well i didn't know where to post this.
but has anyone been to the hay (on wye) festival before?
i'm planning to go this year for the first time, i'm dead excited, but i don;t know what to expect. i'm gonna be camping with a couple of friends, would it be a good idea to book before or just turn up and find a campsite? i'm not really good at organisation. also how much do most of the talks cost? are there many pubs/foody places/things to do at night?
i am actually getting wet at the idea of AC Grayling, richard dawkins, tony benn and dara o'briain in one weekend!
totally expecting this thread to sink.

I hope to go this year!
Jeanette Winterson was there last year but I didn't find out in time. My old housemate lives really close by, and I definately want to go.

i haven't even checked where it is really, doh, its on the wales/england border somewhere near hereford isn't it?
also peter ho davies is there. and gordon brown for shits and giggles.

I've been canoeing on the Wye a few times, I think we stayed in Hay on Wye but I'm not totally sure. It is on the Welsh/English border. I feel like going to a festival this year but I can't go to All Tomorrow's Parties because of my stupid exam timetable (grrr) but I'd forgotten about this one, it sounds interesting. I might be worried that conversations with the literary types it probably attracts might show me up in all my stupid glory.

I am also going to wait for people who have been to post because I'm curious...

Bronzemedal, do you know when you have to book by to camp?

honestly don't fret about that, you can hang around with me and my friends! that will definitely make you feel better about yourself.
i don't know when to book by. i'm gonna wait until may 1st when all of the dates have been confirmed. if it all goes horribly wrong i'll sleep in my car. i am, truly, a minger.

Yeah it's on the english/welsh border. My friend is from Herefordshire and she tells me it is really close to hers. Simon Armitage is there, so I'm going to go and gabble like some weird literary fan girl. Derek Walcott is going to be there too, and Doris Lessing.
I kicked myself so badly last year, but then again Winterson (I love her) was there in the middle of my finals, so I couldn't really up sticks and go.