In Creatures of Castlefest we want to put the wondrous creatures, that are part of the world of Castlefest, in the spotlight. From visitor to entertainer, from exhibitor to volunteer. What moves them and which role does Castlefest play in their lives? This time: Wilmy, the friendly face behind Pagan Ways.
Say, you’re a hippie, a true sixties hippie. Say your daughter someday asks you to join her to an alternative festival. Then obviously you go! That is how years and years ago my husband Arnold, my daughter Yentl and I visited the first edition of Castlefest. I felt at home here straight away. The atmosphere was the same as it was at those hippie festivals back in the days. Every year we returned and after we’d gone there three years as visitors, we decided to start with our own shop here on the market.
We did this many years with so much joy. A year ago however my husband passed away. It was a rough time. We had always done this as a couple and suddenly I was by myself. “You have to go on, mum,” my daughter Yentl told me. Her girlfriend had a driver’s license and promised me straight away to take me there when necessary, as I did not have one myself. And for that same reason, Yentl got a license herself. Being here is so important to me that I couldn’t imagine not going.
Then I went there, for the first time without my husband. Alone. But not for a single second I have felt alone. From the first day, the other vendors have supported me. Emotionally and practically they have been there for me and that touched me deeply. That definitely helped me to go on.
A couple of years ago a photographer took a beautiful picture of Arnold, here at the tree where we are sitting now, right before my shop. For that reason, this spot is very important to me.
This year there’s another change. My daughter and her girlfriend are moving to Bulgaria. They have helped me out for the past two years and now I have to go on without them. Do I worry about that? Not at all! I know that I have wonderful people around me here and that they will help me out.
This article has previously been published on the Creatures of Castlefest Facebook page in 2016.
Article by Janouk Vermaas
Photo by Marielle de Vries
