Introduction
Imagine the excitement of arriving at a beautiful boutique festival on a farm or hillside – only to find that a steep, muddy slope stands between you and the main stage. For attendees with mobility challenges, uneven ground can turn that excitement into frustration or even a safety hazard. Accessibility is not just a box to tick; it’s a commitment to every festival-goer’s dignity and enjoyment. Early planning is essential. By considering accessibility from the very start – and sweating the details – festival organisers can ensure that no guest is left behind, no matter the terrain.
Accessibility on uneven ground comes with unique challenges. Large mainstream festivals and small boutique events alike have learned (sometimes the hard way) that “dignity requires detail.” In recent years, multiple festivals around the world faced criticism or legal action due to accessibility failures on difficult terrain. The lesson is clear: do the work early. From publishing information on gradients and surfaces to building step-free routes, every detail counts when your venue is a field, mountain, or any space not originally designed for crowds. The good news? With smart planning and community engagement, even a hilly or rough site can be made welcoming for all.
Below, we share practical tips and real-world examples from veteran festival producers on how to master accessibility in outdoor settings. From detailed pre-event info and terrain modifications to assistive technologies and empowered staff, these strategies will help ensure all your attendees can enjoy the festival safely, comfortably, and with their dignity intact.
Publish Detailed Accessibility Info Early
One of the most impactful steps is to communicate accessibility details well in advance. Disabled attendees plan their festival experience meticulously, and providing thorough information early builds trust and reduces uncertainty. Transparency is key: if your festival site has steep hills, gravel paths, grassy fields, or platform stages, let people know exactly what to expect. Many successful boutique festivals publish an Accessibility Guide or dedicated webpage as soon as tickets go on sale (or even beforehand). This guide should include specifics about the venue’s terrain, facilities, and services for people with disabilities.
What to include in your accessibility information: Make it as granular and practical as possible. Consider adding:
– Terrain and gradients: Describe the ground surfaces (e.g. hard pavement, grass, mud-prone areas) and note any significant slopes or inclines. If possible, publish the gradient percentages of paths or ramps. For example, if there’s a hill with a 1:12 slope between the parking lot and stages, mention it. Being upfront allows wheelchair users or those with limited stamina to plan whether they need assistance or extra time.
– Accessible routes and maps: Provide a map highlighting step-free routes around the site. Mark the locations of ramps, accessible entrances/exits, and any areas to avoid due to uneven or steep ground. Indicate the distance between key points (e.g. from accessible camping to the main stage) so attendees can gauge how far they’ll need to travel. Some festivals use icons or colour-coding on maps to show easy-access pathways.
– Viewing platforms and photos: If you offer accessible viewing platforms for wheelchair users (or others who can’t stand in crowds), include details about them. State how many platforms there are, which stages they serve, how to access them, and any capacity limits. Even better, add a photo of the platform or a diagram. A clear picture of a raised viewing platform (with its ramp or lift) can reassure attendees that they’ll have a good sightline. Include dimensions or height if relevant (e.g. “Platforms are 60 cm high with ramp access”). This helps people understand any effort needed to use the platform.
– Restrooms and facilities: List all the accessible toilets and their specifications. Festival-goers appreciate knowing the type of accessible restroom (e.g. spacious portable unit or a permanent building), whether it’s level to the ground or has a small threshold, and even the height of features like toilet seats or sinks. These details matter for wheelchair users who need a certain setup to transfer safely. If your event has showers or other facilities, provide accessibility info on those too (for instance, “showers have a step-free entrance and grab bars”).
– On-site services and assistance: Explain what accessibility services you offer: for example, wheelchair charging stations, mobility scooter rentals, a quiet space for those with sensory sensitivities, or an on-call shuttle service for moving around the site. Include information on how to request a personal assistant (PA) or companion ticket if your festival provides free entry for carers – many do, and it’s a best practice to support disabled attendees.
– Contact and updates: Give a dedicated contact (email or phone) for accessibility enquiries before the event. Encourage people to reach out with specific questions. Also, commit to updating the information if things change. For instance, if heavy rain is forecast and you plan to lay down extra trackway mats or move facilities, update your access info page so attendees know about new terrain conditions or solutions.
Publishing this kind of detailed information early serves multiple purposes. Firstly, it empowers festival-goers with disabilities (and older attendees, pregnant women, etc.) to make an informed decision about attending and what to pack or arrange. Secondly, it demonstrates that your team takes accessibility seriously – which boosts your event’s reputation. And thirdly, it can reduce the load on customer service; when information is readily available, fewer people will need to email last-minute questions like “Will there be a ramp at Stage 2?”
Many festivals have set great examples in this area. Flow Festival in Helsinki, Finland publicly shares extensive accessibility details: they consulted an expert firm to audit their venue and publish notes such as which areas are paved or gravel, and the exact measurements of each viewing platform. Glastonbury Festival (UK), despite its massive size and notorious muddy fields, provides an online Access Guide with maps showing accessible routes, distances between locations, and information on the slopes on-site. This level of detail allows attendees to prepare accordingly – for instance, bringing an all-terrain wheelchair attachment or arranging a friend’s help for a particular hill. Smaller boutique events can do the same on a simpler scale. Even a one-page PDF with key access facts can make a world of difference.
Finally, integrate accessibility into your ticketing process. When tickets go on sale, that’s the moment to showcase your access info (no one should have to hunt for it). Provide an obvious link to your Accessibility Guide on the ticket page. Better yet, use your ticketing platform to gather access requirements from attendees during checkout. For example, Ticket Fairy’s platform allows organisers to add custom questions for ticket buyers – you can ask if someone has any accessibility needs or requires a companion ticket. Collecting this information early means you can make necessary arrangements (like reserving a wheelchair-accessible camping spot or hiring extra sign language interpreters) well before showtime. It’s all about doing the work early so there are no nasty surprises later.
Create Step-Free Routes and Gentle Paths
Once you’ve informed people about the terrain, the next step is to physically optimize your site for accessibility. On uneven or hilly grounds, invest time in designing routes that are step-free and avoid dangerously steep grades. The goal is for a person using a wheelchair, crutches, or pushing a stroller to navigate as independently as possible across the festival.
Start by surveying your venue’s topography. Identify natural slopes, dips, and obstacles like stone walls or curbs. With some creativity, you can often find a path that zig-zags or goes around a hill to lessen the incline. Yes, it might be a longer walk than the direct steep route, but many would prefer a longer gentle slope than a short steep climb. If such a path exists, mark it clearly on your site map and signpost it on the ground. In cases where the only access to a key area is via stairs or a steep hill, create an alternative:
– Portable ramps: For any steps leading into stages, barns, or platform structures, install sturdy portable ramps. Even a small single step (say into a doorway or onto a dance floor) can stop a wheelchair cold – a simple ramp or bevelled platform can fix that instantly. Use ramps with a gentle slope (the general guideline is a 1:12 gradient or shallower for independent wheelchair use).
– Temporary pathways: If the ground is soft grass, sand, or mud, consider laying down temporary pathway materials in critical sections. Common solutions include aluminium trackway panels, rubber mats, or even compacted gravel to create a firm, even surface. Many outdoor festivals lay trackway from entrances to the main stage and to accessible campsite areas, so wheelchairs and scooters don’t get stuck. At Glastonbury, for instance, large metal panels are placed in mud-prone zones around the Pyramid Stage viewing platform so that the area remains usable even after rain.
– Gentle gradients: When building any new infrastructure on site (like a raised viewing platform or a bridge over cables), adhere to gentle gradient standards. Long, gradual ramps with handrails might require more space, but they make a huge difference. If you’re constructing paths on a slope, try to keep them switchback style (across the slope) to reduce direct steepness. And always test it – have staff (or better, someone with mobility impairment if available) walk or wheel the route during setup to identify trouble spots. Sometimes what looks fine on a map ends up being too steep or uneven once you try it.
– Alternate transport: Embrace solutions like shuttle carts or accessible vehicles on-site for difficult routes. Large festivals on farms (like Bonnaroo in the USA, or Splendour in the Grass in Australia) often provide ADA shuttle services – golf carts or mini-buses that loop between the furthest stages and the accessible campground or parking. If your boutique festival covers a lot of ground, having a dedicated shuttle for disabled guests (and a way to request it, such as via the access desk or a phone number) can be a lifesaver. However, shuttles are a supplement, not a substitute for an accessible site. Don’t rely on ferrying people around in place of proper paths, but do use it to bridge unavoidable gaps (like a really steep hill section or distant parking lot).
– Maintenance of paths: During the festival, keep an eye on the conditions of your accessible routes. Rain can wash out a path or make grass slippery; heavy foot traffic can create potholes on dirt paths. Have a maintenance plan – e.g. laying more mulch or gravel, deploying more mats, or re-grading mud – to keep routes in good shape. This is where having a dedicated team (and budget) for accessibility during the event pays off; they can respond quickly if, say, a key path becomes impassable.
Real-world case studies underline the importance of planning routes. In 2022, Wireless Festival in London faced heavy criticism because their new location had an entrance for disabled fans at the top of a 10% grade hill. Many wheelchair users struggled, and some even needed to be physically pushed or carried, which was undignified and dangerous. The outrage on social media and in the press showed how a single oversight in route planning can tarnish a festival’s reputation overnight. On the flip side, consider Green Man Festival in Wales – set in the Brecon Beacons mountain region. Green Man’s organisers have worked hard to earn Attitude is Everything’s Gold Charter for accessibility. They provide accessible camping on the flattest part of the site, wooden pathways in tricky spots, and plenty of volunteers to assist on the hilly sections. The result is that even in a valley surrounded by mountains, disabled festival-goers report having a great (and safe) experience because the routes and infrastructure were thought through.
The takeaway: design for zero steps and gentle slopes everywhere you can. Every ramp, path, and pavement you add brings you closer to an inclusive festival. It might require extra investment – renting metal trackway panels or building a temporary bridge over that ditch – but those are far preferable to seeing a guest get stuck or hurt. By doing this work early in the planning phase (ideally visiting the site months ahead with accessibility in mind), you can engineer out many barriers entirely.
Ensure Accessible Facilities & Amenities
Beyond paths and routes, don’t overlook the accessibility of facilities like toilets, showers, booths, and stages. Physical amenities must be usable for everyone. A festival could have great pathways, but if the only restrooms are cramped portable loos up a step, or the only water station is too high to reach, attendees with disabilities will still face huge problems.
Accessible toilets: Arrange for plenty of accessible portable toilets (often called ADA toilets in the US or simply disabled access toilets). These typically are larger, with flat entry (no step) and handrails inside. Distribute them across the site: at every toilet block there should be at least one or two accessible units, not just in the accessible campsite. Keep them well-maintained and unlocked (or provide keys readily) – some events use RADAR keys or similar, but make sure staff at the access desk have spares and that anyone who needs the toilet can get in promptly. Place these units on level ground and, if they’re on grass, put down a stable base so the heavy wheelchair doesn’t sink or topple the unit. Don’t make the mistake of clustering all accessible toilets in one far-off area or, worse, forgetting to hire enough. A recent BBC report in 2023 highlighted disabled fans at various UK festivals facing situations where promised accessible toilets never arrived or were woefully insufficient. Such failures force people to leave early or even avoid drinks to not need the loo – an unacceptable scenario that we must avoid.
Showers and camping: If your festival is multi-day with camping, provide accessible showers and consider the ground conditions in camping areas. Reserve a flat, preferably paved or grasscrete area for accessible camping (close to medical and key services). Offer an option for accessible campers to park their car next to their tent or accommodation – many find this helpful for access and as a safe space. If you have glamping or pre-pitched tents, see if you can offer an accessible option (like a yurt with a wooden floor ramped at the entrance, as some UK glamping sites have done). Make sure paths within the accessible campground are lit at night and free of tripping hazards. It’s all about comfort and safety after a long day of festivalling.
Stages and platforms: We’ve touched on viewing platforms, but also consider stage access in general. If attendees are invited on stage (for contests, Q&As, etc.), have a ramp or lift handy so a wheelchair user isn’t excluded from participating. Similarly, if your festival has multiple levels (like a VIP platform or a raised bar area), think about how someone with limited mobility could get up there. If it’s not possible to make a particular area accessible, be honest about it and provide an alternative (for example, table service from the bar so no one needs to climb steps to get a drink).
Stalls and vendors: Communicate with food and merchandise vendors about accessibility. Encourage them to lower their serving counters a bit (or have a lower section) to accommodate someone in a wheelchair. Ensure cables running to vendor booths are covered with gentle ramps so wheels can roll over. Little things like this add up – a festival trader who is conscious of access can make a person’s day by simply being reachable and helpful.
Medical and welfare services: These are part of facilities too. Ensure your medical tent is accessible (no steps, wide entrance) because people with disabilities might need to visit for reasons unrelated to their disability. Also, consider a sensory space or quiet tent if you can, for those with autism, anxiety, or who just need a break from the crowd. Some boutique festivals set up small calm areas with low lighting and minimal noise; these have been appreciated by neurodiverse attendees and anyone feeling overwhelmed.
To get these facilities right, again, plan early and work with your suppliers. When booking portable toilets or showers, specify the accessible units. Talk to your site builders about ramps and platform heights. Create a checklist for site inspection that specifically covers these items (e.g., “Can a wheelchair user get from the path into this structure? Try it out.”). Empower your Access Coordinator or team to veto or adjust things during build if they spot a problem, even if it means moving a tent a few feet for clearance.
By paying attention to every physical detail – from the gradient of a bridge to the height of a bar counter – you uphold each guest’s dignity. They won’t need to ask for help for basic things like using a restroom or buying food. Instead, they can focus on having fun, just like everyone else.
Offer Assisted Listening and Captioning
Accessibility isn’t only about the ground; it’s also about breaking down sensory and communication barriers. Festivals are multi-sensory experiences, and we need to accommodate those who experience sound or visuals differently. Two key areas to address are hearing and sight:
Assisted listening for audio: For attendees who are deaf or hard of hearing, simply blasting the speakers isn’t enough. They might benefit from assisted listening systems. Many events have started offering hearing loops or FM transmission systems. A hearing loop (induction loop) allows anyone with a hearing aid (set to the ‘T’ telecoil setting) to receive the music or spoken audio feed directly in their device, with much less background noise. This is fantastic for stages with speeches, comedy, theater, or even movie screenings at film festivals. If installing loops at stages is too complex for a temporary event, an alternative is to loan out small radio receivers with headphones – broadcast the stage audio on a short-range FM frequency that those with the devices (or with smartphone radio apps) can tune into for a clearer sound. Australia’s Byron Bay Bluesfest famously introduced an Assistive Listening system for its main stage, which proved popular for older fans with hearing loss who didn’t want to stand near the loud front-of-house speakers but still wanted clarity of sound.
Live captioning and interpretation: For key content that involves spoken word – whether that’s a panel discussion at a film festival, announcements on the main stage, or lyrics of a headliner’s songs – consider providing visual communication options:
– Hiring sign language interpreters is one impactful solution. Music festivals in the U.S. often provide American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters on stage for major performances (you may have seen viral videos of ASL interpreters passionately signing rap and rock lyrics at Lollapalooza or Bonnaroo). In the UK, British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters are common at festivals like Glastonbury and Reading/Leeds for headliners and popular acts. These professionals convey not just the words but the emotion and rhythm, making the performance accessible and often adding a beautiful element to the show. If you have interpreters, mention it in your program so those who need it can be at that stage at the right time.
– Captioning is another approach, especially useful for talks, films, or any content where reading might be easier. This could be done on a big screen (e.g. projecting live speech-to-text captions on side screens during a keynote address or comedy show). There are services where a stenographer or captioner types out dialogue in real time or certain speech-to-text technologies that can display captions (with varying accuracy, so human-run is usually better for quality). If your festival has an app, you might even implement a captioning feature there, where attendees can read transcripts in real time.
– Audio description: For visually impaired attendees, providing audio description of visual elements can be considered. This is more common in theater and film (narrating actions or scene changes through an audio channel). At an outdoor festival, you might not have resources for live audio describers except perhaps for theatre performances or very visual shows. But one basic thing you can do is ensure your staff or volunteers are ready to verbally assist blind or low-vision guests if they need help navigating or understanding what’s happening on stage. Also, having large-print or Braille versions of schedules can be a helpful touch for those who are blind – or simply a staffer at info points who can read things out on request.
The principle is: make the content accessible, not just the terrain. It’s incredibly rewarding when a deaf music lover can feel included because lyrics are signed or captioned, or when a person with low vision can follow along with a film dialogue via their assistive device. In Singapore, for instance, the annual TRUE Colours Festival (an arts festival showcasing disabled artists) provides comprehensive captioning and audio support, setting a high bar for inclusive content. While a small boutique festival may not have the budget of a national arts event, you can start with modest steps: maybe caption the opening ceremony video or hire an interpreter for one performance each day. See the response and build from there.
Importantly, advertise these services once you have them. If your festival is providing an FM hearing system or has an interpreter schedule, promote that in advance to attract attendees who need it. And coordinate with the artists/performers too – some performers might even welcome having an interpreter on stage (many find it exciting and it shows the event’s values). Make sure the interpreters or caption screens are positioned so the audience can see them clearly (usually to one side of the stage). And if possible, provide a brief training or briefing to your tech crew so they know how to set up and not accidentally disconnect an induction loop or forget to turn on the caption screen.
By offering assisted listening and captioning, you’re not only complying with ADA or equal access laws in many cases; you’re enhancing the festival experience. You’re saying to guests, “We want you here, and we’ve gone the extra mile to include you.” That message resonates, and you’ll likely see increased loyalty and word-of-mouth within communities of people with disabilities.
Staff an Empowered Access Desk and Team
Even with perfect infrastructure and lots of pre-planning, a festival must be ready to respond to needs in real time. This is where your on-site Accessibility Team (or Access Staff) and the concept of an Access Desk come in. It’s crucial to both staff and empower these roles properly.
What is an Access Desk? It’s essentially a helpdesk or information point specifically dedicated to accessibility issues and support. Many festivals set up a clearly signposted booth or tent (often near the main entrance or in the accessible campground) where attendees with disabilities can check in, get their access wristbands, ask questions, and request assistance. This desk should be manned by staff or volunteers who are trained, friendly, and resourceful. They should have all the info that was published online (maps, guides, schedules of interpreted events) plus updates on any changes. For example, if a path has become unusable and there’s a reroute, the access desk should know first and communicate it.
Empowerment is key. It’s not enough to have a desk; the people running it need to have the authority and tools to solve problems on the spot. That means:
– They can call for transport assistance (like dispatch the shuttle cart to pick someone up if needed).
– They can coordinate with the production team if an emergency fix is required (e.g., if an accessible toilet in the main arena has an issue, they can radio for a maintenance crew immediately or even have a spare unit installed).
– They have basic supplies handy – for instance, some spare RADAR keys for toilets, a wheelchair puncture repair kit, earplugs and sensory kits for those with autism, maybe a few folding chairs if someone has trouble standing in line, etc.
– They are empowered to make judgment calls. If a disabled attendee comes with a need that wasn’t anticipated, the Access team should be able to accommodate as much as reasonably possible without “checking with five supervisors”. For example, if someone with a broken leg shows up (who didn’t request accessible services in advance), an empowered access staffer could issue them a viewing platform pass or allow vehicle entry for drop-off even if policy says those must be arranged beforehand. Rigid rules can’t cover every scenario, so trust your team to be flexible and compassionate.
Training the team: All festival staff should get a basic disability awareness briefing, but your dedicated access staff should have deeper training. They should understand different types of disabilities (mobility, hearing, visual, cognitive, etc.) and appropriate etiquette for each. For instance, they should know to speak directly to a person who is deaf (even if an interpreter is present) or how to offer assistance to a wheelchair user (ask first, and know how to safely push a wheelchair if needed). If you can, involve people with disabilities in the training process or use materials from experts. The UK charity Attitude is Everything often provides training for festival staff and volunteers – their insights are gold.
Volunteers vs. paid staff: This depends on your festival’s size and budget. Some smaller festivals rely on passionate volunteers to form the access team, often recruiting folks who have some experience with disability (either personally or via family). Larger ones may have a paid Accessibility Manager and crew. Either way, choose people who genuinely care about the mission. Accessibility work requires patience, empathy, and quick thinking. A smiling volunteer who will personally walk a blind attendee from the gate to the information tent can turn a potentially stressful arrival into a warm, welcoming experience.
Integration with overall operations: Make sure the accessibility team is integrated into the festival’s command structure. They should be present in safety briefings and have a line to event control, so if they report an issue (like “the accessible car park is full, we need to open an overflow”), it gets acted on quickly. One festival that illustrates this well is WOMAD UK – attendees have praised how its accessibility staff not only man the viewing platforms and camp, but are in constant communication with festival operations. They can get things done, whether it’s replacing a faulty ramp or arranging a medical fridge for medication storage.
Lastly, encourage a culture of helpfulness among all staff and volunteers, not just the access team. Anyone wearing a crew t-shirt should be willing to assist a person who appears to be struggling or to fetch the access staff when needed. Sometimes a two-minute golf cart ride from a security team can be the difference between a guest seeing their favourite band or missing out due to fatigue. Make it clear to every department (ticketing, security, stage management) that accessibility is everyone’s responsibility.
By staffing and empowering an Access Desk and team, you create a safety net. Despite your best preparations, some attendee will have a need you didn’t foresee – but now you have a friendly face and a practical solution ready when that happens. This makes disabled attendees (and their families) feel genuinely cared for. And that feeling – that they’re welcomed and valued – is what builds loyalty and trust in your festival brand.
Engage the Community and Adapt
No festival gets everything 100% right immediately when it comes to accessibility. The difference between those that excel and those that stagnate is often listening and adapting. Engaging with the disabled community, and your own festival audience, will provide invaluable insights.
Consult and collaborate: If you’re unsure how to handle accessibility on a tricky site, bring in expertise. This could mean hiring a consultant who specializes in event accessibility or reaching out to local disability organizations for advice. In the UK, many independent festivals work with Attitude is Everything or similar bodies to audit their plans. In the U.S., organizations like the ADA National Network can offer guidance. There are also disabled audiophiles and festival lovers out there who blog about their experiences – find them, read up, or even invite them to do a site walk-through. Their lived experience might catch something your team overlooked. As an example, All Together Now Festival in Ireland announced a full accessibility review after 2023, following serious complaints from disabled attendees who found parts of the site impossible to access. They pledged to collaborate with disability advocates to redesign their approach. It’s unfortunate it took a public outcry, but the positive is they’re now working with the community to improve.
Build an advisory group: If your festival is annual, consider forming a small advisory group of attendees with disabilities. This could be as simple as a private Facebook group or email list where you float new ideas or ask for feedback. Or you might host a meetup or online forum after the event to debrief what worked and what didn’t. Showing that you actively seek input will earn you respect and better ideas. One spin-off benefit: these engaged community members often become ambassadors, spreading the word that your festival cares.
Feedback channels: Make it easy for people to give feedback, both during and after the festival. During the event, the Access Desk can log any complaints or suggestions (perhaps keep a notebook or a digital log). After the festival, send a survey email specifically targeting accessibility questions to anyone who used the accessible services (and make it open for anyone who wants to comment on access). Keep the survey simple but allow open comments – you might discover, for instance, that the path to Stage 2 was fine during the day but too dark at night for someone with low vision. These are things you can address next time (e.g., add lighting or reflective markers).
Community shout-outs: When you do implement a suggestion that came from a festival-goer, let people know! For instance, if a wheelchair user told you last year that the gravel in front of the food court was hard to roll on, and you switch to mats or pavement this year, mention it in your pre-event comms: “You spoke, we listened – this area is now wheelchair-friendly.” Not only does this inform those who care directly, it also signals to everyone else that you listen and improve.
Educating the audience: Engaging the community goes both ways. It can be beneficial to educate your general audience about accessibility and encourage them to be part of the solution. Many festivals include a note in their program or an announcement like “Please be mindful of our wheelchair users and allow space on pathways,” or “Remember not all disabilities are visible – if you see someone in distress, alert our staff who are here to help.” Creating a culture of inclusion among attendees can reduce incidents of ignorance (like blocking the viewing platform or using the accessible toilet when you don’t need to). Some events have even run campaigns like “Have patience, have empathy” to remind the crowd that everyone’s there to have a good time and a little kindness goes a long way.
Finally, adapt to new challenges as they come. Technology and expectations evolve: for instance, a decade ago few festivals offered mobile app accessibility features, whereas now you might need to ensure your festival app is screen-reader compatible and has adjustable font sizes for those with vision impairments. Stay up-to-date with best practices through industry conferences or workshops on accessibility. The festival world is a community in itself – share your successes and failures with other event producers, so everyone can learn. By constantly engaging and adapting, your boutique festival can become known as a shining example of how to do accessibility right, even on a shoestring budget or a rugged site.
The Payoff: Inclusivity Benefits Everyone
Making a festival accessible is undoubtedly an investment of time, effort, and resources. So why do it? Quite simply, it makes your festival better for everyone. Inclusivity has ripple effects that extend beyond the disabled attendees who directly benefit from ramps or captioning.
First and foremost, you tap into a broader audience. People with disabilities are a significant part of the population (around 15% worldwide, according to WHO) – that’s a lot of potential festival-goers who often face barriers to attending events. By removing those barriers, you not only sell more tickets, you also gain fans who are likely to become loyal customers. When someone finds a festival where they feel truly welcomed and accommodated, they’re going to tell their friends and return year after year. It’s not uncommon to hear, “I usually avoid festivals, but this one I will always attend because they took care of my needs so well.”
There’s also a reputation boost. Festivals are competing for both customers and sponsors. Demonstrating social responsibility and inclusivity can set your event apart. For example, after implementing major accessibility upgrades and publicity around them, a festival might attract media articles praising its approach or get endorsements from disability rights groups. In the age of social media, a positive post from an attendee about how great the access was can win you goodwill and positive viral attention. (We often hear the horror stories go viral, but good news travels too within these communities.)
Moreover, many accessibility features end up helping all attendees. Think about it:
– The step-free, smoother routes you created aren’t just used by wheelchair users; they’re also used by parents with prams, vendors hauling carts of supplies, or anyone who’s a bit unsteady after a couple of beers.
– The extra seating and rest areas you placed for those who can’t stand long are appreciated by older attendees or someone nursing an injury.
– The signposted information and maps benefit everyone’s wayfinding.
– The captioning on the screen might help a person who’s far back and can’t hear clearly, or assist someone who’s not a native speaker better understand the lyrics or dialogue.
In essence, by designing for extremes, you often improve the middle too. This is a principle known as Universal Design – make things user-friendly for those with special needs, and it tends to be great for everyone else as well.
There’s also the morale and culture factor within your team and volunteers. Successfully delivering an inclusive event can be a huge source of pride for the staff. It feels good to look out from the stage and see a diverse crowd having the time of their lives, knowing that you helped make that possible. That positive energy can fuel your team and create a stronger sense of community at the festival itself.
From a risk management perspective (though it’s not the most warm-and-fuzzy reason, it matters): doing accessibility right helps you avoid legal issues and PR crises. Many countries have laws requiring reasonable accommodations for disabled people (like the ADA in the United States, or the Equality Act in the UK). Falling short can lead to complaints, lawsuits, or forced compliance orders. We saw this when a major festival operator in the UK had to sign a legal agreement in 2023 promising to address accessibility after multiple failings at events. No organiser wants to be in that spotlight for the wrong reasons. By proactively exceeding the minimum requirements, you not only stay clear of trouble, you turn an area of potential criticism into one of praise.
Lastly, and perhaps most importantly on a human level: it’s the right thing to do. Festivals are about community, joy, and shared experiences. They started as gatherings to celebrate music, culture, food, life – and those experiences should be open to everyone who wants to partake. When you see a wheelchair user able to independently roll up to the front of a crowd to watch their favourite artist, or a deaf attendee laughing at a joke because it was interpreted in sign language, or an autistic teen comfortably enjoying a noisy environment because they know there’s a quiet tent if it gets too much – those moments define success as much as any ticket sales or profit margin. You are creating not just a festival, but memories and a sense of belonging.
Inclusivity makes your festival richer in spirit. In the truest sense, it becomes a celebration for all. That’s a legacy any event organiser can be proud of, and it bodes well for the longevity of your festival in a rapidly evolving, increasingly diverse world of attendees.
Conclusion: Dignity Requires Detail
If there’s one mantra to take forward, it’s this: dignity requires detail. Grand statements of “everyone is welcome” only hold weight if backed by meticulous action. It’s the small details – the extra inch of doorway width, the clear print on the schedule, the friendliness of a volunteer, the forethought to publish a photo of a viewing platform – that collectively create a dignified, positive experience for a festival attendee with a disability.
The best festival producers in the world approach accessibility not as a checklist item but as an integral part of the creative process of festival-making. They know that a truly great festival cares about its community, and disabled people are very much part of that community. Whether you’re running a 500-person local food fair or a 50,000-strong music extravaganza on a farm, the principles remain the same: plan early, listen to needs, and follow through on details.
In practice, this means constantly putting yourself in someone else’s shoes (or wheels) as you design the event. Ask “How will X person navigate this? Will Y person be able to enjoy that?” If the honest answer is no, then roll up your sleeves and figure out how to fix it – preferably months before gates open. It’s hard work, but it’s profoundly rewarding.
As you implement these accessibility measures, you’re not just avoiding negative outcomes – you’re actively creating positive ones. You’ll see it in the smiles of fans who might never have attended a festival before yours welcomed them. You’ll hear it in the gratitude from parents whose child with special needs could safely dance alongside everyone else. These are the moments that remind us why we do this work in the first place.
In the end, making festivals accessible is about love for the audience and love for the culture of live events. It’s about believing that music, art, and celebration are fundamental joys that everyone deserves to share. So do the work early, sweat the details, and never stop striving for a more inclusive experience. Your festival will be better for it – and so will the world around you.
Key Takeaways
- Plan for Access from Day One: Incorporate accessibility into the festival planning process right at the start. Early consideration of terrain, facilities, and services will save headaches later and ensure no attendee is forgotten.
- Detail, Detail, Detail: Publish thorough accessibility information about your event well in advance. Include gradients of paths, types of surfaces, photos of key facilities (like viewing platforms), and what assistance is available. The more detail you provide, the more confident and prepared your attendees will be.
- Build an Accessible Environment: Design your festival layout to be step-free and as flat as possible. Use ramps, temporary trackway, and clever routing to avoid steep slopes. Place accessible amenities (toilets, viewing areas, camping) on level ground and make sure they’re truly usable (no hidden steps or tight squeezes). Test the routes and facilities with real users if you can.
- Make Content Inclusive: Accessibility isn’t just physical. Provide assistive listening systems, sign language interpreters, and/or captioning for important content so that deaf and hard-of-hearing guests can enjoy the performances and talks. Consider the needs of visually impaired attendees and others – from large-print materials to quiet spaces.
- Empower Your Access Team: Train a dedicated accessibility team or coordinator and establish an Access Desk on site. Ensure this team has the authority and resources to respond quickly to issues and assist guests (whether it’s arranging a shuttle ride or fixing a problem at a viewing platform). A well-run access team can turn a potential crisis into a solved problem within minutes.
- Engage and Improve: Work with the disabled community and listen to attendee feedback. Each festival should be a learning experience – gather input, review what worked and what didn’t, and continuously improve your accessibility measures. Let your audience know you’re listening and adapting.
- Inclusivity Pays Off: Remember that making your festival accessible widens your audience, boosts your reputation, and often improves the experience for everyone (not just those with disabilities). It’s not just the right thing to do ethically – it’s a smart thing to do for the success and longevity of your event.
25th August 2025