No Glastonbury tickets? These genius hacks will help you get the festival vibe with friends at home

The Guardian

7 hours ago

So you didn't manage to bag yourself a ticket to Glastonbury? Do the next best thing and throw a Glasto-inspired party at home. Create the festival vibe by decorating your outdoor space, serving up delicious drinks and food-truck style bites, and turning up the volume on your playlist. Most importantly, assemble your crew for a guaranteed great time, even if you're not at Worthy Farm …
Set the moodGet the buildup going before the party starts. Why not send out invites in the form of DIY backstage passes – letting your friends know they can enjoy 'access all areas' to your kitchen (food trucks), garden (Pyramid stage) and VIP toilet facilities. Don't be shy about suggesting a theme – boho chic? – and start a Glasto group chat to get the hype building.Create the magicThere's nothing beige about Glastonbury so when setting the scene, go bright. Dress your garden with colourful festival flags and banners, string up bunting and hang paper lanterns from trees. You can even include a tent for the ultimate festival touch while burning incense sticks will give that authentic festival scent.
No festival is complete without a workshop or two, and that includes Glastonbury. For your DIY festival, set out a small table with facepaint, stencils and mirror – so your guests can have fun getting the festival look.
Make things comfortable but inviting by layering picnic rugs with blankets and throws for an eclectic, patterned look. Then add lots of cushions so your guests can lounge comfortably, but do make sure you leave enough space for dancing.
If you have room, it's always fun to set up a few games or activities – think hula hoops, limbo or giant Jenga.
Keep the magic going as the sun goes down with festoon lights and solar-powered lanterns. And if you've got the space, a firepit is a great option. It not only delivers the charm of flickering flames, but also keeps everyone warm if the night is chilly.
If you have the tech, set up an outdoor screen so you can watch your favourite acts live under an open sky.
Curate a killer playlist The joy of celebrating Glastonbury at home is that you get to curate your lineup without having to factor in getting from stage to stage. To feel like you're at the event and connected to the thousands of ticketholders, download the free Official Glastonbury 2025 app, powered by Vodafone. Use it to create – and share – your personalised lineup of artists, and in between sets, listen to Worthy FM, Glastonbury's on-site radio station.
Connecting friends to the best of British summerVodafone has been connecting people to the places and things they love since 1984 – that's why it is The Nation's Network.
Whether you're at Glastonbury itself or partying at home as if you were there, Vodafone has you covered (its 4G network reaches more than 99% of UK homes).
Food truck ideasForget sharing platters, instead serve up the type of festival food that's dished up from food trucks.
For a world food vibe, cook up big pots of curries and rice beforehand and bring them to a buffet table for guests to help themselves. Or, opt for dishes that can be rustled up quickly and easily such as pizza slices, nachos with a variety of toppings, and pitta bread with falafel and dips.
With hamburgers, hotdogs and tacos, instead of serving them ready-to-go, lay out all the ingredients and let guests assemble them.
Don't forget sweet treats – platters of baked goodies such as fairy cakes and brownies work well, and remember marshmallows and biscuits for toasting smores around the firepit.
Festival drinks Drinks are key so go big with an outdoor bar. Cover a sturdy table with a cloth (if it's wood and looks good, leave it as it is).
Place a couple of galvanised tubs on either end of the table, ready to be half-filled with ice to chill your drinks (do this about half an hour before the party is due to begin). They will get heavy, though, so make sure your table is up to the task; if in doubt, place the tubs on the ground.
Arrange your glassware – you can go for the real thing although now there are plenty of stylish acrylic glasses that are perfect for wine, beer and cocktails.
When choosing drinks, include craft beers and cider (for that Somerset touch), along with pre-mixed cocktails in a can. There are now plenty of non-alcoholic options, so include those for the non-drinkers, as well as pitchers of water.
For added fun factor, create a signature cocktail using cider – there are plenty of recipe ideas online. Choose one that can be mixed beforehand and just poured out, or one where you can do some of the prep before guests arrive, adding the final ingredient such as sparkling wine just before you hand it to your guest. Cheers!
Vodafone, connecting you to Glastonbury this summerThe Official Glastonbury 2025 app is available now! Download the free app, powered by Vodafone