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

Hip Hip Hooray, we sash-ayed the Big Gay 10k

Sunday 30 September, Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens. Sunny cloudy weather. A bunch of gays. What more could you want for the end of the Summer?

We arrived early, ready to set up our stall, which was bang in the middle of the row of pop up gazebos.

Within an hour we were ready to go with our village fete games – pick a lolly, play your cards right, tombola and find the cash behind the tube station, as well as a fine assortment of homemade cakes to sell (Naomi spent all day Saturday in the kitchen baking!).

Katie checked in for the walk, and took park in the group limbering up, with lots of dynamic stretches led off from the main stage.

Just before midday, Diva’s Jane Czyzselska called all the women over to take part in the lesbian visibility kiss. Before we knew it dozens of lesbians were smooching away with each other.

And then, Cheryl Baker was calling the start of the walk! All the runners, walkers and mincers led off, on the 10k path that took them along the riverside, South Bank, up to London Bridge, over and back down the other side.

It was a beautiful walk and the weather was perfect. It got a little busy in the South Bank area and Westminster – making it hard to keep full pace throughout, but Planet London walkers returned to Vauxhall in very respectable times indeed.

The afternoon continued with some great acts on the live stage including lesbian bands such as Grey Matter, stand up comedians Jen Brister and Zoe Lyons, and rounding off with members of the L Project singing It Gets Better.

The village fete worked really well and all the stalls had made a big effort to be fun and informative. There was a chilled party-like atmosphere all afternoon.

Planet London is very proud to have been a part of this event – walking and in the fete. We raised approximately £200 from the stall and walking which will go towards helping London Friend and Pace.