!
FAQs
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Your tickets will have been emailed to you as an order confirmation; try searching ‘Beltain’ or ‘Butser’ in your inbox.
The email should have a barcode and list the tickets you ordered. The confirmation email is all you need to get in, so please have it handy when you arrive at the festival.
You don’t need to download or save anything separately.
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The festival starts at 4pm, and last entry is at 7:30pm.
The Hilltop car park opens at 3:30pm.
The Premium and Accessible car parks open at 3:45pm.
The festival ends at 10pm and all car parks will be closed by 11pm.
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You can follow these directions to Butser, or follow brown signs from the A3 by Petersfield.
For the Hilltop car park, follow signs by the A3.
The Premium car park is immediately on your left as you enter the track, and the Accessible car park is straight ahead at the end of the track.
Please do not enter the track unless you are parking in one of these car parks. If you need dropping off, please use the lay by opposite the track.
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Cash — this is a cash-only event.
Appropriate clothes & practical shoes — we're a rustic working farm and the evening can get cold. If it's wet (boo hiss) dress appropriately.
Chairs & picnic blankets — please avoid tall chairs that may block the view of people behind you.
Historical or fantasy garb — we love it when folks dress up, and you're welcome to bring a tankard or drinking horn if you have one!
Practical items — a torch to find your car, an umbrella in case it rains, blankets for when it gets cold etc. are all a good idea to bring.
We will hold a bag check on your arrival. Please do not bring:
Any animals. Assistance dogs are of course welcome.
Alcohol. We've got plenty on site!
Anything to put on the bonfire. Unfortunately due to safety concerns we can't allow contributions to the pyre.
Banned items. Knives, drugs, drones, and similar items will be confiscated. We reserve the right to confiscate items not on this list if they pose a safety risk.
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Unfortunately we can only allow assistance dogs at this event, we’re sorry. We’d love to meet your dog on one of our normal open days though 💚
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Yes, please make sure you’ve booked a free accessible parking space with us otherwise there won’t be space for you!
To book your space, please email us at hello@butserancientfarm.co.uk with your order number and a photo of your blue badge to apply for your parking pass. Please be aware spaces are limited; we’ll do our very best to accommodate you.
You don’t need to buy a parking ticket separately.
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You may still be able to find parking tickets for sale here.
If not, unfortunately you may need to make other arrangements as there is no parking for the festival without a pre-booked ticket.
We can recommend parking at Queen Elizabeth Country Park, which is connected to Butser by a lovely footpath. The walk is about 1 mile and takes around half an hour. Please be aware the path is tarmac but hilly and involves a stile.
If you’re not into walking, it’s just a 5 min drive to Butser. Here are some local taxi recommendations:
Petersfield Taxis: 01730 303030
Petersfield Station Taxi Rank: 0845 600 0650
5 Ways Cars: 01730 260442
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That’s fine! Just make sure everyone has a copy of your order confirmation, and let us know on the gate that you’re expecting more members of your group.
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Unfortunately this isn’t an overnight event, so there won’t be anywhere to stay on-site. We also can’t allow overnight parking in any of our car parks.