Today I went to the first PIGS IN BLANKETS music festival.....and I'm already looking forward to next year!
What on earth.....? I hear you ask.
Well, in this unprecedented year of the pandemic, there have been many things and events that we couldn't do in school that we would normally finish the year with....
Baconsvision
Baconstown's Got Talent
to name but a few.
Taking our Taoiseach's advice, my class decided to go for "an outdoor summer" theme and so we opted for our own music festival. Hey, it's outdoor!
Our first task was to come up with a catchy name. Having looked at the names of other festivals, we decided that it had to refer to our school, Baconstown. Also it should have a connection to food
( Electric Picnic, I'm looking at you).
Seeing as we were going to bring in sheets and blankets to pitch our "tents" in the camping area, the class voted on the name
Pigs in Blankets
which you have to agree, is quite brilliant.
So they then set about rehearsing their acts. The range of songs they came up with meant that one couldn't really classify the festival as any particular genre! It included, among many other classics
Drivers Licence - Olivia Rodrigo
England's Football anthem (!)
The Silage Song - The 2 Johnnies.
I suppose if you had to classify it, it would be
Electric Picnic meets Euros 2021 meets Kilbeggan Country Music Festival!
There were many important life lessons to be learned from this experience!
I have mentioned that they had to learn to pitch their"tent" under challenging circumstances, in the school field. The fact that it took them several attempts and many of them still collapsed, will only prepare them for what will probably happen in years to come.
They got their festival ticket the day before the big event. Some of them asked it they could leave them in the classroom until the actual day. I didn't let them.
Now before you brand me as being heartless, let me explain why. I wanted them to be responsible, look after their ticket and remember to bring it with them to the festival. It might save them the panic and heartbreak of someday turning up at the airport to fly to Amsterdam, only to discover at the check in desk that they had left their ticket (and their friend's ticket) at home on the kitchen table!!! Real life story
Then on the day of the festival their ticket was handed over for the all important wristband (which they designed themselves).
Again I stressed how important it was to keep your wristband on, in case you had to leave the festival field and wanted to get back in.
On the big day they all arrived into school in their festival gear. I could tell a lot about their parents younger years by the outfits their children were wearing!
I'm sorry I can't show any photos of them, GDPR! You'll just have to imagine, based on what you would wear!
The festival site was easy to find! There may have been a few near accidents as cars were slowing down to catch a glimpse as to what on earth was going on.
After the tents were pitched, we made our way to the main stage area for the headline acts of the day.
This was then followed by some (a lot of) food and drink. Judging by the amount of sugar they consumed, some of them were buzzing as much as if they had been to a "grown up" festival!
Disclaimer: Parents, I apologise for the evening you must have had with them! Again, it's practise for years to come!
Then the music was pumped out and we danced...and danced.
I never want to hear that &*$@in song " Friday Saturday Sunday" again!!!
When the Infants parents arrived at 1,30 to pick up their kids, they stood longingly at the fence and asked if they could join us. They were met with a resounding
"You can't come in unless you have a wristband!"
Ahh yes, I have taught them well.
So we had an afternoon of singing, dancing, food, fizzy drinks, blowing bubbles and face painting.
Many thanks to Ms Bushe who spent her day painting flowers, butterflies, love hearts and tractors onto their faces!
They sang their way home, already talking about next year!
I know they may not remember that I taught them long multiplication, shapes that tessellate and the Briathra Neamhrialta in the Aimsir Chaite.
But if they remember their first music festival, PIGS IN BLANKETS 2021, then I will have done my job!
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