HOLI ONE Colour Festival brings rainbows to Wembley

HOLI ONE is a worldwide festival of colour, music and live performance, and this year it hit Wembley with a bang. With HOLI ONE locations ranging from South America, Australia, Africa, Europe and a whole range of US states (including Hawaii), this really is something that has taken the world by storm. The event is inspired by the Hindu Holi fest, but drops the religious promotion for a day of fun and colour.

The whole event is completely outdoors, with one stage, a range of artists and a smattering of burger vans, noodle stands and bars. The menu is pretty limited, but it’s what you would get from any festival of this size; everyone is either clutching a can of cider or a plastic bottle of cheap beer. The size of the grounds only just manages to compensate for the £40 price tag, but overall most people seem content with their surroundings.

A countdown takes places every hour (on the hour), in which everyone throws their coloured powder in the air. It’s a magical scene to witness, but after a couple of seconds you’re engulfed in a dust storm of Pink Bikini, Blue Lagoon, Juicy Orange, Green Planet, and Yellow Sunrise. Thankfully, the colour is completely non-toxic, environmentally friendly and promises to wash right out of your clothes – although it’s advised not to wear your favourite dress just to be safe.

Whether you’re going in a big group or with your best friend, you’re guaranteed to have an unforgettable time and leave looking like you’ve been attacked by a rainbow. The typical festival atmosphere ensures that everyone is outgoing and up for making new friends. Unfortunately, the typical festival atmosphere also ensures massive entry queues, sky-high prices, and a standard 20-minute wait for the ladies’ toilets, but that’s all part of the package that any festival-goer will be more than used to. HOLI ONE has again proved why it’s such a worldwide phenomenon and will continue to be so for the foreseeable future.

Shelby Paddison

HOLI ONE festival is travelling the UK until the end of August 2014, for further information or to book visit here.

Watch a promo video for HOLI ONE here: