Boomtown Festival

Boomtown Fair is more than just a music festival; it is a five-day immersive adventure set in the rolling South Downs near Winchester. Each summer the Matterley Estate transforms into a living city of imagination, filled with enormous stages, art installations, and roaming performers. Picture yourself wandering through themed districts — a neon-lit futuristic skyline, an enchanted woodland, an old Western frontier town — each bustling with music and surprises. You might find drum 'n' bass thumping from one stage, funk and soul from another, and reggae rhythms drifting through the air. Everywhere you turn there is something happening: fire-dancers spinning under the stars, acrobats twisting through the treetops, or a spontaneous drum circle erupting in a hidden clearing. It feels like stepping into a vivid movie — each corner reveals a fresh adventure waiting to unfold.

Boomtown draws a creative, open-minded crowd. Festival-goers often become part of the show, dressing in imaginative costumes and roaming the city like 'citizens' of a parallel world. Music is everywhere, but so are performers: around the stages you might stumble into a circus tent, a puppet theater on the street, or a pop-up cabaret behind a pub facade. Dozens of stages host every genre — electronic, dub, reggae, rock, folk and more — and any of them could spark an unexpected dance party or jam session. Even the youngest explorers have fun: Kidztown is a colourful mini-city for kids, full of puppet shows, arts and crafts workshops, and playful parades, so the whole family can join the adventure.

Through all the action, a warm community spirit holds it together. Boomtown operates on principles of creativity, equality and sustainability, so the vibe is inclusive and positive. Between headline acts you will lounge in themed chill-out zones, taste delicious global cuisine (with plenty of vegan and locally sourced options), or join impromptu drum circles with new friends. When night falls, the city truly sparkles: epic light shows and fireworks erupt over the stages while glowing performers on stilts or in fire costumes drift through the crowd. It can be a sunrise yoga class under the open sky or an all-night dance session — either way, each night feels like a celebration of art and friendship. After five days in this imaginative city, you will head home inspired, with memories of a festival that feels like a vibrant world all its own.

Exploration is part of the fun at Boomtown. The festival's city is built for discovery — turn a corner and you could stumble into anything: an impromptu jazz jam under a lamppost, a hidden silent cinema screening, or an early-morning yoga class surrounded by new friends. Every day and night there are fresh surprises. With so many hidden stages and spontaneous happenings woven through the event, no two visits are ever the same. Even returning visitors find that Boomtown's magic brings new experiences each year, ensuring its story never stops unfolding.