Accessibility on Uneven Ground: Building Inclusive Country Music Festivals

Accessibility on Uneven Ground: Ensuring Every Fan Can Enjoy the Music

Music festivals – especially sprawling country music festivals – present unique challenges and opportunities when it comes to accessibility. Many country festivals take place on farms, fairgrounds, and open fields with uneven terrain. Yet accessibility is ultimately a design choice, and the best festivals make inclusion a core part of their planning from the get-go. Whether an event draws hundreds or hundreds of thousands, making it accessible means more fans can share in the experience. From the dusty plains of California’s Stagecoach Festival to the streets of Tamworth in Australia, veteran festival teams have learned that with proper planning, even a rough field can become accessible to all (clubmatestravel.com) (www.stagecoachfestival.com).

By building step-free pathways, offering viewing platforms, running ADA-compliant shuttles, and providing services like captioning and trained assistance, festival organisers can ensure that no music lover is left behind. Below, we dive into practical steps – backed by real festival examples – to make any festival site welcoming for people of all abilities.

Building Step-Free Routes on Rough Terrain

Navigating a festival site should not feel like an obstacle course. On uneven ground, step-free routes are vital. This means designing paths that avoid stairs, sudden drops, or impassable ruts, so that wheelchair users and others with mobility devices can reach stages, food areas, and toilets independently. It’s not just wheelchair users – older attendees, parents with prams, and anyone with limited mobility will appreciate smooth, gentle pathways.

• Plan Accessible Pathways from the Start: When mapping out your site, identify the flattest possible routes between key areas. If your country music festival is on a ranch or fairground, walk the terrain and note any steep inclines, holes, or rocky patches. For any unavoidable slopes, measure the gradient and decide if you need to create an alternate route or install a ramp. A steep hill that able-bodied fans barely notice can be a massive barrier for someone in a wheelchair. In one unfortunate case, a UK festival placed its accessible entrance at the top of a hill with a 10% incline, causing wheelchair users to struggle or even roll backwards (metro.co.uk). Such scenarios underscore why access routes should be as level and firm as possible.

• Use Temporary Flooring and Ramps: Uneven natural ground can be tamed with the right infrastructure. Portable road mats, rubber paths, or aluminum track panels can turn grass, mud, or sand into a stable, rollable surface. For example, when fields get muddy, events like Glastonbury have deployed metal trackway in high-traffic spots so wheelchair users don’t get stuck. Avoid loose gravel or deep mulch on primary paths – these can stop a mobility aid in its tracks (metro.co.uk). If you must use gravel for drainage, consider covering it with temporary mats or at least warn attendees in advance. Also ensure any raised thresholds (like stage platforms or trailer entrances) have sturdy ramps with gentle slopes. A simple wooden ramp over a step can make the difference between inclusion and exclusion.

• Mind the Gaps and Obstacles: Inspect your routes for any barriers such as narrow gates, curbs, cables, or hoses crossing walkways. Use cable ramp covers to smooth out any cords on the ground. If your festival has areas of rough terrain that can’t be fully modified, think about positioning volunteers there to assist or at least putting up signage for alternate paths. It’s all about thinking ahead so that everywhere a fan might want to go, they can get there without encountering a dead end.

Elevated Viewing Platforms for Wheelchair Users

Once attendees arrive at the stage areas, they shouldn’t be stuck at the back staring at everyone’s backs. Accessible viewing platforms or reserved viewing areas are a cornerstone of festival accessibility. These platforms are typically risers or decks where wheelchair users and others who cannot stand for long periods can see above the crowd.

• Provide a Clear Line of Sight: The location and height of viewing platforms are critical. Place them where they offer a great view of the stage, similar to what an average standing person would see from the crowd. Avoid siting platforms behind obstructions – there’s a notorious example of a festival that positioned a disabled viewing platform so far to the side (and even partially behind a tree) that fans on it could barely see the performers (www.indy100.com) (www.indy100.com). No one should have to bring a telescope to enjoy the show. A better approach is seen at events like Stagecoach in California or Country Jam in Colorado, which provide elevated wheelchair-accessible platforms with excellent sightlines near the main stages (www.stagecoachfestival.com) (countryjam.com). Tamworth Country Music Festival in Australia, for instance, dedicates spaces at its main stages for wheelchair users, earning it a 10/10 accessibility rating (clubmatestravel.com) (clubmatestravel.com).

• Manage Capacity and Comfort: Viewing platforms should be equipped and managed to keep guests comfortable. Make sure there’s enough space for several wheelchairs plus companions, but also implement a system (like wristbands or a check-in) to prevent overcrowding. Many festivals issue an “access wristband” or special pass to those who register for platform access (www.stagecoachfestival.com) (www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk). It’s wise to have a platform steward present to verify credentials and assist users. Also, consider providing some seating on the platform (a simple folding chair or two) for those who might not use a wheelchair but cannot stand long – one festival learned the hard way when it forgot to place any chairs on the accessible platform, scrambling to find seating after guests arrived (metro.co.uk). Shade or canopy cover is another nice touch, since sun and rain can be harsher when you’re stationary. And importantly, position accessible toilets near viewing platforms (countryjam.com), so attendees don’t have to go far if nature calls.

• Multiple Viewing Areas: If your festival has several stages or very large crowds, offer more than one viewing area. Major festivals set up a raised platform at each big stage (www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk). Smaller events might designate a ground-level reserved area at the front or side of the stage for disabled guests. The key is to integrate these areas so that disabled fans aren’t isolated. As one festivalgoer noted, being stuck at the extreme back corner can feel like “watching everyone else having fun” from afar (metro.co.uk). Inclusion means designing platforms where people can enjoy the atmosphere with the crowd, not apart from it – for example, placing the platform a bit to the side of a lively pit area instead of up on a distant hill.

Accessible Shuttles and On-Site Transportation

Large festival sites and rough terrain can mean long distances between stages, campgrounds, and parking. For many disabled attendees, walking or wheeling a mile through grass or dirt isn’t feasible. This is where ADA shuttles and on-site transportation come in.

• Shuttles from Off-Site Parking & Entrances: If your country music fest uses remote parking lots or has a long road from the entrance gate to the actual stages, provide an accessible shuttle service. This could be a wheelchair-accessible van or a small bus with a lift. For example, Stagecoach festival has an accessible loading zone at its rideshare drop-off; from there, a shuttle with space for wheelchair users transports fans to the main entrance (www.stagecoachfestival.com). They also run accessible hotel shuttles so that disabled guests staying in partner hotels can ride to the venue comfortably (www.stagecoachfestival.com). When planning shuttles, ensure at least a portion of your shuttle fleet is wheelchair-friendly (with ramps or lifts) – not just coach buses with stairs. Clearly advertise how guests can request an accessible shuttle, whether it’s a specific schedule or an on-demand phone number. It’s wise to encourage advance requests for shuttles (Stagecoach asks guests to book accessible hotel shuttles ahead of time) so you can allocate resources (www.stagecoachfestival.com).

• On-Site Carts and Transportation: Within the festival grounds, consider golf carts or small mobility shuttles to help disabled guests move between key locations. At Country Jam in Colorado – a ranch-based country festival – the organisers deploy golf carts to ferry guests with mobility impairments from the campgrounds to the stages and to the accessible viewing area (countryjam.com). This service, run by an on-site “access crew,” can be a lifesaver when the distance or heat becomes overwhelming (countryjam.com) (countryjam.com). Provide a pickup point or a hotline for those shuttles and train the drivers on safe boarding of wheelchair users. Even at smaller festivals, one or two dedicated golf carts for accessibility can make a huge difference (and reduce the risk of folks getting stranded or exhausted). If using golf carts, remember to allow one companion to ride along, and drive slowly and cautiously over bumpy ground.

• Plan for External Transportation Too: Accessibility starts even before the festival gates. Work with local authorities to secure some accessible parking spots as close as possible to entrances. If the path from train or bus stations to the site is rough, think about a shuttle from those transit hubs. In city-based festivals, identify an accessible drop-off point (with curb cuts and no stairs) for taxis or rideshares. For example, Carolina Country Music Fest in Myrtle Beach uses a nearby parking garage for ADA parking and has an accessible entrance right by that area (carolinacountrymusicfest.com). Don’t assume everyone can just “walk from the parking lot” – plan those first and last mile connections with inclusion in mind.

Share Terrain Information in Advance (Photos, Slopes, and Surfaces)

Imagine arriving at a festival only to discover the paths are all grass and mud, when you were expecting pavement – it could ruin someone’s whole experience if they aren’t prepared. That’s why transparency and information are crucial. Festival producers should publish detailed accessibility information well before the event, including photos, maps, and descriptions of the terrain.

• Detail the Ground Conditions: Be upfront about what kind of surfaces attendees will encounter. Is it mostly grassy lawn? Gravel paths? Sandy beach? Hard-packed dirt? For example, the team behind Country Jam explicitly notes on their website that the venue is a “large ranch” with areas of grass, hard dirt, and gravel roads (countryjam.com). If there are significant hills, mention the grade (e.g. “there is a gentle uphill walk to the second stage with a 5% slope”). Providing this info lets wheelchair users decide if they need extra power assistance or if they should bring a friend to help push. It also shows you care – you’re not luring people in under false pretences. Some festivals even go as far as to share distance markers (e.g. “it’s about 500m from the entrance to the main stage”) and note if any routes can get muddy in rain. This helps everyone plan footwear and timing, and disabled guests in particular can strategise how to navigate the site.

• Show Photos and Maps: A picture is worth a thousand words. If possible, publish a few photos of the venue’s layout from past years – for instance, an image of the main field so people can see it’s a grass pasture, or a snapshot of an accessible viewing platform or the ADA camping area. Visuals help attendees gauge the environment. Likewise, include an accessibility map highlighting important features: accessible entrances, parking, toilets, medical tents, shuttle stops, viewing platforms, and routes that are wheelchair-friendly. Many large festivals provide a downloadable access guide or map; smaller events can simply add a shaded route on the site map for “recommended wheelchair route.” Glastonbury Festival’s access guide, for instance, provides an Access Map marking all accessible facilities and paths (www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk). When fans have this knowledge in advance, the festival becomes less daunting and more welcoming.

• Communicate Changes and Prepare for Weather: Keep your accessibility info updated. If a normally solid field turned muddy due to heavy rain, inform attendees (via website or social media) what is being done – e.g. “we’ve laid down straw and metal trackway to help wheels get through mud.” If any facility location has moved or if an expected shuttle service won’t operate, let people know early. Consistent, transparent communication builds trust. Many disabled festivalgoers swap tips in online forums, so when your event is known for honesty about its terrain and logistics, it earns goodwill in the community.

Captioning, Sign Language, and Assisted Listening Services

Accessibility isn’t just about mobility. Festivals should strive to accommodate fans who are deaf or hard-of-hearing, as well as those with other sensory needs. Music is about sound and spectacle, and there are ways to make the experience richer for those with hearing loss.

• Sign Language Interpreters: Providing sign language interpretation for performances can be transformative. An interpreter near the stage can convey lyrics, music cues, and crowd interaction to deaf attendees in real-time. Many festivals now arrange ASL (or BSL in the UK, or local sign language) interpreters for select sets – often the headliners or by request for certain shows. For instance, Country Jam invites attendees to request ASL interpreting at least four weeks before the event, so they can schedule interpreters accordingly (countryjam.com). This ensures that if a deaf fan loves a particular artist, they won’t miss out on the meaning of the songs or the banter. If hiring interpreters isn’t in the budget for every stage, consider partnering with local nonprofits or interpreter networks; some interpreters are passionate about music and volunteer or work at reduced rates for the festival experience. Also, advertise in advance which performances will have interpreters, so deaf attendees can plan to attend those or request more if needed.

• Captions and Lyrics: In some cases, captioning can be provided on screens – for example, if you have large video screens (Jumbotrons), you could display live captioning of the vocals or any spoken content. This can be technically challenging for a live music setting, but even displaying the lyrics or a subtitle track for any video content played can help. At minimum, ensure that any official festival video content (like safety announcements or pre-show videos) have captions. For fans using smartphones, you might also suggest apps that can capture and display lyrics or use speech-to-text for live audio (as an unofficial aid).

• Assistive Listening Devices: For hard-of-hearing attendees who are not fully deaf, assistive listening systems can boost the live experience. One common solution is an induction loop (hearing loop) at stages or in tented venues, which transmits the audio directly to hearing aids via the T-coil setting (www.soundofffestival.com). If your festival has any indoor venues or seated pavilions, installing a hearing loop is a great investment – it will also benefit people using hearing aids at other events year-round if it’s a permanent venue. If loops aren’t feasible, provide an FM or infrared assistive listening device on request (essentially a wireless headset that amplifies stage sound for the user). Make sure to announce that these services are available, and have staff at the information or accessibility booth trained to loan out and explain the devices. Every decibel counts when you want fans to enjoy the music.

• Visual and Sensory Considerations: In addition to audio, consider those with visual impairments – for example, having schedules and key info available in large print or on a screen reader-friendly app. For neurodiverse or sensory-sensitive guests, festivals can provide a “sensory calm space” or quiet tent to decompress (Glastonbury has one, as noted in their access info (www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk)). These aren’t necessarily ADA requirements, but they demonstrate a commitment to inclusivity that can set your festival apart.

Training Staff on Accessibility and Assistance Etiquette

All the great infrastructure in the world can be undermined if the festival staff and volunteers are not disability-aware. Training your team – from the entrance gate staff to security to vendors – in disability etiquette and accessibility protocols is absolutely essential. It ensures that when a disabled patron needs help or encounters an issue, they’re met with understanding and effective assistance, not confusion or hostility.

• Disability Etiquette 101: Make it part of your crew training sessions to cover how to respectfully interact with people with disabilities. Emphasize key points like: always ask before helping someone (never assume they need assistance or start pushing someone’s wheelchair without permission), speak directly to the person (not to their companion), and avoid patronizing language. Teach staff that disabilities can be visible or invisible – the person asking to use the accessible platform might not be in a wheelchair; they could have a chronic illness or anxiety disorder, and that is equally valid. Front-line staff should never question someone’s disability if they have the proper credentials or requests; trust the festival’s accommodation process.

• Knowledge of Services: All staff and volunteers should know the basics of what accessibility services the festival offers. They should be able to point someone to (or call for) the Accessibility Services booth, the nearest accessible toilet, or the accessible shuttle stop. During your pre-festival briefings, give everyone a quick rundown: e.g. “Golf cart shuttles run from X to Y – call this number on the radio if someone needs a ride,” or “Accessible viewing platforms are located at Stage 1 and Stage 2, marked by banners.” In past events, lack of staff knowledge has caused frustration – one festivalgoer in Atlanta recounted asking multiple staff “Where is ADA?” and getting only vague points in some direction (wheelchairtravel.org). Worse, at that same event, an untrained employee incorrectly told a disabled guest they couldn’t bring an empty wheelchair through security unless someone was in it (wheelchairtravel.org) – a clear sign of poor training. Don’t let that happen at your festival. A well-briefed team can smoothly direct attendees and solve problems on the spot.

• Attitude and Assistance: The attitude of staff makes a huge difference. Stress to your crew that patience and positivity are key. If someone with a disability is moving slowly or needs extra time at the gate, rushing them or showing annoyance is unacceptable. Instead, staff should ask “How can I help make this easier for you?” and be ready to accommodate – whether it’s carrying a tray for a person on crutches at the food stall, or helping a blind attendee find a seat. Train security on how to respectfully conduct any necessary pat-downs or checks for someone in a wheelchair or with medical devices (ensuring privacy and dignity). If you have sign language interpreters or multilingual staff, equip them with a special badge so others can call on them if needed. It can also be helpful to simulate scenarios during training – for instance, have volunteers role-play assisting a wheelchair user over a tricky spot, or guiding a visually impaired person through a crowd. By rehearsing it, staff will be less flustered when reality comes.

• Emergency Preparedness: Include accessibility in your emergency plans too. Make sure staff know how to assist disabled attendees if there’s an evacuation or if medical issues arise. For example, if severe weather hits a festival on a farm, do you have a plan to get wheelchair users quickly to solid ground or shelter? Identify staff or crew who can operate accessible vehicles in a pinch. These considerations ensure that in a crisis, no one is left behind due to lack of mobility or awareness.

Engaging the Community and Continuous Improvement

No festival is perfectly accessible, but the ones that excel are those that actively seek feedback and involve the disability community in their planning. Treat accessibility as an ongoing conversation with your attendees.

• Consult Experts and Advocates: In the planning phase, reach out to disability advocacy groups or accessibility consultants for advice. Many countries have organizations devoted to accessible events (for example, Attitude Is Everything in the UK works with festivals to improve access, and Accessible Festivals in the US does similar outreach). These experts can audit your site plan and point out issues you might overlook. They can also train your staff or provide resources. Some festivals create an Accessibility Advisory Group, including people with disabilities who love events, to get direct input on what the festival could do better.

• Community Outreach: Engage with your fan base who have disabilities. Invite them to share their experiences from past editions. You might run a survey after the festival specifically asking disabled attendees about what worked and what didn’t. Show that you listen: for instance, if someone mentions that paths were too dark at night for those with low vision, come back next year with better lighting or reflective markers on pathways. When festivals implement feedback, word gets around and trust grows. A positive example is how many festivals now offer free companion tickets (so a disabled person’s caregiver or friend can attend to assist) because the community voiced how important that was. Ensure your ticketing platform supports this – (Ticket Fairy, for example, can help organisers manage companion ticket requests smoothly).

• Ego Aside, Empathy Ahead: Festival producers should remember that making a festival accessible is not just a regulatory hurdle but a reflection of your event’s values. Take pride in the accessible features you’ve built – promote them in your marketing. It’s okay to “show off” things like ADA shuttles, hearing loops, or accessible camping as selling points. This not only reaches attendees who need those features, but it also signals to all fans that your festival cares about inclusivity. Many festivals feature testimonials from disabled fans in their promos, highlighting how welcome they felt. This kind of community engagement creates a virtuous cycle: you demonstrate commitment, the community responds with loyalty, and collectively you make the event better year after year.

• Learning from Mistakes: If something goes wrong, own it and learn from it. We’ve seen how negative stories spread fast – such as the backlash Wireless Festival faced on social media for poor accessibility arrangements (www.indy100.com). But festivals can recover by acknowledging issues and fixing them. After an accessibility failure or complaint, a proactive organiser will apologize, reach out personally to those affected, and outline specific steps for improvement next time. This humility and determination to do better can turn a bad situation into an opportunity to earn respect.

Access is a Design Choice, Not an Afterthought

Ultimately, accessibility is a mindset. It’s about choosing from day one to weave inclusion into every aspect of festival design – just as you consider sound, lighting, and guest experience, consider access. When scouting venues, think about terrain and access routes. When budgeting, allocate funds for things like ramps, viewing platforms, and additional training. When talking with stage and production managers, include plans for interpreters or captioning on the agenda.

Remember that anyone can find themselves in need of accessible facilities, whether due to a permanent disability or a temporary injury. As disability advocate Katouche Goll wisely noted, “being disabled is the one marginalised group that you can belong to at any given moment” (metro.co.uk). Designers of great festivals recognise this universal potential; they design events that they themselves could attend and enjoy even if tomorrow they woke up with a mobility impairment or hearing loss.

In practice, treating access as a design choice means you proactively solve problems rather than react grudgingly to legal requirements. It’s the difference between checking a box (meeting the bare minimum ADA regulations) and truly committing to best practices. The latter yields happier attendees, better word-of-mouth, and often surprisingly creative solutions that improve the festival for everyone. For example, adding more benches and rest areas not only helps folks with limited stamina, it gives all your attendees a place to chill and enjoy the ambiance. Better signage helps those with cognitive disabilities and is also appreciated by first-time festivalgoers in general. In short, inclusive design tends to create a superior experience for the entire audience.

“Equitable access is not a favour, it’s a human right.” (www.indy100.com) This quote is a powerful reminder that accessibility shouldn’t be seen as extra or optional – it’s fundamental. Festival producers who embrace this philosophy have managed to open their gates to a wider, grateful audience. They’ve proven that even on uneven ground, with challenges of mud, dust, or hills, you can create a space where everyone can dance, sing along, and make memories together shoulder-to-shoulder.

Key Takeaways:
1. Integrate Accessibility from the Start: Make step-free, smooth routes a priority when laying out festival grounds, using temporary flooring or ramps to tackle rough or hilly terrain.
2. Provide Inclusive Viewing Areas: Build elevated viewing platforms (or reserved areas) with great sightlines at stages, and equip them with ramps, seating options, and nearby accessible toilets for maximum comfort.
3. Offer Accessible Transport: Use ADA-compliant shuttles or golf carts to help disabled attendees get from parking or around large venues. Clearly mark pickup points and encourage advance requests for these services.
4. Be Transparent about Terrain: Publish detailed info on your website about surface types, slopes, distances, and facilities. Include photos and maps so attendees with disabilities can prepare and feel confident upon arrival.
5. Cater to Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Guests: Whenever possible, provide sign language interpreters or captioning for performances and offer assistive listening devices or hearing loops at stages to include everyone in the music.
6. Train Your Team in Disability Awareness: Educate staff and volunteers on proper etiquette and procedures for assisting disabled patrons. Knowledgeable, friendly staff can solve issues quickly and make attendees feel truly welcome.
7. Engage and Improve: Work with the disabled community, gather feedback and continuously improve your accessibility features each year. Embrace accessibility as part of your festival’s identity and reputation.
8. Design Choice, Not Compliance Checkbox: Treat accessibility as an essential design element of your festival. Commit resources and creativity to it, remembering that inclusive design benefits all attendees and reflects the core value that music is for everyone.