If you're in Liverpool at all over the Eurovision 2023 contest period, you must visit the EuroVillage.
The official EuroVillage fan zone kicked off this evening, welcoming thousands of fans from all over Europe to enjoy the world's biggest night in music. It felt a little bit surreal to finally be entering the grounds after months of preparation and work but the scale it's been carried out at will leave you speechless.
The Pier Head has hosted everything from Liverpool Pride to Cream Classics but the energy for the EuroVillage feels like nothing I've ever experienced before. That excitement walking into festival grounds is present but it feels like an otherworldly arena, primarily due to the scale of everything.
READ MORE: Ultimate guide for Eurovision Song Contest week in Liverpool
The stage dominates the grounds. It feels like a fitting complement to the Three Graces. All around you is Eurovision branding, bright colours and camp outfits. Last year's Turin EuroVillage was more or less the same on paper but it lacked buzz, energy and excitement. There was this general feeling that it was only there out of necessity whereas Liverpool's embodies the spirit of the contest.
You can see how much time and effort has gone into it: from the Discover Ukraine area spotlighting Ukrainian food, music and artists, to the multiple screens and activity centres all around the vicinity. Everything is so meticulously put together it's criminal the entire programme is free except for one evening.
The EuroVillage manages to pack into an arguably small area what festivals do with fields upon fields to work with. The music from the main stage dominates every square foot of the EuroVillage and it's something that everyone should see at least once while it's here.
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