Photo: WENN
There it is - over again, for another year. Festival season 2013 has been the stuff that history is made of: where legends came to conquer, fresh blood took on the throne and hundreds of thousands of music lovers danced across the nation for a relentless summer of love, music, magic and mayhem. Bestival marks the end of it all - and there is no better finale to be found on the planet.
Based in the rolling hills of Robin Hill County Park on the breathtakingly stunning Isle of Wight, Bestival is a festival like no other because it offers something truly unique: an escape. There's something about crossing the sea on a Wightlink ferry that makes the weekend feel like you're getting away from it all. The crowd knows this all too well - which is what pumps the event with 'Bestival Spirit': the urge to find a reason to love everybody, rave constantly and have a good time...all the time.
We could sit here all day and fawn endlessly about Bestival is the ultimate festival on Earth, but to keep it short and sweet, here are the 10 best things we experienced at Bestival 2013:
1. Nautical Naughtiness
One of the greatest things about Bestival is their annual theme. This year's was a nautical 'HMS Bestival' to mark the event's 10th anniversary. As a result, we saw the launch of The Port: A new stage built from an old navy boat that played host to DJ's, pole-dancers, fire-breathers and a whole lot of all night raving. It all culminated in Saturday's fancy dress, when the Besti masses looked absolutely gorgeous in their sailor and seafaring attire. Nothing makes you feel alive quite like sitting at the head of a table in the Surplus Supper Club dressed as a Captain, working your way through a delicious three-course meal with unlimited wine as the likes of Howard Marks dine around you. Check out the video of Saturday's action below (featuring Bastille getting into the spirit in their Life Aquatic uniforms).
2. Fatboy Slim
Many turned up their noses and felt that Fatboy Slim was a poor choice of Main Stage headliner. They were wrong, and I hope they feel ashamed of themselves. Anyone who witnessed his 'Bestival Birthday Bash', culminating a tear-jerking choir version of 'Praise You', will be talking about what they saw for decades to come. All together now: "EAT.SLEEP.RAVE.REPEAT"
3. Snoop Dogg
Wow. Just wow. What was THAT? I'll tell you what: a 90 minute bounce of pure billiance. With a set that included 'Drop It Like It's Hot' and Katy Perry's 'California Gurls', Snoop ended day two with a brilliant celebration. If Bestival had an anthem, it would almost certainly be: " We're just having fun We don't care who sees So what we go out? That's how its supposed to be - living young and wild and free."
4. The Port
Did we mention how awesome The Port stage was?
5. The Roots
Sunshine, soul and a whole lot of swagger. What more could you possibly want?
6. Jessie Ware
Seeming as majestic as always in a full naval captain's outfit for her briefly sun-drenched main stage set, Ware was in high spirits as not only was her performance her last UK festival date of the summer, but she said that Bestival was her favourite festival. We love you too Jessie. Come back soon. 
7. Dub Pistols
Barry Ashworth and co are Bestival veterans. After 10 years, they're somehow still not only the highlight of the festival - but of the entire bloody year. Few acts could follow a main stage yoga demonstration by getting so many skanking so hard through the rain - but few acts are Dub Pistols. The mantra of "oh no, here we go again - I'm off my face, another mucky weekend" should be adopted as the Bestival motto. Actually, screw that - just rename the whole festival 'Dub Pistols And Friends'.
8. Franz Ferdinand
Yes, really - Franz bloody Ferdinand. Trends may change and fads may pass, but the mindlessly pure pop of Franz never grows out of fashion. Taking to the main stage, they delivered a tight, volatile and headline-worthy set that saw the Scottish four-piece fire through fan favourites and hit singles as Bestival danced its way hard into the darkness. Every song could be a greatest hit, and every moment feels glorious.
9. New talent
The Bestival crowd is one of the most open-minded that you'll find. This is best demonstrated by how unreservedly mental they go for new bands. The two extremes of this how shown by how totally batshit they went for Jagwar Ma, and the swooning adulation on display for London Grammar at their absolutely rammed late night slot. Expect to see both much, much, much higher up the bill in years to come.
10. The perfect ending
Bestival began with tequila and silliness as Rob Da Bank playing a set of pure Prince on the Thursday and ended with a sunset performance from Chic and Sir Elton John delivering the stuff of legends before a mind-blowing fireworks finale. In between - relentless dancing and never-ending happiness. If you can think of a better way to cap off a perfect weekend than by going completely insane to 'Let's Dance' and 'Good Times' courtesy of Mr Rodgers, or by swaying arm-in-arm with your new favourite people to Sir Elton with 'Rocket Man', 'Tiny Dancer' and 'Candle In The Wind', then you're wrong. Shut up.
From Sir Elton's string-quartet opening with an orchestral rendition of 'Smells Like Teen Spirit', it was clear that this was going to go down in Bestival history, as will everything that went down over the last three days. Congratulations Rob Da Bank - you've made our summer once again. You deserve a Knighthood too.
Below: The wild and wet people of Bestival 2013
