Thousands of music lovers concluded their attendance at the Reading Festival on Monday morning, departing from Little John's Farm after a weekend marked by persistent rain and thunderstorms. The popular event, which began on Friday with early arrivals on Thursday, featured a lineup including Charli XCX, Chase & Status, Dave, Florence + The Machine, Fontaines D.C, and Raye.
The festival site was significantly impacted by heavy rainfall throughout the three days, prompting many attendees to don wellington boots, ponchos, and rain jackets. The Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for Saturday, citing the threat of flooding, hail, and lightning, which led to some artists performing under inclement weather conditions.
Despite the challenging weather, many festivalgoers maintained a positive spirit, engaging in drinking, partying, and singing. However, the departure on Monday morning saw many revellers navigating muddy paths, with some pictured in dirtied pyjamas and wellies, and a notable number appearing to leave tents and camping equipment behind.
Some attendees resorted to using items like inflatable beds for warmth or resting on their bags as they made their way from the site. Images from the festival grounds showed discarded items such as pillows, bed sheets, and clothing rendered unusable by the mud and rain, alongside single wellington boots and abandoned bags.
Looking ahead, the forecast indicates that showers are expected to continue in various parts of Britain into the coming week, with potential for longer spells of rain and isolated thunderstorms. Temperatures are anticipated to be around the seasonal average for early September, with some brighter, drier intervals interspersed with rain.
The festival's 55th year featured performances across six stages. Friday's acts included Charli XCX, Fontaines D.C, and Skepta. Saturday saw performances from Dave, Raye, and Gunna, among others. The final night was headlined by Florence + The Machine, preceded by sets from Chase & Status and Loyle Carner. A surprise appearance by Lola Young also drew crowd enthusiasm.
