Three-day illegal rave in Cornwall causes havoc for model aircraft exhibition

An illegal rave to mark the 30th anniversary of Casltemorton took place in Cornwall over the weekend. 

Running from Friday to Sunday, the gathering attracted thousands of people across the UK to Davidstow Moor for an impromptu three-day shindig. 

According to Cornwall Live, the illegal rave was organised via a secret text message that had been deciphered to reveal the event being in celebration of 30 years of Castlemorton – the largest free party in UK history. 

The text kindly asked partygoers to “leave the site as we find it” and “be respectful to the locals and the authorities.” However, this didn’t stop the local authorities from receiving noise complaints from residents as the party rolled on into Friday night. 

The rave took place in an abandoned airfield which was attended by police after reports of loud music in the area. The gathering also caused issues for a model aircraft exhibition conducted by the Cornwall War Museum, which was taking place on the airfield over the same weekend.

Police began turning away partygoers and surrounding local roads to stop attendees from entering the free party over the weekend – although hundreds of attendees were pictured still on the site on Sunday, taking refuge from the rain in cars and vans. Devon and Cornwall police said: “A number of people have left this morning, and others attempting to enter have been turned away,”

“In the interest of public safety, we are asking anyone thinking about attending the event not to do so. [We] would like to reassure the local communities and wider public that we are taking this matter seriously,” they added.