Hundreds of people lazed in the sunshine and smoked cannabis as part of the global ‘420’ phenomenon on Saturday afternoon.
People packed into Castle Park to smoke their weed, as they did in cities throughout the world.
The ‘happening’ is understood to have its origins almost 50 years ago in California, but however it started, April 20 has become an international ‘counterculture holiday’, expressed now by smoking cannabis in public and focussing on legalising the drug - particularly at 4.20pm.
The happening in Castle Park is believed to be the biggest yet - the hot, sunny weather combined with it coinciding with Easter Saturday.
Local artists and DJs set up a pop-up sound system, and Bristol rapper Jay 0117 performed at 4.20pm, just after muted cheers went up around Castle Park on the appointed minute.
Bristol Live were in the park at the time, and there appeared to be little or no police presence, with hundreds - perhaps even more than a thousand - young people partying and smoking.
Many were also drinking alcohol - something that is now being Having a can of beer or cider in Castle Park could see you fined £60 by Bristol City Council’s enforcement officers, in accordance with the Public Space Protection Order which bans the consumption of alcohol in public throughout much of the city centre.
But there were no enforcement officers there either - and the event passed off completely peacefully.
Having a can of beer or cider in Castle Park could see you fined £60
A second 420 event also took place at the Dean Lane skatepark at Dame Emily Park in Bedminster, which also saw live music and DJs.
At Castle Park, one group of revellers had even brought a sofa and a lampshade for those added home comforts.
One smoker in a different group nearby, Jess, said she may well normally be out in Castle Park anyway on a Saturday, but her friends from elsewhere in the city made a special effort to come down.
“This year is good, there’s live music and the weather has blessed us all,” she said.
“You can see that this shows that this is all completely natural, cannabis isn’t a threat to anyone and should be legalised,” she added.
