Living la vida L Fest

What's a little rain to a thousand lesbians? Do you think it would really get in the way of one of the most smashing weekends on the annual calendar?

We merrily drove up to Uttoxeter in sweltering heat, put up our tent (adorned with a Planet London banner) to create a green house, unloaded the car and enjoyed a wicked first night sunset.

Then the heavens opened and the storms began! But, rain did not stop play.

 
Proceedings commenced on the Friday night with an active solo social meet and greet for all whowanted to make new friends and play Jenga and Twister. A competitive frenzy took place at people Bingo and one successful woman took home a Planet London goody bag from the prize draw. 

The competition took an enthusiastic turn in our now infamous Spinning Planets game that saw plenty of spot prizes, guessing numbers, and strange team poses.

Then onto speed dating, also popular with the single solos, and over the course of the weekend creating several matches that turned into dates!

Everyone comes together on Friday night for the fantastic entertainment from the Here Come The Girls cabaret show, including comedy from the likes of Madge Hooks and the Short and Girlie troupe, acoustic performances from Beth Prior and Charlie Rundell, sexy burlesque from a bewitching Lauren Karl and saxophony Alice Frick, and even some very clever magic from Faye Presto. Compered with panache by Nicky Mitchell and Lara A King.

Chick Habit then indie-rocked the night away into the storms, while the more laid back took to the fire pit to sing-a-long while the embers burned.

After a night on thunder and heavy rain, a drenched set of campers woke up to face a grey drizzly day and much of the L Fest activity moved inside.

With an excellent film programme schedule courtesy of My Lesbian Radio host Denise Warner-Gregory, including Australian-lez-feature Submerge and Q&A with filmmaker Kat Holmes, two Tello webseries gems and Q&A from Tello Founder Christin Mell and writer/actress Caitlin Bergh plus much much more, no one needed to complain. Peccadillo also supplied prizes for our Planet Central media quiz that gave the added twist of mingling while quizzing.

A wider range of workshops than previous years, from furious writing with VG Lee to becoming a Drag King, to life coaching and arts and crafts - something to entertain everyone, provided enough to keep dry and happy.

The author panels featured a strong range of Independently published writers, celebrating the growth in lesbian fiction content in the past year.

The main stage was forced to move inside for Saturday afternoon but that didn't stop the musicians rocking the crowd something special.

And of course there was always the Retreat to unwind any air bed aches and pains.

Planet Central became host to more early evening social antics, with a second, larger round of speed dating, and our legendary drinking games to get everyone right in the mood for a Saturday night groovy party. 

Sunday is always the more mellow day where chilling is the priority for many. Planet Central hosted a mobile amateur open mic that toured the race course and performed the likes of erotic poetry, guitar playing and story telling. 

Some healthy Planeteer bubble football:

A fantastic live music line up for Sunday as the sun finally came out, gave us Miri, Me and Deboe and Grey Matter to name a few lesbian favourites.

Sunday night is comedy night, and Hazel O'Keefe's laughing cows did just that, with new and old faces giving us a final cheer and an impressive crowd surf before lights out.

Full photo set on Flickr