Basket 
- Home
- General info and help
- Festival Costume Guide 2011
Summer Festivals Fancy Dress Guide
The sun is shining; the weather is heating up, the days are longer and this can mean only one thing - festival season is finally upon us! As well as lazy days in fields, world class music, and a little over indulgence the festival season also means a lot of fancy dress. That’s why at Escapade we have put together 2011’s Festival Costume Guide so you know what the best fancy dress themes are for all of this years biggest festivals.
The 2011 festival season sees huge line ups across the UK and as always some innovative and fun costume themes to boot. So whether you’re heading to Bestival in a rock star costumes or pop star fancy dress donning a God’s and Monsters costume for Standon calling at Escapade we have suggestions for the summers biggest festivals.
Most festivals have unique themes that are as individual as the festival itself but everyone who has attended a festival over summers past knows fancy dress fits in perfectly with the escapism that festivals provide, which is why a lot of them have whole days dedicated to fancy dress. See below for a full list of this years festivals, their bios, headliners and their fancy dress themes for 2011. Have a great festival season and check out the festival safety tips to make sure you stay safe over the summer.
June
Isle of Wight: 10th - 12th June, 2011: Seaclose Park, Newport, Isle of Wight - Back to top
The Isle of Wight festival dates back to 1968 and remains one of the UK’s biggest and most influential festivals. In 1970 it was believed to be one of the biggest gatherings of people in history with over 600,000 attendees. The result was that Parliament passed the “Isle of Wight Act” preventing the gathering of more 5,000 people on the Island killing the festival off. This all changed in 2002 when the Isle of Wight festival was revived and it has run annually ever since with some of the biggest names and icons in music playing the festival every year. As well as arguably hosting one of this years best festival line-ups the Isle of Wight will cater to the fancy dress fantatics among you with hundreds donning funny fancy dress costumes for an unforgetable weekend.
Headliners: Kings of Leon / Foo Fighters / Kasabian / Kaiser Chiefs / Pulp / Beady Eye
Fancy Dress Theme: Funny Fancy Dress
Rockness: 10th-12th, June 2011: Chune Farm, Dores, Scotland - Back to top
The Rockness festival located on the banks of the Loch Ness in Scotland boast possessing the most beautiful festival surrounding in the world and anyone who has been there is likely to back this statement up. A combination of a fantastic line up, picturesque surroundings, fancy dress fanatics that can rival Bestival and a mythical monster make Rockness a summer favourite. Rockness is a huge festival for those among you who love dressing up so expect to see a few crazy fancy dress costumes this year.
Headliners: Kasabian / Two Door cinema Club / Groove Armada / The Chemical Brothers / Paolo Nutini / The Wombats / Example
Fancy Dress Theme: Wacky Fancy Dress CostumesGlastonbury Festival: 22nd - 26th, June 2011: Worthy Farm, Pilton - Back to top
It remains the UK’s biggest and most influential festival pulling in the worlds best musicians by the bucketful and dumping them in front of an audience that constitutes the worlds largest open air music festival. Nearly 200.000 people go to see over 700 acts across 80 stages and it’s not just the creame of the crop musicians you will find at Glasto there are also; leading dance, comedy, theatre and circus acts that make Glastonbury, what it is, the ultimate festival. Thousands attend the event in fancy dress and it is one of the best parties in the world. As well as having this years biggest line-up Glastonbury has also team up with Oxfam who will be featuring a fancy dress tent at the event. Visitors will be able to dress in a wide array of fun fancy dress costumes and can even upload pictures then and there via their Facebook and Twitter profile.
Headliners: U2 / Coldplay / Beyonce / Primal Scream / Elbow / Morrissey / Paul Simon / BB King / Mumford & Sons / Pendulum / Biffy Clyro / Chemical Brothers / Queens of the Stone Age
Fancy Dress Theme:Fun Fancy Dress / Watch out for organized fancy dress Flash Mob updates
July
iTunes Festival: 1st - 31st, July, 2011: Roundhouse, Camden, London - Back to top
The iTunes festival is fantastic for numerous reasons; 31 days of music from some of the world’s biggest bands is the main one however, the fact that it is free also helps. The iTunes Festival is Escapade’s favourite festival and this isn’t just because of the music and the fact that it is free because what we are most excited about is that this festival takes place just up the road from our fancy dress superstore in Camden. If you are lucky enough to win tickets to see anyone from the Foo Fighters to Paul Simon make sure you pop in to our London fancy dress store and pay us a visit before heading down to the roundhouse for some world class music.
Headliners: Paul Simon / Foo Fighters / Manic Street Preachers / Linkin Park / Adele / Duran Duran / The Script / Jessie J / The Wanted + Many more
Hop Farm Festival: 1st - 2nd July, 2011: The Hop Farm, Kent - Back to top
After a general survey was taken where festival goers felt that they were at the bottom of the pecking list during major festivals so the Hop Farm Festival was born as an alternative to the large commercial events. There is no sponsorship and no branding , no VIP’s and children under 12 get in free accompanied by an adult. The aim of the Hop Farm festival is to bring world famous artist together with their fans by taking the music back to its basic roots. This year’s festival features a great selection of modern day icons including Bob Dylan and Van Morrison.
Headliners: Eagles / Bryan Ferry / Morrissey / Iggy & The Stooges / Lou Reed / Brandon Flowers
Fancy Dress Theme: Retro Fancy DressThe Beat-Herder Festival: 1st - 3rd July, 2011: The Ribble Valley, Lancashire - Back to top
Heading into their 6th year the Beat-Herder festival held in Ribble Valley, Lancashire is one of the festival seasons best kept secrets. The Festival which features an eclectic mix of cliental from families to ravers has a little something for everyone. When your not crawling through tunnels and enjoying the wide array of work shops and world food you can check out the fantastic collection of music including 2011’s headliners Leftfield. Don’t forget the fancy dress themes as well as Beat-Herder has two of them: Friday Night is dedicated to Flower Power fancy dress, while Saturday is dedicated fancy dress beginning with the Letter E.
Headliners: Leftfield / Simian Mobile Disco Live / Afo Celt Sound System / T.E.E.D
Fancy Dress Theme: Sat: Letter E Fancy Dress / Fri: Flower Power fancy dress
T in the Park: 8th-10th, July, 2011: Balado, Kinross-Shire Scotland - Back to top
T in the Park is Scotland’s version of Glastonbury with a great atmosphere, a huge line up, and massive crowds all mixed together with a great big fat dosage of fun. You will find everything you would expect to find at a huge festival at T in the Park including a great crowd, first rate performers, fairgrounds, cinemas and a fantastic Fancy Dress Friday where everyone who attends is encouraged to dress up in outlandish and fun costumes. The team behind T in the Park have recently released 2011's fancy dress theme as 80s fancy dress. At Escapade we got love for you, and a huge costume selection if you need that perfect costume from the 80s.
Headliners: Arctic Monkeys / Coldplay / Foo Fighters / The Strokes / Pulp / The Script / My Chemical Romance / Plan B
Fancy Dress Friday Theme: 80s fancy dress
Latitude Festival: 14th - 17th, July 2011: Henham Park, Southwold, Suffolk - Back to Top
Founded in 2006 Latitude heads into it’s 5th year and is getting bigger and better than ever before. The festival is comprised of 3 days of world class music, comedy, art, theatre, and poetry. Set against a stunning background in Henham Park, Suffolk Latitude is a family friendly festival with an edge. Make sure you watch out for special musical guests. Latitude festival goers are fancy dress fanatics so expect to see a wide and varied collection of fun fancy dress costumes at the festival this year.
Headliners: The National / Paolo Nutini / Suede / Bombay Bicycle Club / Foals / Eels
Fancy Dress Theme: funny fancy dress
Guilfest Festival: July 15th - 17th, 2011: Guildford, Surrey - Back to Top
Seven stages that will be jam packed with great music, comedy and variety acts all in a family friendly atmosphere make Guilfest a great independent festival. If you need something else to do other than partaking in the world class music all day Guilfest has a 70’s disco, arts and crafts village, theatre stage, kidzone and farmer Giles barn dance to name but a few, which means you will have a non stop weekend of fun and create memories that will last long into the future. Don't forget to head to the fancy dress parade on Sunday where you will have the opportunity to parade your fun fancy dress costumes around the event with hundreds of other festival revellers.
Headliners: James Blunt / Razorlight / more to come
Fancy Dress Theme: 70's Fancy Dress / Farm Yard fancy dress / fun fancy dress
Secret Garden party: 21st - 24th, July, 2011: Cambridgeshire - Back to Top 
Set near a stunning Georgian farm house with regal gardens and it’s own lake the Secret Garden Festival is one of the UK’s most innovative, fresh and cool festivals. Those who attend are referred to as “gardeners” and spend 4 days in a creative haven of live music, artists, performers, mud wrestling, writers, workshops and skinny dipping all gathered to share creative energy. The theme for 2011's Secret Garden Party is based on a quote from the iconic post-impressionist artist Paul Gaugin, "Where do we come from? What are we? Where Are We Going?" At Escapade we have a few fancy dress tips for each question. "Where do we come from?" we suggest visitors to Secret Garden Party check out our great selection of Historical Fancy Dress. For, "What are we?" the theme is personal to each of you but we reccomend having some fun with a funny fancy dress costume and for, "Where are we going?" whether you think its a post apocolytptic future or one with flying saucers we reccomend our space themed fancy dress costumes.
Headliners: Leftfield / Mystery Jets / Martha Reeves & The Vandals / Blondie
Fancy Dress Theme: Where Do We Come From? / What Are We?/ Where Are We Going?.
Kendal Calling: 29th - 31st, July 2011: Lowther Dear Park, The Lake District - Back to Top
Set in what used to be a wildlife theme park in the beautiful Lake District visiting the Kendal Calling festival would be an experience in itself, even if they didn’t offer world class music. However, they of course do and this year’s line up features the likes of Blondie should to shoulder with The Cribs and numerous other acts. 2011’s fancy dress theme pays further homage to the unique and quirky nature of this indomitable festival with the amazing theme of Beasts and Machines fancy dress. So get your robot on or embrace the beast at Kendal Calling this summer.
Headliners: The Cribs / Blondie / Chase and Status Live / Frank Turner
Fancy Dress Theme: Beasts & Machines fancy dress
Camp Bestival: 28th - 31st, July 2011: Lulworth Castle, Dorset - Back to Top
Voted 2009’s and 2010's Best Family Festival (UK Festival Awards) Camp Bestival is the family orientated version of big brother Bestival. Set against the picturesque back drop of Lulworth Castle Camp Bestival sees a marriage of leading music acts, circus and variety show acts with fantastic kids areas and even boutique baby sitting ensuring that it is guaranteed to be an event enjoyable for the whole family. In 2010 Camp Bestival attempted to break the world record for lazrgest ever Mad Hatter Fancy Dress Tea Party and this years fancy dress theme is Medieval costumes at Escapade we have a whole wardrobe ready and waiting to ensure that this years fancy dress party at Camp Bestival is bigger and better than ever before. Don't miss the traditional fancy dress parade on Saturday!
Headliners: Primal Scream / Blondie / Mark Ronson & The Business Intl / Laura Marling / Attractions: Fancy Dress Parade / The Big Top Mania Crew
Fancy Dress Theme: Medieval Fancy Dress + Don't forget the children: kids fairy tale fancy dress
August
The Big Chill: 4th - 7th, August 2011: Eastnor Castle Deer Park, Ledburry, Herts- Back to Top
Held in the grounds of Eastnor Castle the Big Chill festival provides a fantastic mix of alternative, dance and chill-out music not to mention there comedy stages which are second to none bringing in the best comedians from around the world. This year’s line up features a great mix of leading artist and fresh new talent, which alone will make a trip down to Hertfordshire worth your while. If you are arriving on Friday make sure to pack a fun fancy dress costume as The Big Chill is one of the biggest festivals in the UK for fancy dress revellers. In the past they have attempted to break a world record for the most attendees in Zombie fancy dress costumes.
Headliners: Chemical Brothers / Kanye West / Rodrigo Y Gabriela / Jessie J
Fancy Dress Theme: Funny Fancy Dress
Standon Calling: August 11th - 14th, August 2011: Standon, Ware Hertfordshire - Back to Top
Standon Calling has a great mix of up and coming artist and established performers. Along with a musical pedigree that has seen some of the biggest up and coming bands perform at Standon is a collection of creative writers, comedians, painters, actors, set designs and even chefs. The theme for this years Standon Calling Festival is "God's & Monsters" and at Escapade we have all of the God's & Monsters costumes to match your wildest flights of fancy dress fancy.
Headliners: Buena Vista Social Club / The magic Numbers / Liars / Giles Perterson
Fancy Dress Theme: "God's & Monsters" Fancy Dress Ideas: Gods & Monsters Fancy Dress
Green Man: 19th - 21st, August 2011: Glanusk Park, Brecon Beacons, Wales - Back to Top
The Green Man festival has come a long way since its roots in 2003 when it was a one day event with a maximum capacity of 300. It has become one of the nations favourite festivals and was crowned 2010's best medium sized festival of 2010. Green man features over five stages, which over three days packs some of the biggest stars in Indie and Alternative music and thousands of festival goers. The festival mixes a message about sustainable living and being environmentally conscious with a voracious love of partying
Headliners: Fleet Foxes / Explosions in the Sky / Iron & Wine / The Low / Anthem / Noah and the Whale
Fancy Dress Theme: Fun Fancy Dress
Beautiful Days: August 19th - 21st, 2011: Escot Park, Ottery St Mary, Devon - Back to Top
Beautiful Days is a family and music festival that takes place in Devon at the end of the summer. The festival is spread across 3 days with 5 stages with over a hundred music acts and a smattering of comedy, theatre, family camping, lots of beer and interactive art. The Beautiful Days festival is designed to provide a great weekend out for the whole family and a fantastic medium sized festival with some great headliners.
Headliners: Big Audio Dynamite / Gogol Bordello / Carter USM / Levellers
Fancy Dress Theme: spots & polka dots fancy dress
V Festival: 20th - 21st August, 2011: Hylands Park, Chelmsford / Weston Park, Staffs- Back to Top
Another one of Richard Branson’s never ending great ideas, V festival is sponsored by Virgin and is one of the biggest commercial events of the festival season. This is not a bad thing as commercial backing of Virgin ensrues that V Festival year after year it brings some of the biggest acts in the music business to the UK. Over two days in August world famous acts play between Chelmsford and Staffordshire.
Headliners: Eminem / Artic Monkeys / Rihanna / Plan B / The Script / Dizzee Rascal / Pendulum / Kaiser Chiefs / Duran Duran / Manic Street Preachers
Fancy Dress Theme: Fun Fancy Dress "the wackier the better."
Reading / Leeds Festivals: 26th - 28th, August 2011: Leeds / Reading - Back to Top
World famous bands, top comedians and hundreds of attractions pass from the North to the South of England for the Reading and Leeds festivals. Each festival is jam packed with some of the biggest names in music and comedy. The huge festivals also provide everything that you could want with large bonfires, carnival rides and thousands of other things to do in between watching the bands. Leed's and Reading festivals are fantastic opportunities to don a fun fancy dress costume. It is also a regular tradition for festival goers at the festivals to dress up as music icons so check out our music legends fancy dress costumes for some fun ideas of what to wear.
Headliners: The Strokes / Muse / My Chemical Romance / Pulp / Elbow
Fancy Dress Theme: fun costumes / pop & rock star fancy dress
Festinho: 26th - 28th, August 2011 Hinwick House, Bedfordshire - Back to Top
Festino is a music festival that make a difference. The small festival combines vibrant music, Brazilian vibes with a laid back atmosphere and all profits go to support the ABC trust in support of helping to get homeless Brazilian children and young people off the streets. There is a fantastic range of music at Festinho from rave to folk and everything in between.
Headliners: AGT Rave Cru / Bam Bam Sound / The Cuban Brothers
Fancy Dress Theme: Festinho always has a great fancy dress theme and this year is no different. The theme for 2011 is hereoes and at escapade we have a wide variety but we suggest you check out our superhero fancy dress costumes and out historical costumes for inspiration.
Shambala Festival: 25th - 28th, August, 2011: Market Harborough - Back to Top
The Shambala festival is tagged as a creative, “non-commercial, ethical and family – friendly festival with a wild side”. There is a large focus on community involvement with this festival where acts and artist from across the world are encouraged to apply to perform. At Shambala festival you shouldn't be surprised if you find a song writing sessions next to knife throwers, cabaret dancers, story tellers and poet laureates. Shambala is a environmentally conscious festival that is 100% wind, sun and Veg oil powered. The music acts are kept secret until the opening day to add to the mystery. The festival is renowned for its outrageous fancy dress and on the Saturday every year there is a customary fancy dress parade, which everyone gets involved in.
Headliners: Secret
Fancy Dress Theme: no theme but popular choices are: funny fancy dress / fairytale fancy dress / superhero costumes
September
Jersey Live: 3rd - 4th September, 2011: Royal Jersey Showground - Back to Top
Jersey live is a boutique festival set in quaint countryside surrounded by the parish of Trinity on the southern most point of the British Isles. The festival overlooks idyllic sandy beaches and a great atmosphere is punctuated by world class indie / dance musicians on the main stage, a dance arena and a Wild West tease tent.
Headliners: Madnessr / Plan B / The Streets / Mr Oizo / Sasha
Fancy Dress Theme: funny fancy dress
Bestival: September 8th - 11th, 2011: Robin Hill Country Park, Isle of Wight - Back to Top
Bestival has won the UK’s best medium sized festival for four out of the last five years and last year won the UK's Best Major Festival. It is one of the most popular festivals in the UK and for good reason; The festival features a diverse mix of some of the biggest acts in popular and dance music from across the world, Inflatable churches where festival goers can get married, has its own radio station to keep festival goers informed and Bestival is world renown for its ability to bring thousands of revellers together in fancy dress, in fact no other festival in the world does fancy dress quite like Bestival. This years theme is pop stars, rock stars and Divas fancy dress. For more information on Bestival or ideas of what to wear check out the Bestival fancy dress page.
Headliners: The Cure / Pendulum / Primal Scream / PJ Harvey / The Maccabees / Brian Wilson / Robyn / Public Enemy
Fancy Dress Theme: Rock Star Costumes / Pop Star Fancy Dress
End of the Road Festival: 2nd - 4th September, 2011: Larmer Tree Gardens, Dorset - Back to Top
One of the UK’s smaller festivals The End of the Road sees a knowledgeable base of around 5,000 festival goers head to celebrate the end of summer. The festival features a great mix of alternative music, cinema tents, great food and a chilled atmosphere that make it a perfect way to finish the festival season off and bid a fond farewell to summer. The music is indie at it’s finest with a crowd that are in the know and willing to let go for the weekend.
Headliners: Beirut / Joanna Newsom / Mogwai / Midlake
Fancy Dress Theme: Retro Costumes
Festival Safety Tips - Back To Top
1) Don’t flash your cash, avoid wearing gold, expensive looking jewelry and watches.
2) Keep items of value on your person at all times, better yet, leave them at home all together.
3) Sunburn - Yes we all love the sun but it doesn't love us back wear sunscreen so your festival isn't ruined on your first day.
4) Don’t carry more cash than is needed as most festivals will provide cash machines.
5) Dehydration - Keep hydrated, festivals are active and if the weather is good you will become dehydrated quickly.
6) Avoide drug and alcohol abuse, while festivals provide security and mediacal care adverse reactions to drug and alcohol abuse can leave you isolated and vulnerable.
7) Heat Exhaustion - Symptoms will include dizziness, nausea and potentially vomiting. If this happens get out of the sun and into a cool area where you can consume plenty of fluids and shower or sponge yourself with water.
8) Keep expensive cameras and video recording equipment safely hidden. Avoid dangling your camera which make it easy to be snatched.
