What's On in the 13 Sunrise Arenas

The Sunrise Celebration festivals are primarily made up of 13 arenas, laid out in a circular mandala design, based on the work of sacred geometer John Michell (read the article here). Beyond these arenas are found the markets and major stages including the Sunrise Solar Aid Stage, Firefly Solar Stage and Waveform Dance Tent. The 13 arenas are chosen to represent the widest breadth of alternative culture that we can find, intended to take the participant on a magical journey over the 4 days of the event. We are constantly seeking to add fresh content, and with this in mind, have a policy of rotating the areas from year to year in order to ensure that Sunrise never goes stale. This year sees 5 completely new arenas plus several more that have been totally revamped. It has been said by many an attendee that you can wander through the event continually for 4 days and still, at the very last moment, discover something new and wonderful that you didn't know was there before. From solar cinemas to old-time swing boats, enchanted gardens to adult games, drumming to dream healing, or a visit to Sunrise's very own Woodhenge - a trip through the Sunrise wonderland is sure to delight every time.

This year's headline acts include The Orb, The Beat, System 7, Seize The Day and many more. Musical content is spread across 8 stages around the Sunrise site - including the Solar Aid Stage, The Waveform Stages, The Firefly Solar Stages and more.

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Sunrise Celebration has something to offer the whole family and many arenas will have something of interest to young people (and those young at heart!). Features this year will include a new climbing wall, swingboats and rides, kids disco, circus and crafts workshops, parades, a maze, outdoor games and more. For the older kids there will be graffiti walls, breakdance, poetry slams, hip hop, circus shows and skills, bushcraft skills and lots lots more still to be confirmed.

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Performance Art, Walk-About Performers and Non-Musical Presentations No festival is complete without the weird and the wonderful. Purveyors of those magical spontaneous moments, they walk the site in strange garb, offering tricks and glimpses of a world more colourful and more magical than the norm. As ever, the Sunrise site will be ablaze with performers and strange delights for the eye - from wandering minstrels, to sword- duelling cavaliers, stilt-walkers, fire dancers and poets. The beauty of festivals is the little bits of unexpected magic that await you around every corner. Expect the Unexpected!

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Talks, multi-media presentations, hands-on creativity, healing and other interactivity. Sunrise demonstrates that workshops are not just for the sandal wearing types but can appeal to everybody. Highlights confirmed this year include Breakdance, Capoeira and Nursery Rhyme Rap in the Roots and Culture Area.Elsewhere, the new Out of the Ordinary Area will be the place to meet great minds on the subjects of Esoterica, Earth Mysteries, Astrology, 2012 Theory and other realms of the bizarre. Featured speakers will include Jonathan Cainer, one of the world's leading astrologers, William Bloom, famed teacher and author of Holistic Development and Glennie Kindred.

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From stiltwalking and bizarre performance routines, to fire-juggling and negotiating a full-size labyrinth, there is always something to do at Sunrise. From esoteric cinema and theatrical performance to visionary galleries and mind-bending knowledge, the conscious part of ourself can tune-in to an alternative way of life. Sunrise has a site-wide organic policy and a diligent green inititiative with compost toilets. solar power and 24 hour 'Eco-Rangers'!

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