A much-loved festival in Sawley has announced it will be one day shorter for its anniversary in 2027.
The Beat-Herder festival in Sawley will celebrate its 20th anniversary next July, but this year it will be one day shorter.
Organisers have confirmed that the festival will run from July 16 to 18, 2027, without the usual Thursday opening day.
This decision comes after feedback from festival-goers who expressed that the previous four-day format was too long for many attendees.
Nick Chambers, co-founder and director of Beat-Herder, shared his thoughts on the festival's evolution.
He told the Lancashire Telegraph: "The 2026 festival, last week, was right up there with one of the best festivals we have had - feedback was incredible and we were certainly blessed with the weather."
Nick highlighted the festival's changes over the years, stating, "We change the way the festival works occasionally - since 2006 it has changed every year."
In its early days, the festival attracted about 1,500 attendees, steadily growing to a capacity of 15,000. For 15 years, Beat-Herder was a three-day event, which is the format it will return to in 2027.
Nick added, "In 2023, we dropped the capacity and changed the arena layout to widespread approval. People trust our process and we always deliver on a magical weekend."
He explained the reasoning behind the reduction in days, saying, "We have had a lot of feedback that the four days were too long for many, and we are reacting to this - it might not be the end of the Thursday, we might well bring it back in a future year." He also emphasised the importance of community, stating, "As it always has been, our drive is to experience the weekend together, collectively, as one - we're taking it back to this."
A spokesperson for the festival noted that: "2027 will be the 20th edition of Beat-Herder! Ticket launch is at 6.30pm on Thursday, July 30. Buy tickets early and save up to £80 on the ticket!" They confirmed that ticket prices will remain the same as in 2026.
Some festival-goers have expressed disappointment over the lack of a Thursday camping option. One attendee said: "We love being able to get in and set up on Thursday as Friday is a long enough day without setting up first (I'm getting old)."
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Another remarked: "Boo to the no Thursday, that's my favourite day."
However, others remain excited about the festival's return. One fan shared, "It is still hands down the best festival I have ever attended ever and I’m just so glad it’s still going ahead."
Despite the mixed feelings, the Beat-Herder community looks forward to celebrating another memorable weekend in July, united in their shared experience.
