UK Swinging Festival Cancelled As Social Distancing Would Make It 'A Poor Replica'

This weekend was highlighted in marker pen in the diaries of swingers across the UK, with the Swingfields' Aurora Festival due to take place.

However, the festival - which is reportedly the largest sex festival of its kind in Europe - was cancelled amid fears coronavirus social distancing rules would render it a 'poor replica' of itself.

SWNS

The festival was due to start on Thursday, but it was cancelled a few months back as the pandemic began to take a strong hold on the country.

In a statement, the organisers said: "It is with great regret that we have made the decision to cancel Aurora Festival 2020. This is a decision that has been discussed and agreed by the Aurora committee, after a lot of thought and deliberation, looking at the practicalities and considering the safeguarding of all our wonderful customers.

"The impact of Covid-19 has already affected ticket sales. There is also the potential for vendors and suppliers to withdraw at any time, due to illness or self-isolation, leaving us with a space to fill at short notice or more likely, not at all.

"We pride ourselves on providing the best, independent, Lifestyle Festival in the UK, giving our customers an experience to remember. We are not prepared to offer you all an experience that is a poor replica that does not reflect the true essence and standards of Aurora."

SWNS

While this weekend will undoubtedly feel comparatively dull for those who had tickets, the organisers hope to return 'bigger and fresher and virus free' next year.

They said: "We will use this time to look after ourselves and each other and see where this virus takes us. Hopefully 2021 will be the year to return bigger and fresher and virus free."

Last year, for the sixth annual festival, people flocked to Malvern, Worcestershire, for the event, following handwritten 'SF this way' signs.

The site location is a closely-guarded secret and ticket holders who paid £170 ($208.96) for a couples' ticket were only told where to head 48 hours before the festival got underway.

The fest was welcomed by locals though, with resident Sylvia Hartley seeming quite keen to get involved actually.

The 40-year-old said: "I'm not bothered what they do inside the festival as long as they don't leave it but I suppose, why would they?

"The festival was here last year and no one seemed to have any problems. It's just people having sex in the open air.

"There are far more unhealthy pursuits people can do. If I wasn't in a committed relationship I'd be tempted to go along myself."

Topics: Festival, UK News, Sex, Coronavirus

Jake Massey

Jake Massey is a journalist at LADbible. He graduated from Newcastle University, where he learnt a bit about media and a lot about living without heating. After spending a few years in Australia and New Zealand, Jake secured a role at an obscure radio station in Norwich, inadvertently becoming a real-life Alan Partridge in the process. From there, Jake became a reporter at the Eastern Daily Press. Jake enjoys playing football, listening to music and writing about himself in the third person.

@jakesmassey