{"id":34470,"date":"2014-07-30T11:38:52","date_gmt":"2014-07-30T11:38:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.wonderlandmagazine.com\/?p=34470"},"modified":"2016-09-22T14:26:44","modified_gmt":"2016-09-22T14:26:44","slug":"7-wonders-secret-garden-party","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wonderlandmagazine.com\/2014\/07\/30\/7-wonders-secret-garden-party\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Wonders: Secret Garden Party"},"content":{"rendered":"
Mesmerising music, enchanting gardens and secret sunflower fields, Secret Garden Party was fit for a prince<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n This year\u2019s Secret Garden Party may have been the biggest and most popular to date, but that didn\u2019t detract from the whimsical andfantastical nature that it\u2019s renowned for. Still managing to retain its appealing boutique feel with well over 20,000 revelers in attendanceis no mean feat, but we\u2019re happy to say they pulled it off. Wonderland was there to check out one of the worst kept secrets this year, and here are the things we enjoyed the most. Prepare to reminisce, Gardeners.<\/p>\n ART INSTALLATIONS<\/strong><\/p>\n Arguably one of the festival\u2019s most talked about elements are its art installations. Every year no expense is spared in order to bring life tocountless visual treats for Gardeners to see, touch and interact with.From bronze statues hanging in trees to hammocks made entirely ofcling film, the bar was raised high. However this year\u2019s star was undoubtedly the floating Emerald City, which was the subject of the annual Big Burn on closing night.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n ROAD TO NOWHERE\u2019S LABYRINTH<\/strong><\/p>\n While all the music stages have their own redeeming features and are vastly more creative than the majority of festivals, East London collective Road To Nowhere\u2019s Labyrinth had a special place in our hearts this year. Hidden in the forest and containing a secret Speakeasy, a glitter station, and sets from the likes of Ben Pearce and Richy Ahmed, if you managed to find it then you\u2019ll understand.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n SATURDAY SPECTACLE<\/strong><\/p>\n Each year one of the festival\u2019s visual highlights is the Saturday Spectacle. We managed to bag a prime viewing spot by the lake to witness a fireworks display that would make even New Year\u2019s Eve jealous. Also joining in the fun were glitter cannons, holographic displays, aerial acrobats and skywriters, along with an impressive ticket drop to finish it off. That\u2019s right free tickets for next year \u2013 yes please!<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n HEADLINERS<\/strong><\/p>\n While Secret Garden Party isn\u2019t necessarily concerned with cramming as many big names into a lineup as possible, the eclectic rabble of headliners this year were definitely worth a watch. There aren\u2019t many other festivals where you can see Martha Reeves and\u00a0the Vandellas, Public Enemy and Fat Freddy\u2019s Drop in one place, but they were all pretty great.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n SECRET SUNFLOWERS<\/strong><\/p>\n One of the most surprising finds this year has to be the mysterious Sunflower Field. Hidden behind the door of a seemingly normal portaloo, if you were lucky enough to choose it then you were greeted by a large field of tall sunflowers as well as a ball pit and DJ booth. There was also a super secret afterparty there once everything else had closed, which we were very glad to have stumbled upon.<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n HEAD GARDENER Q&A<\/strong><\/p>\n As well as the music and visual excitement, there were also some more relaxing activities to attend. This year\u2019s Secret Forum held comedy performances from the likes of Justin Moorhouse and Joel Dommott, as well as a Q&A session with the Head Gardener. Where else can you have a nice chat with the man behind the magic?<\/p>\n