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Festival celebrates van life culture

Alice Cullinane
BBC News, West Midlands
The Vanlife Festival A man who is wearing a black t-shirt and jeans is standing on a music stage. He is playing a guitar and singing into a microphone. Multi-coloured flashing lights surround him. The Vanlife Festival
A range of live music performances are at the festival throughout the weekend

Fans of camper vans, caravans and "van life culture" in general have gathered to celebrate this weekend in Shropshire.

From tents to motor homes and trucks to caravans, 5,000 people are attending the Vanlife Festival at the West Mid Showground in Shrewsbury.

It is the third time the festival has been held in the town to bring together everyone who loves the outdoors and camping.

Director Ruth Jones said people from all walks of life visited the festival and shared stories about their travels around the world.

"Some people have travelled all around Australia and others have lived in their vans for more than 30 years," she said.

The Vanlife Festival A man is wearing a multicoloured rasta cap and a white shirt. He is signing into a microphone on a stage. In the background, a man is playing the tamborine and another is playing the drums. The Vanlife Festival
It is the third time the festival has returned to Shrewsbury

A range of performances are featured at the festival including acts like Metz Jnr, Frankie Roe and The Gleaves.

There is also a large display of more than 100 classic camper vans and caravans beginning from the 1960s in the festival's Field of Inspiring Dreams.

"You can see what set-up people have and have a cup of tea with the owners, some even have parrots and cats," Ruth Jones said.

She added that the displays brought some people to tears as the caravans reminded them of childhood camping with their families.

The Vanlife Festival A white caravan is on a pitch of grass with a blue and red awning. Brown and yellow floral chairs are outside the caravan and an orange rug is laid on the grass.The Vanlife Festival
Some of the caravans date back to the 1960s and evoked nostalgia in visitors

Damo Jones and Terry Smith founded the festival after meeting at camper van shows and wanted to create an inclusive event where every make and model of vehicle was welcome.

When Mr Jones and his wife Ruth started travelling with a tent at the age of 18, they would look "in envy" at people with camper vans.

"We would meet friends by inviting people around the campfire and we wanted people to feel involved from all walks of life," Ms Jones said.

The couple later managed to save up and purchase a van of their own and have been camper van owners for the past 20 years.

They have brought the campfire vibes to the festival by introducing faux campfires that everyone can sit around to share stories and get to know one another.

The Vanlife Festival Seven large trucks are parked on a patch of grass with trailers on the back of the trucks.The Vanlife Festival
Converted trucks also feature at the festival with some costing up to £1m

Campervan and caravan lovers can explore the festival and be inspired by others until the event finishes on Sunday.

The Vanlife Festival A white caravan sits on a patch of grass with a white awning. An orange and white rug has been laid on the grass with table and chairs. The Vanlife Festival
People are able to explore a range of caravans to be inspired by others

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