When You Get There
Access and facilities for people with disabilities
We try our best to make sure the festival is accommodating for people with disabilities. There is wheelchair access at most venues and a limited number of accessible viewing spaces in both concert marquees. There is also a designated camping area (not bookable in advance but big enough to accommodate everyone) situated close to wheelchair accessible flushing toilets and showers. The whole site is totally flat and has tarmac roadways. Battery charging is available for electric scooters and wheelchairs. For further information please call 01743 892 800 or email sandra@shrewsburyfolkfestival.co.uk
Battery charging
The campsite wardens will charge mobile phone batteries if you supply the appropriate charger. They will also be able to recharge laptops and disability scooter batteries. A small donation to Hope House would be greatly appreciated.
BBQs and Fires
Off the ground BBQs and braziers are permitted but open fires on the grass are not allowed.
Camping
Camping costs £20 per adult (weekend ticket holders only) and covers four nights - Friday to Monday inclusive. Camping for 0-17yrs is free and does not need to be booked. The campsite is open from 10am Friday to 12 noon Tuesday. Please do not arrive in Shrewsbury before 10am as access to the campsite will not be permitted until it officially opens at 10am. Thursday camping is not permitted. We allow reasonable size tents but do expect you to be considerate and not erect all the berths of a 15 berth tent when there are only two of you! Cars can be parked next to tents, caravans, campervans and motorhomes etc. and can be moved on and off site unless the weather is very wet. Camping pitches are not pre-bookable – just turn up and choose your spot. Camping pitches can be saved for friends. There is no electric hook up available. Camping is not permitted in the car park field. We have designated quiet, late night and family areas. The campsite is suitable for seasoned and novice campers alike and is completely flat with roadways throughout the site. Please note Festival staff and some early working stewards will already be onsite when you arrive.
Car Parking
Ample free car parking is available for people who are not camping. Camping is not permitted on the car park field.
Cash machine
Unfortunately there are no cash machines onsite. The nearest ones are in town; HSBC and Barclays are two that we know about.
Catering, Bars and Festival Shop
There will be a great selection of meat, vegetarian and vegan dishes available including Mexican wraps, Paella, Thai dishes, pie & mash, Caribbean jerk chicken, healthy salads, sweet and savoury crepes, homemade ice cream, jacket potatoes, burgers, hotdogs, chips, sandwiches, full English breakfasts, speciality teas, real coffee, juices, smoothies and four real ale bars stocking all your favourite tipples. There should be no need to go hungry or thirsty!
Pomona (festival shop) will be selling newspapers, fruit, veg, eggs, bacon, sausages, bread, cheese, butter, milk, tea, coffee, sugar and other staples that make up the camping cook’s larder.
Craft Fair
Our Craft Fair offers all manner of things from semi precious silver jewellery, children’s books & games, pottery, hats, bags and shoes etc. Many of the stalls will be offering handmade and unique items. And for those of you with aches and pains we even have a qualified osteopath and masseur with us again this year. And last but not least more music stalls for those special treats.
Dogs
Dogs are welcome at the festival but they are NOT allowed in venues unless they are assistance dogs. Dogs must always be kept under strict control and on short leads. Always clean up after your dog and don’t let them ‘go’ near our drinking water taps. Free poop bags are available from the campsite wardens. Owners will be responsible for any damage caused by their dogs. If your dog does not have a friendly temperament please don’t bring it.
Festival Bus
A free shuttle bus service (Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 6pm) runs every 15/20 mins to take you into town and back. If you walk along the Pig Trough it will take about 20/30 mins. A bus timetable will be available at the festival.
First Aid/Medical Cover
If you need to have minor medical ailments dealt with at the festival we have a high quality first aid response team on hand to help. The first aid team will be out and about on site or at the first aid building situated right next to gate 2. Alternatively they can be contacted by any steward with a radio. In an emergency never hesitate to dial 999 from a mobile phone telling the operator that you are on the West Mid Showground, Berwick Road, Shrewsbury, SY1 2PF.
Official Photos, Visual & Audio Promotion
Ticket holders consent to inclusion in official photographic, visual and audio promotion of the festival.
Recycling and green issues
During the festival weekend please place your rubbish in the bins or skips. Our waste is recycled by Veolia Environmental Services. All caterers are strongly urged to use biodegradable plastic, paper or wooden serving containers, plates, cups and knives & forks. Beer glasses will be made of reusable hard plastic. All of the bottled water for our artists comes from Two Distribute Ltd.; (run entirely by volunteers) they will be providing One Water. ALL the profits that One Water and Two Distribute make are donated to providing clean water in Africa through the installation of PlayPumps. The water is bottled at source in Powys and their bottles are recyclable.
Security, Safety & Lost Property
Shrewsbury Folk Festival has a reputation for being a family friendly festival with a pleasant atmosphere in which to enjoy music, song and dance. Our security team are a friendly bunch who adopt a low profile and are here to make sure things stay safe and that our event remains as friendly as ever. To help us, please look after one another and take care of your valuables by keeping them out of sight, possibly by locking them in your car. Lost property should be handed into and collected from our ticket office onsite before you leave the festival.
Toilets, Showers and Washing Facilities
There are over 100 permanent toilets and 50 sinks on the showground which is more than ample for our needs. Temporary loo blocks will be situated near the dance tent and marquee 2. Free showers are available again this year and they will remain open 24hrs a day. Please queue patiently and be as quick as you possibly can so as to allow others to use them and not miss any of the shows. Certain times of the day are busier than others. If you choose to take a shower at peak times you will encounter queues and you would be advised to try and take a shower at a quiet time. Although the showers are connected to the main water supply pressure can be unreliable so please be patient. Drinking water taps must not be used for washing up dishes or yourselves. Please fill a suitable container and take it back to your tent or caravan. Chemical loo waste (caravan toilets) must be emptied into the Elsan points. Under no circumstances must you clean your toilets with the drinking water taps and do not empty them into the temporary loo blocks - the chemicals don’t mix!
Venues
Marquee 1
No changes here. We will again be using big screens and keeping the stage height and the seat row spacing the same.
This has worked really well over the last few years and we are sure you will continue to enjoy your time in this venue.
Marquee 2
This venue will be in the same location as last year which gave good protection from sound crossover from Marquee 1. Marquee 2 has a fairly laid back atmosphere and often has some of our more traditional artists performing there.
Dance Marquee
This year the new dance marquee will be supplied by Danco Marquees, it will be the same width as before but five metres longer to give you more seating room. It will also have a cassette floor which should prove to be much better and safer than the previous dance floor.
Sabrina Marquee and the GKN Pavilion
These venues are used for acoustic concerts, folk clubs, singarounds and workshops. The Sabrina marquee will be sited just outside the GKN Pavilion, right in the middle of the action but far enough away from the big marquees to protect it from sound cross over.
Seats
All venues have seats – you do not need to bring your own.
What time does the music start and finish?
Friday 24th 5pm-11.30pm, Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th 12noon-11.30pm, Monday 27th 12noon-6.30pm. Workshops start at 10am (not Friday). Sessions start at 12 noon (not Friday). All timings are approximate.
