Five Things First-Time Visitors Should Know About ChoirBLAST

So, you’re coming to ChoirBLAST for the first time? Excellent choice. A few thousand singers, a beautiful market town, music drifting from pubs and cafés, and a field full of people refusing to go home once the sun starts setting. What could possibly go wrong?

To help you make the most of the weekend, here are five things worth knowing before you arrive.

1. You will hear something you didn’t expect to love

One of the joys of ChoirBLAST is discovery. You might arrive planning to support one choir and suddenly find yourself completely captivated by another. A gospel choir in a church hall. A youth choir bringing the house down. A folk group harmonising in a pub courtyard. Leave room in your schedule for surprises!

2. Godalming becomes part of the festival

ChoirBLAST does not stay neatly inside performance venues. It spills out into the town itself. Between sets, take time to explore Godalming’s independent shops, cafés, pubs, and charity shops. Stop for lunch. Grab coffee between performances. Follow the sound of music drifting down side streets. The whole town becomes part of the experience.

3. Comfortable shoes are not optional

This is your gentle warning. You will walk more than you think. Between venues, food stops, spontaneous detours, and “just one more choir”, those steps add up quickly. Dress for movement, not glamour... or both if you can! But truly, nobody has ever regretted sensible footwear at a festival.

4. Book the Park and Ride early if you’re driving

Town centre parking is limited and mainly geared towards short stays, so the Park and Ride services are by far the easiest option. Booking ahead will save stress and help keep the town moving smoothly throughout the weekend. Better still, if you can travel by public transport, do.

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5. Don’t try to see everything

This is the mistake almost every first-time visitor makes.

ChoirBLAST is wonderfully busy, and there will always be another performance you could rush across town to catch. But the best festival moments often happen when you slow down a little. Sit outside with a drink between sets. Stay longer at a venue you love. Talk to people. Wander without a strict plan for an hour or two.

You do not need to “complete” ChoirBLAST to enjoy it... and ultimately – you'll be back next year...

The festival works best when you give yourself permission to experience it rather than race through it. Some of the most memorable moments are the unplanned ones... and ps... be prepared to shed a few emotional tears along the way.