The raunchy four-day event kicked off in Lincolnshire on Thursday
If you’re wonder why the streets seem a bit quieter this weekend, it might be because all the local residents have flocked to a village in Lincolnshire for Britain’s ‘biggest sex festival’.
Residents in Allington, Lincolnshire, will instead have to endure excess traffic and God knows what kind of noises as the four-day event, named Swingathon, gets underway.
Thousands of people have headed to the rural site as the festival returns for its fourth year on the trot, promising to be ‘bigger and better than ever’ – and no, that’s not the male clientele they are talking about.
Revellers will be able to let their hair down at the raunchy event which features ‘play tents’, pole dancing, hot tubs, foam parties, mobile dungeons… and even butt-plug bingo.
Imagine the scenes when the caller shouts, ‘favourite of mine…69,’ eh?
Brits who enjoy partaking in the swinging lifestyle – AKA, swapping partners with other similarly minded people and having sexual experiences with them – have had to stump up £265 for a ticket to the popular event.
The four-day event kicked off yesterday (18 July). (SWNS)
The number of attendees has doubled since last year, so it seems that festival-goers haven’t been put off by locals complaining to police about the ‘screaming and moaning’ coming from the campsite which keeps them up all night.
Despite peoples preconceptions, Swingathon says it is not a ‘sex festival’, but rather a ‘adult alternative lifestyle event’ which celebrates fetishes, kinks and supports the LGBTQ+ community.
Organisers have also incorporated another similar festival, FetFest, into this years event.
These lot are bringing BDSM and sex toy stalls to the table, while also giving guests the opportunity to book ‘private play areas’ during the celebrations which began on Thursday (18 July) and wrap up on Sunday (21 July).
FetFest have also organised a whip-throwing area, which they say is the perfect place to ‘get some practice in’.
However, it’s not all just whips, chains and leather – there are also numerous bands taking to the stage to provide entertainment, as well as DJs, dancers and comedy acts.
But if the swinging stuff is more up your street, you will be glad to hear that there are loads of other erotic attractions too.
Swingathon attendees can check out the Naked Attraction-style competition, catch drag and burlesque acts doing their thing or take a breather from all of the fun by heading for a ‘sensual massage’.
The number of Swingathon attendees has doubled since last year. (SWNS)
Organiser Kerry Voellner said: “The event offers a very social and safe space for people from different lifestyles to meet new people. This year it’s bigger, better and bolder. There will be fire breathers, pole dancers, acrobats and much more.
“We have a huge LGBT space and we do a lot of workshops. There is a whole holistic offering.
“There are two festivals this year. They are separate but on the same day.
“We realised quite quickly there was a bigger demographic and there are a lot of people into other alternative lifestyles.
“FetFest is for modern people who are into fetishes. We are just a normal festival for people with alternative lifestyles.”
Despite objections being raised last year by the South Kesteven District Council licensing committee, Swingathon 2024 was given the green light to go ahead.
Lincolnshire Police also objected based on prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, prevention of public nuisance and protecting children from harm – but organisers ultimately gained a temporary events notice (TEN).
Co-organiser Matthew Cole said they have received more support from the local authority this year, who have been offering advice on ‘how they can do better’.
He said: “I think they have realised we are not going anywhere.
“We have put a lot of work into the event and a lot of time into it. We have sold more tickets than ever and having the council on side as well, it could not be going any better than I wanted.”