Out of the Ordinary
Proving that festivals don’t have to be all about beer-bellied 80s rockers and outré vodka branding, Out of the Ordinary, or OOTO as it’s known to devotees, was started in 2007 by Stuart Mason as an alternative to the bloated, corporate festival scene. Shying away from the usual focus on music, OOTO exists to celebrate nature and the changing seasons, featuring a packed program that includes everything from talks on the 2012 prophecies to candlemaking workshops.
The festival is built around a traditional-style stone circle that was specially created on what was once wasteland, and has transformed the area from rubbish heap to pristine sacred space. Stages and infrastructure are powered by solar panels, wind turbines and vegetable oil, and the festival is constantly thinking up innovative ways to further free itself from damaging consumption.
OOTO aims to be zero carbon and zero waste, offers sustainable water and transport, reusable food equipment and compost toilets and invites only local and sustainable traders. It was originally put together entirely by volunteers on a budget of just £100; organisers are proud of how much they’ve achieved as a grass-roots community event, slowly gaining wider recognition for their original thinking. And it’s not all about the festival itself: a Fair Trade record label and online shop dealing with merchants provide support for skilled locals throughout the rest of the year.
Director Stu Mason says, “Out of the Ordinary Festival is a snapshot of how people could live together in a sustainable way. It’s a chance for the family to come together and learn something out of the ordinary at one of our fascinating talks or workshops. We have first class music on solar powered stages, a green ethical market supporting local businesses, healing fields, cabaret, circus, yoga, comedy, performance and dance to enjoy.”
Simply the best example of REAL community working together to create a sustainable future for everyone
Solar Panel Stages..all eco friendly events..great stuff!!
It’s the most eco-friendly festival I’ve ever been to and the theme and lectures also reflect this meaning attendees are likely to take something away with them also.
A great green event. Highly educational and fun for adults and children. Green ethos throughout festival and great belief and expectations for a sustainable green future. Infectious enthusiasm for a greener way of life permeates the whole festival site from begining to end.
For being an ecological festival celebrating the Autumn Equinox and for harnessing solar powered stages and wind generators.
As a festival, OOTO spreads the Green message to thousands of people in three days, all while they are having great fun
OOTO worked very hard against the economic implications of powering 2 stages and speakers tent and all areas on the OOTO top-deck with Solar Panels they purchased a Wind Turbine (together with The Antiquarian Society) to help trickle charge the battery banks this year.
OOTO are working very hard to be an “Off The Grid” event. They also have a green market supporting local business(reducing carbon). They really deserve this!
OOTO is a 3 day eco, family friendly festival which celebrates the Autumn Equinox. They use solar, wind turbines & pure plant oil instead of National Grid power. The compost toilets are all built from scratch using recycled wood & the event has a zero waste policy and attendees are encouraged to take home all of their waste. If more festivals were like this the world would be a greener & happier place!
OOto Run their music stages with solar energy and this year they are using a wind turbine to power the electronics for the presentations.
They have a strong ethos to reduce energy waste and encourage alternative lifestyle and ways of being, to the high energy wasteful trends in mainstream society
I went to this festival for the first time last year and it was the best local event I’d been to all year and was totally green which is an amzing achievement. It was laid back, a nice small event and really well run-and had solar-powered stages and really impressed me in too many ways to mention.
Because it’s an amazing festival. They dont just talk the talk, but they walk the walk. Brilliant Green fun for everyone!
The OOTO festival is organised and run by a group of people committed to environmental care and yet are fun and energetic. The festival gives more than it takes within the community, every year I have attended I have become more impressed with their creative and earth healing attitude. Yours Truly
Dr Steven Ash
this is a brighton orgnized festival in helshiom
it is put togeather with a lot of work the orginizers are woking on a vollintery bases to get it to its 4 year
it is a family festival and it is a green festival a lot of work gos into make this as specila and magic as it is
i do hope the orginizers get the ootinty to win and the good name keeps on going
Having been to the festival for the last two days the organisers strive everyday to find greener alternatives to all their workings and nothing is too much trouble!
Its a Great space they are doing Loads of Green & environmental stuff (solar panels/ wind turbines, etc) , and its a Fantastic place to find out and experiance alternative therapies/ ways of thinking /etc, and to meet lots of very different and interesting people, and hear Great Music!, and Dance!, and the cows outside are Awesome!
for spreading the word of sustainability through being an eco friendly festival. spreading the message and giving positive energy into the world, rather than taking from the planet. zero waste policy, innovative and entertaining means to educate and entertain. setting the standard for how the world should be powered via sustainable energy sources. if only more festivals and organisations took the approach that OOTO does, the world would be a truly more pleasant place.
OOTO is 3 day eco & family friendly festival set in the beautiful Sussex countryside celebrating the Autumn Equinox. Solar powered stages and wind generators powering fascinating talks and workshops plus children’s activities, a green market place with many more out of the ordinary surprises!
In my experience I have yet to come across a more dedicated community of like minded individuals. There is no doubt that this festival has a direct effect on peoples attitude towards sustainability promoting a better future for all and respect for the environment and each other.
Our two families went to this festival last year and were very very impressed with the whole weekend. The amount of green aspects to the festival were endless and we learnt a huge amount about all kinds of things from sacred geometry to permaculture to nappyless baby-rearing. We loved the community feel to the festival and the ecologically sensitive way in which it is run. We feel honoured to be a part of it and to bring our children to such a warm, friendly and intelligent festival. We will definitely be going again this year with more friends!!
I have been to this festival for the past 2 years. it is Earth friendly, family friendly and people friendly! There ethos is sound, and they work very hard to create as little impact as possible, whilst making a joyful and enhancing experience for everybody there. Other festival organisers take note!
This festival has green issues as its main priority. There are numerous recycling stations, eco-friendly toilets, solar-powered generators, and speakers on environmental issues
Festivals are great for bringing like minded people together & OOTT Fest does it in such a great way, combing the roots of are ancient ancestors traditions with the modern touch of renew-able energy & suitable for the whole family.
OOTO is a musical and spiritual festival where both youth and older people from surrounding communities gather for days of peace and celebration. The site is powered by solar energy, food is delicious and organic and tremndous care is taken by the organisers to both include the local community and best practice in terms of all things environmental.
they do the greatest festival ever! so intimate and lovely. everyone is encouraged to recycle while they are there and there’s loads of talks etc on sustainable living etc.
OOTO are a voluntary group of organisers who seek that everything in the festival is sustainable, renewable and ‘earth’ friendly…a growing festival that in years to come will make Glastonbury look a little out of touch.
Because they manage to combine the most amazing and authentic vibe with green principles!
Outstanding on the Festi scene
they recycle…use solar energy …show people ways in which to be greener in all manners of ways…lectures…speaches..too many to remember each one
The event overall is fantastic. The green market allowed many local people to sell thier home made or fairly traded goods, the compost toilets work brilliantly. The site was very clean and the fact that this was all fuelled in an environmentally friendly way makes this the main reason I am nominating them. It was great not to hear noisy old diesel generators throughout the weekend!
The Out of the Ordinary Festival is a great well run green event. It has been running for a few year now. Rather than taking a nice clean field and running a festival, which is typically a bit of a green disaster. They have taken a very mediocre site and through their works are turning it into a much more pleasant and green environment. Thanks OOTO
A snapshot of a sustainable way of living! Noncommercial, local, ethical.
its green its beautiful and its out of the ordinary..OOTO festival has the most incredible spirit and sense of community . it brings together all ages and people from all walks of life. local traders, crafts people, performers and artists, healers and families share sacred space together
these guys work endlessly to create a green, sustainable and inspiring event for all of te community. their initiatives are wonderful – inclusive, fun and important….
i believe they should win hands down!!
Fantastic Eco – Green Festival – Family Friendly
the festival tries to be as eco as possible, using solar panels to produce much of the energy required, eco loos, easy recycling and local and green producers cutting down the carbon footprint.
ooto really promotes the concept of being in touch with the environment in the whole ethos of this gorgeous family festival. Wheelbarrowing my tent is the best bit and just no cars!
Very enjoyable clean festival with interesting views on green issues.
Cos they are amazing and their telescope to observe the moon is out of this world…xx
OOTO Fest is unique in that it focuses upon knowledge-sharing rather than just music/entertainments.The talks given are mind-blowingly informative and it seems each individual festivalsgoer is intelligent;and planet-focused.All of the stages are solar-powered,the compost loos are brilliant.It is definitely a place to network for the (sustainable)future..some of the experiences I have encountered there have to be seen to be believed.
For bringing link- minded people together for a worth while experience
From small acorns, OOTO is growing organically to be a creative, earth aware, Eco sensitive event – these values are at the core of their major yearly event.
Because they provide the best festivals ever always promoting a green and sustainable way of life
because it’s fuckin’ great what they do!
A GRASS ROOTS ECO EUPHORIC FESTIVAL, encouraging eco friendly practises, peace and community spirit
For being an ecological festival celebrating the Autumn Equinox and for harnessing solar powered stages and wind generators.
OOTO is easy to reach by public transport. It uses a regenerated landfill site. It is in September so does not disturb nesting birds. There are compost toilets. OOTO welcomes people with disabilities by providing an accessible staffed campsite close to the heart of the event.
this event is soooo green and in tune with this world
They believe in what they are doing. They spend the whole year organising this festival. The festival is the BEST festival and I should know as I’ve worked at or attended sooooo many. Please give Stuart and Emily the award.
They do tremendous work and have done for some time. A very eco and rejuvenating festival
There festivals are very Eco friendly and provide a wonderful edcuation for us all.
The organisers of this event work very hard to keep OOTO powered by solar panels and wind turbines….against the odds they are now in their 4th Year. Really good eco credentials!!!!
As far as i know ooto festival is sussex’s only eco and green powered festival and this crew have been using solar powered stages from their first event in 2007. I have been to every festival so far and it really is a first class show and they deserve to win the green champion award. Best wishes James Austin.
It is a great example of green community living, they are self sustainable, use wind and solar power, composting toilets, promote green ethical business, they deserve to win!
We would live to nominate Out of the Ordinary,its such a lovely,family,green atmosphere to be in. its mostly sustained from locally,its all run from solar and wind powered energy,even the stages are solar!!all of the stalls,food is all local business,we thoroughly enjoyed it and we’re definetly going back this year!!
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