RV and Vanlife at Folk Festivals: Grid Planning, Generators, and Culture

Organizing a folk festival isn’t just about the stages and performers – it’s also about creating a welcoming temporary home for attendees. Many folk festivals have vibrant camping communities, often including RVs and campervans alongside tents. Seasoned festival producers know that thoughtful planning of RV and “vanlife” areas can make or break the attendee experience. From mapping out a campsite grid to managing generator noise and fostering a friendly culture, the goal is to balance comfort, safety, and community spirit. Here we share practical, hard-earned advice on how to successfully integrate RV and van campers into your festival, ensuring everyone – from families seeking quiet nights to die-hard music fans – has an enjoyable experience.

Designing the RV Campground Grid

One of the first challenges is planning the physical layout of your RV and campervan area. Grid planning is essential – it keeps the campground organized, maximizes space, and ensures safety. Start by allocating clearly marked pitch sizes for each vehicle. For example, the Glastonbury Festival in the UK designates pitches typically around 8m x 7m for campervans (www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk) (www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk), ensuring vehicles have sufficient room and a safe distance between them. Having standard pitch sizes (with a few larger spots for buses or big rigs) will help avoid overcrowding and fire hazards. Use flags, painted lines, or stakes and rope to delineate each site in a grid pattern, and maintain fire lanes or access roads every few rows for emergency and service vehicles.

Venue selection plays a role in how you plan the grid. If you’re using open fields (common for folk and camping festivals), you have flexibility but must create your own reference points. If you’re at a dedicated campground or fairground, leverage existing roadways and hookup stations. The Walnut Valley Festival in Kansas, hosted on fairgrounds, offers over 1,000 electrical hookups in its campgrounds (www.wvfest.com), so their RV grid aligns with those power pedestals. For most folk festivals, however, full hookups (power, water, sewer) are rare – expect to provide unpowered or “dry” camping by default. The Philadelphia Folk Festival, for instance, explicitly offers no utility hookups for RVs (folkfest.org), instead providing water refill stations and asking attendees to be self-sufficient with generators or solar setups. If your site has limited power hookups, decide if those will be first-come-first-served or sold as premium “RV with electric” passes; be transparent so people come prepared.

When allocating sites, consider a mix of sizes and vehicle types. Separate areas for smaller campervans/vans versus large motorhomes can be beneficial. Smaller vehicles can make do with tighter spaces, whereas big RVs may need wide turning radius and level ground. Some festivals implement a tag or escort system on arrival: volunteers guide each RV to an appropriate spot and ensure it’s parked safely (wheels chocked, not blocking roads). At the Philadelphia Folk Festival, volunteers stage RVs in a satellite lot during peak arrival times, then direct them one-by-one to campsite parking to avoid chaos (folkfest.org). Having a parking crew or “campground operations team” to greet and situate incoming RVs is key for an orderly setup.

Finally, incorporate special zones within your grid plan. Many folk festivals create designated areas like Family Camping, Quiet Camping, or General Camping for those who want to stay up late. For example, the Winnipeg Folk Festival in Canada splits its campground into a quiet family-friendly area and a separate festival campground for late-night jam sessions (www.winnipegfolkfestival.ca). By positioning RV families or older attendees in a calmer section (perhaps farther from stages or loud late-night venues) and grouping night-owl campers elsewhere, you cater to different needs. Clear signage and maps should communicate these zones. Think of your RV/van campground as a small city – with neighborhoods suited to different lifestyles.

Power Management: Generators, Hookups, and Quiet Hours

Electricity is a big concern for RV campers. Without hookups, many will rely on generators or battery systems. Handling generator use at a festival requires balancing the power needs of attendees with noise and air quality concerns for everyone. A common best practice is enforcing quiet hours when generators must be turned off. For instance, Walnut Valley Festival only allows even quiet generators to run between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. (www.wvfest.com), preserving the tranquility of nighttime. The Philadelphia Folk Festival similarly restricts generator operation to 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. (folkfest.org) (folkfest.org). Outside of those hours, attendees should plan to use batteries or do without power to keep the campground peaceful.

For times when generators are allowed, encourage or require quiet technology. Not all generators are equal – newer inverter generators run much more quietly and cleanly than old noisy models. Many events strongly suggest campers bring “the smallest and quietest generator” that meets their needs (folkfest.org). Some festivals go further: the massive Glastonbury Festival outright bans personal generators on site (www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk), a policy that virtually eliminates generator noise (though it means attendees must rely solely on built-in RV power or solar panels). If a ban is too extreme for your event, you can set a decibel limit or wattage limit on generators. Bonnaroo Music Festival in Tennessee, which has huge campgrounds, allows portable generators but only under 4kW (support.bonnaroo.com) – this effectively prohibits the loudest industrial units. Even without measuring decibels, limiting size and fuel encourages moderation (Bonnaroo also caps gasoline to 10 gallons per vehicle (support.bonnaroo.com) for safety).

Another strategy is to separate “generator rows” in your RV parking layout. Group RVs that plan to run generators in one or two areas, and keep a separate section reserved for “no generator use” camping. This way, those who need power (and can tolerate the hum of their neighbor’s generator) are clustered together, while those who crave silence can choose the quieter zone. Enforce a minimum distance between generator-equipped vehicles and others; even a few extra feet can reduce noise and fume impact. Some events establish a buffer by parking all generators on the outer edge of a row, with exhausts pointing away from the camp. As an organizer, you can require exhaust extensions that vent above the RV’s roofline or away from neighboring campers – several RV accessory companies sell stack extensions to direct generator or engine exhaust upward. This kind of emissions control helps prevent carbon monoxide buildup near other people’s campsites.

Emission safety cannot be overstated. Any time generators or engines run, there’s a risk of carbon monoxide and fumes. Post signs and include in your program guide warnings about proper generator use: never run a generator in a closed area or right beside someone’s tent. The Philadelphia Folk Festival explicitly reminds campers that generator exhaust must be expelled safely and not directed into adjacent campsites (folkfest.org), even adding that festival staff may shut down any generator that poses a health or safety risk (folkfest.org). Encourage attendees to bring long generator exhaust hoses or to position their unit on the outer edge of their site with the exhaust pointing away. It’s also wise to mandate that fuel cans be stored safely, away from open flames and secured – no one wants a fuel spill or fire. (Most festival campgrounds ban campfires near RVs for this reason, or require they be at designated fire rings.) Consider having a fire marshal or safety officer walk the RV area daily to spot any unsafe generator setups or fuel storage issues.

If your festival is able to provide electrical hookups for RVs, that can greatly reduce generator usage. Hookups are common at some country and folk festivals held on fairgrounds or motor speedways – for example, Australia’s Tamworth Country Music Festival campground or certain areas of the Kerrville Folk Festival ranch have limited power points. If offering power, decide the amperage (e.g. 15A, 30A, 50A) and ensure your grid planning accounts for cable runs or outlet locations. Keep in mind that not everyone will get a hook-up, so you might offer it as a premium upgrade and cap the number of RV passes sold with power. Notify those with power to bring a long enough cord (25-50m might be needed) and possibly a splitter if sharing an outlet (though one outlet per RV is ideal to prevent tripping breakers (www.wvfest.com) (www.wvfest.com)). Even when hookups are provided, it’s smart to have quiet-hour policies for any equipment – a plugged-in RV might still run a noisy air conditioner at 3 a.m., which could disturb neighbors. Thus, enforce an overall noise curfew (music, generators, loud engines) after a certain hour. Some festivals set this at midnight or 1 a.m. – for instance, WOMAD New Zealand’s campground rules note that a noise curfew begins at 1:00 a.m. (womad.co.nz). Choose a curfew that fits your event’s culture (folk festival campers might wind down earlier than electronic dance festival campers), and have staff or volunteers gently remind anyone violating it.

Reducing Environmental Impact: Greywater and Waste

RV campers come with not just vehicles, but also water and waste. A responsible festival organizer must plan for greywater disposal (the soapy water from sinks and showers) and possibly blackwater (sewage) if you have on-site facilities. Under no circumstances should attendees dump waste water on the ground without guidance – that can create mud, bad odors, and health hazards. In environmentally sensitive locations (deserts, parks), improper dumping can even threaten your festival’s permits. Burning Man, which takes place on a delicate desert playa, strictly forbids any dumping of greywater; violators can be fined since even a little dishwater turns the clay ground into a sticky mess (burningman.org). While your folk festival may not be as extreme, you should set clear rules: “Pack it out or dispose of it properly.” Provide information on the nearest sanitary dump station (many RVs will simply hold their waste until they can visit a dump after the festival). Some festivals partner with a pump-out service – essentially a vacuum truck that, for a fee, will empty holding tanks on-site. If your budget and scale allow, having a pump-out truck come through once mid-festival can be a huge relief for RV users (and profitable for the service provider who can charge per tank). Coordinate a schedule and announce it (e.g. “Sunday 7am-10am, pump-out available in RV Lot for $40 per tank”).

For greywater (and any soapy runoff), you can set up designated collection points. A simple solution is to place large plastic tubs or barrels near campground trash areas labeled “Greywater Only – No Oils or Solids”. Attendees can carry dishwater or shower runoff there and dump it, and then your team can have a vendor or utility staff empty those into a proper facility off-site. Make sure these collection points are clearly marked and have a fine mesh screen on top to catch food scraps (which attract flies). Instruct campers that only mild, biodegradable soap should be used if they’re doing outdoor showers or washing, and absolutely no dumping grease or harsh chemicals. Some festivals go a step further and create evaporation pools or “evapotron” devices for greywater, especially if the event is long. This can be tricky (standing water can breed mosquitoes, etc.), so only do this if you have a plan to manage it safely.

Also, don’t neglect simple trash and recycling needs in the RV area. RV folks generate garbage like anyone else; ensure there are sufficient bins or bags you can collect. Encourage a “leave no trace” mentality – many folk festivals, such as Winnipeg and Vancouver Island Music Festival, promote a pack-it-in/pack-it-out ethic or even give trash bags to campers at check-in. Reward campers who turn in full bags of recyclables (some events give a free coffee voucher for every bag of recycling collected). These eco-friendly practices in the RV zone help build a culture where dumping waste or leaving litter is strongly discouraged by the community itself.

Crafting a Community Culture (Not Just Rules)

Attendees often mention the campground camaraderie as a highlight of folk festivals. As the organizer, you have an opportunity to nurture that sense of community. It starts with setting a friendly tone – not just handing out rule sheets. Consider appointing “community hosts” for the RV and camping areas. Much like a campground host at a national park, a festival campground host is a veteran attendee or staffer who is there to welcome campers, answer questions, and model good behavior. They can do rounds to check on folks, help solve minor problems (like lending a wrench for a leaky hose), and gently enforce the guidelines. The key is that campers see a face of someone who’s there to help, not just security guards telling them what not to do. For example, the Kerrville Folk Festival in Texas, which runs for 18 days, has long-time volunteers who effectively act as neighborhood stewards in the campground – they’ll introduce themselves, make sure new arrivals find a spot, and coordinate things like shared campfires or song circles. This neighborly approach turns rule enforcement into peer guidance.

You can also encourage campers themselves to take ownership of the vibe. Some European festivals have formalized this: at Denmark’s Roskilde Festival, they offer “Community Camping” areas for those who want a more curated, communal experience (faq.roskilde-festival.dk). One of these is the “Clean Out Loud” camp, where participants commit to keeping their area spotless and get to camp in a cleaner, self-governed section (faq.roskilde-festival.dk). Roskilde even involves a folk high school to help run a Common Ground camp focused on cooperation and meeting new people (faq.roskilde-festival.dk). While your event might not need multiple themed camping zones, the principle is transferable: involve the campers in co-creating a positive environment. Perhaps form a Camper Committee of a few enthusiastic regulars who can give feedback on campground improvements and serve as ambassadors during the festival.

It’s important to still have written rules and policies – post them online beforehand and on signage at the campground entrance (covering noise curfew, generator hours, waste disposal, etc.). But frame them in a friendly tone that fits the personality of your festival. Instead of just “No loud noise after 11 PM,” explain that “Quiet hours start at 11 PM so we can all get some rest and be fresh for music in the morning.” Many folk festival communities even come up with their own unwritten codes of conduct over time, like the expectation to share water with a neighbor or to help push a stranger’s car out of the mud. Embrace these traditions and highlight them in your program or website – it shows you value the culture, not just compliance.

Rewarding Good Neighbours and Encouraging Etiquette

One innovative idea to improve campground culture is to reward the campers who contribute positively. Festival producers have started considering loyalty perks not just for ticket buyers but specifically for model campers. For instance, if you notice certain RV groups left their site immaculate, helped their neighbors, or consistently respected quiet hours, you might give them a form of priority for next year. Some festivals already do early access ticket offers for returning attendees, but you can tailor this: perhaps offer returning RV campers first dibs on reserving an RV spot if they had no complaints lodged and followed all procedures. It’s a way of saying “thank you” for being a great community member. This approach is somewhat analogous to how Burning Man’s placement team gives better locations to theme camps in good standing (those that followed all rules and left no trace) (burningman.org) (journal.burningman.org). In a folk festival context, you might not have formal “placement,” but you could maintain a list of campers who went above and beyond. When the next festival comes around, send them a special invite to book before the general public, or maybe a small discount on their camping fees. These kinds of rewards create a virtuous cycle: others see that good behavior is noticed, and it motivates them to take care of the grounds and each other.

Even on-site, you can implement simple recognition. Maybe a “Good Neighbor Award” is given out each festival – announced at the closing campfire or on social media – to a camper or group that embodied the festival spirit. It could be as fun as someone who helped fix others’ vehicles or organized a kids’ activity in the RV area. Keep the prize light (a commemorative sign for their RV or a shout-out from the stage) but the sentiment meaningful. These gestures reinforce that the campground is not a free-for-all park, but a community where people look out for one another.

Lastly, enforce rules fairly but with compassion. If someone’s generator is obnoxiously loud or they’re blasting music at 3 a.m., don’t jump straight to kicking them out (unless they persist after warnings). Approach them, explain how it’s affecting others, and nearly always they’ll comply or compromise when spoken to respectfully. Have a printed “Campground Courtesy Guidelines” to hand out, so it’s not perceived as one person’s complaint but a festival-wide expectation. In cases where a camper continually disregards rules or is disrespectful, you should involve festival security – and it may be wise not to invite them back. On the flip side, notice the campers who do clean up after themselves and maybe even help staff pick up trash at load-out. Those are the people you want to keep in your community.

Key Takeaways

• Plan an organized layout: Design a grid with marked RV spots (using standard sizes like 8m x 7m or similar) and keep access lanes for safety. Allocate areas for different camper types (small vans vs. large RVs) and needs (family quiet zones vs. general camping).
• Provide for power needs thoughtfully: If full hookups aren’t available, set generator rules. Limit generator hours to daytime (folkfest.org) (folkfest.org), require quiet models, and consider separating “generator allowed” sections from no-generator areas. Enforce safety measures for fuel and exhaust fumes (folkfest.org).
• Manage waste water and trash: Offer solutions for greywater disposal – e.g. tanks or pump-out services – and clearly prohibit ground dumping (burningman.org). Make it easy to be clean by supplying trash bags, bins, and education on leave-no-trace principles.
• Foster community and culture: Go beyond rules by introducing campground hosts or ambassadors to welcome and assist campers. Encourage a friendly, helpful atmosphere with initiatives like communal areas or themed camping sections (as seen at Roskilde’s Community Camping) (faq.roskilde-festival.dk).
• Encourage good etiquette through incentives: Recognize and reward campers who follow the rules and contribute positively. This could be early rebooking privileges, public shout-outs, or simply personal thank-yous – all of which strengthen the community and set standards for everyone.

By carefully planning the RV and vanlife aspect of your folk festival, you’re investing in attendee satisfaction and safety. A well-run campground with clear guidelines and a warm culture will become part of your festival’s legend, attracting campers to return year after year. With these strategies, you can create an environment where the music and camaraderie thrive long after the main stage lights go down each night.