The iconic Arcadia spider at Glastonbury Festival has been replaced by a new “fire-belching, mind-blowing” dragonfly, which is set to light up late-night festivities at the world-famous event. The dragonfly, built from an ex-military Royal Navy helicopter, was unveiled on Wednesday night for light rehearsals, marking the dawn of a new season at the festival.
For over a decade, the Arcadia spider was a key destination for late-night dance music at Worthy Farm, with some fans even grieving the loss of the arachnid. However, festival organisers have expressed their excitement for the new chapter with the dragonfly, which is inspired by the Aboriginal First Nations of Australia.
The stage will be opened each evening by a spectacular ceremony called Warraloo, featuring Aboriginal representatives of the Whadjuk Noongar. Dutch festival-goer Henno Tamms, who has attended Glastonbury since 2017, shared his fond memories of the Arcadia spider, but expressed optimism for the new installation.
The main acts at Arcadia are set to perform from Friday to Sunday, with Fatboy Slim opening the stage at 22:00 BST. Festival-goers are eagerly anticipating the performances and the mesmerizing display of the new dragonfly, which promises to continue the tradition of blowing minds at Glastonbury Festival.
