Designing a festival is not just about booking great artists and building big stages. It’s also about crafting the journey festival-goers take from one electrifying moment to the next. The best festival producers understand that what happens between the stages is just as crucial as what happens on them. By thoughtfully planning decompression spaces, “reset” paths with water and rest stops, distinct sensory zones, and smooth walkways, festival organizers can elevate the entire experience. This approach keeps attendees energized, safe, and fully immersed in the event’s magic from start to finish.
Decompression Spaces Between Stages
After an intense dance session at one stage, attendees often need a moment to catch their breath before diving into another musical experience. Providing decompression spaces between stages gives people room to breathe – literally and figuratively. These are calmer pockets away from booming speakers and flashing strobes, where the crowd can relax and recharge. For example, many multi-stage electronic festivals in Europe and Australia designate small garden areas or chill-out tents along the paths linking major stages. Here, the music is softer or absent, seating or grassy open space is available, and visual overstimulation is toned down. Attendees can stretch, have a quick chat with friends, or simply enjoy a brief silence.
Designing these buffers doesn’t require a lot of extra space or budget – it can be as simple as leaving a wide open area with some shade structures and comfortable seating. The key is to separate the stages enough that their noise doesn’t completely overlap, creating a natural sound break. Festival producers should consider adding ambient elements to these zones that encourage relaxation, such as gentle acoustic music or nature sounds at low volume. An example from real festivals is Glastonbury’s famous Green Fields area in the UK – while not exactly between stages, it offers a tranquil zone of wellness and crafts that contrasts with the loud main arenas. The benefit is clear: when attendees have a chance to decompress en route to the next show, they return to dancing with more energy and a better mood.
On the flip side, neglecting these breathing spaces can lead to sensory overload and fatigue. Imagine a layout where one stage is immediately next to another with no quiet space – festival-goers would be hit by back-to-back loud sets, leaving them drained or anxious. Some veteran festival organizers recall early events where they made this mistake, cramming stages too close. The result was attendees checking out early or seeking refuge by leaving the grounds for a break. Learning from those failures, modern events from Mexico to India now embrace the idea that a few minutes of calm between high-energy zones can prolong the party for everyone.
“Reset” Paths with Water and Rest Stops
Movement between stages isn’t just about walking – it’s an opportunity to reset physically and mentally. Short “reset” paths that guide people past water stations and rest areas can make a huge difference in attendee wellbeing. Think of these like the pit stops in a long race; festival-goers can grab a drink, use a restroom, and get out of the sun for a moment as they travel to the next act. Planning the site so that the natural route between entertainment areas passes by essentials like hydration points, toilets, shade, and even first aid is a hallmark of great festival design.
For instance, a festival in Australia might place free water refill stations under a shaded canopy halfway between its two main stages. As the crowd migrates for a big headliner, they naturally encounter these stations where they can refill water bottles and cool down without detouring far from their path. In Singapore’s humid climate, enlightened festival producers often set up misting fans and seating in an intermediate zone, so attendees can lower their body temperature and rest their legs during stage-hopping. The same principle applies worldwide: at a large U.S. electronic festival, organizers noticed many people leaving an arena looking exhausted. Their solution was adding a “cool-down corridor” – a pathway lined with benches, water misters, and medics on standby. The following year, fewer medical incidents from dehydration and overheating were reported, and fans praised how easy it was to refresh themselves between sets.
When laying out these reset paths, ensure they are clearly marked and inviting. Use signage or staff guidance to direct traffic along these resource-rich routes (for example, “Next Stage this way – water refill ahead”). It’s not enough to have water and rest areas present; their placement should be convenient and obvious. Also consider timing – during peak transitions (say, right after a major act finishes), have extra staff at water stations to manage quick distribution, and keep plenty of water flowing. Attendees will remember and appreciate that the festival seemed to “take care” of them by naturally leading them to vital amenities when they needed them. In contrast, festivals that fail to integrate these necessities often face upset crowds or even dangerous situations.
Over the years, events in North America and Europe have made headlines for long water lines or insufficient shade that left attendees in distress. Smart planning of reset paths is a simple but powerful preventative measure.
Distinct Moods in Each Zone – Lighting, Art & Scent
As attendees move through the festival, entering a new zone or stage area should feel like an adventure.
One way to achieve that is by giving each area a distinct mood using lighting, art installations, and even scent, but doing so sparingly for maximum effect. By thoughtfully curating these sensory elements, festival organizers can transport their crowd into different “worlds” as they roam – a concept well suited to electronic music events that often have imaginative themes for each stage.
Lighting is one of the most noticeable tools for setting mood. A pathway connecting stages might be bathed in cool blue and purple lights to calm people after a wild set, whereas the next stage entrance could glow in warm reds and gold to ignite excitement for what’s ahead. At night, these lighting cues can also serve as subtle wayfinding – attendees learn that the blue-lit arch leads to the chillout area, while the pulsating neon tunnel leads back to the main stage. Successful examples include festivals in Germany and the Netherlands, where forested venues are strung with color-changing LED lanterns that delineate one zone from another. The effect is magical yet functional, helping guide thousands of people without the need for harsh floodlights or loud announcements. Keep in mind that more light isn’t always better; targeted pockets of illumination not only conserve power, but also preserve dark sky for star-gazing and avoid irritating nearby residents with light pollution.
Art installations further define the personality of a zone. A transitional decompression space could feature tranquil sculptures or projection art that slowly shifts patterns – engaging enough to interest those passing through, but gentle enough not to demand full attention. By contrast, a stage area might have bold, towering art pieces that match the energy of the music. Festivals like Burning Man in Nevada (though not a typical music festival, it’s a masterclass in spatial design) and Boom Festival in Portugal use art to great effect: enormous art structures serve as landmarks and vibe-setters, helping attendees mentally separate one space from the next. When people leave a high BPM trance stage and stumble upon a quiet alcove with softly glowing art and perhaps a few cushions on the ground, they intuitively understand this is a place to pause and reset.
Scent is the most subtle of these tools, but it can deeply influence mood and memory. While not many festivals deliberately introduce scents, some forward-thinking events and venues have started experimenting with it. A light infusion of fragrance in certain areas can subconsciously signal a change of environment. For instance, a mist of eucalyptus or pine near a forest-themed chill zone can enhance the feeling of being rejuvenated by nature, or a hint of incense in a meditation tent sets a spiritual tone. Event organizers must use scents carefully – too strong or pervasive and you risk causing discomfort or allergic reactions. But a sparingly used mild scent can make a zone memorable and distinct.
Imagine each stage area having a “signature scent”: one smells of ocean breeze for the beach stage, another hints of jasmine in the evening air at the ambient lounge. These details, though delicate, contribute to the tapestry of experiences. They create what designers call sensory wayfinding – guiding attendees by atmosphere instead of signs (design-encyclopedia.com). When sights, sounds, and smells all align to distinguish one zone from another, people subconsciously recognize they’ve entered a new chapter of the festival journey.
Crucially, all these sensory elements should be used with intention and restraint. If every inch of the festival is filled with flashing lights, blaring art, and competing scents, the sensory overload becomes counterproductive. Pick one or two standout features per zone: perhaps a color scheme and one art piece, or a unique gentle scent in a relaxation dome. This selectivity ensures each area feels special. It also saves budget and avoids the experience feeling chaotic. Seasoned producers advise creating a contrast between zones – if the main stage is an assault on the senses (in a good way), let the next space feel like a calm exhale.
That contrast makes the peak moments hit even harder and the quiet moments truly rejuvenating.
Effortless Movement: Even Surfaces and Ramped Cables
No matter how fantastical your festival environment is, the basic infrastructure must support it. One often overlooked aspect of design is the ground itself – surfaces should be as even as possible, and any cables or obstacles on the ground must be safely ramped or covered. When people move from stage to stage or dance in a crowd, they shouldn’t have to constantly watch their step. Effortless movement means attendees can glide through the event with confidence, focusing on the music and atmosphere rather than worrying about tripping.
Begin with an assessment of your venue’s terrain. Is it a grassy field riddled with gopher holes? A sloping hillside? Uneven pavement? Festival producers should invest time in grading and preparing high-traffic areas. For outdoor sites, this might mean filling holes, mowing thick grass to a uniform height, or laying down temporary flooring in the most critical zones. Some festivals in Southeast Asia have successfully laid interlocking foam or plastic tiles near stages to create a level dancefloor on top of sand or mud. In areas where thousands will be walking (like the main arteries between stages), consider putting down ground protection mats or even building a gentle boardwalk. Not only does this reduce trip hazards, it also holds up better if rain turns the ground to mud. A notable example is Glastonbury Festival in England, notorious for mud; organizers prepare by positioning plywood tracks and straw in anticipation of rain, ensuring that people can still move around when the weather gets rough.
Cables are another hidden danger. Power and audio cables snake across many parts of a festival site—from stage lighting rigs to food vendor booths—and if left loose, they are accidents waiting to happen. The solution is to route cables either overhead (when feasible) or use cable ramp covers on the ground. These heavy-duty rubber or plastic ramps both protect the cables and create a gentle bridge that people (and equipment like strollers or wheelchairs) can cross easily. It’s standard practice in professional production, yet at some smaller or first-time festivals, you’ll still find wires taped down or just tucked away in the corners of walkways. That’s not good enough. Make it a rule that any cable crossing a pedestrian path must be under a bright yellow and black ramp cover (the high-visibility colors also alert attendees to “step here”). Similarly, eliminate other obstacles along the paths: secure tent stakes firmly and mark them, cover any hoses, and keep the walking routes free of loose debris.
The payoff for attending to surface conditions and cable management is huge. People will notice how easy it is to move around and they’ll feel safer. There’s less risk of someone twisting an ankle in a pothole or tripping in the dark, which means fewer medical incidents and liability concerns for you as the festival organizer. Additionally, smooth movement helps maintain the positive vibe – nothing snaps an attendee out of a blissful musical mood faster than a sudden stumble. As much as flashy stages get the credit, sometimes it’s these behind-the-scenes infrastructure choices that truly make or break the festival experience.
Crafting a Holistic Journey
Ultimately, designing the dancefloor journey is about seeing your festival through the eyes of an attendee moving through time and space. It’s the art of balancing intense moments with gentle ones, spectacle with comfort, and activity with rest.
The flow of a festival should have a rhythm, much like a DJ set: build-up, peak, cooldown, and then back up again. A well-thought-out layout implicitly encourages this rhythm by providing places to peak (dance floors, front-of-stage areas) and places to trough (decompression zones, calm paths).
When planning, map out not just the stages but the connecting tissue: the paths, corners, and lounges that people will use in between. Ask questions like: “After people leave Stage A, where will they naturally go?” and “How can you make that transition delightful and not draining?” Maybe it’s the moment to surprise them with a beautiful art piece around the corner, or to place food trucks with mouthwatering aromas right when hunger is likely to hit.
Always think about the human needs at any given hour of the event. Daytime heat? Plan extra shade and water. Late-night tired legs? Arrange cozy seating or even interactive art that doubles as a resting spot.
Consider audience demographics as well. A festival in Japan might incorporate more orderly signage and clearly separated zones to suit cultural preferences, while a festival in Brazil might emphasize communal lounge areas where dancing can spontaneously continue even in rest spaces. The principles remain the same, but the execution can be tailored to fit the culture and scale.
Small boutique festivals (say a 5,000-person mountain festival in New Zealand) may only need a couple of well-placed chill corners and one central water hub, whereas a massive 100,000-strong festival (like one of the big U.S. or European electronic festivals) will require multiple large rest areas, thoroughfares with amenities, and intricate sensory design to keep each corner feeling unique.
Don’t forget to also gather feedback. As much as an experienced producer’s intuition guides layout design, listening to attendees – either via post-event surveys or social media chatter – is invaluable. They will tell you if they felt too exhausted moving around, or if a certain area became a favorite escape. Use that input to refine your journey design each year. Many top festivals evolved their site plans over time based on guest feedback, slowly perfecting the balance of thrill and respite.
In the end, the goal is a cohesive environment where every step from campsite or entrance gate to the farthest stage feels intentional and engaging. When you design with the dancefloor journey in mind, you’re not just throwing an event – you’re guiding your audience through a story. And just like any great story, it has exciting highs, comforting lows, and a satisfying flow that leaves people wanting to experience it all over again.
Key Takeaways
- Build in breathing rooms: Always include quiet decompression spaces between loud stages so festival-goers can recover and regroup.
- Plan “reset” routes: Design paths between attractions that naturally lead attendees past water refill stations, shade, restrooms, and seating, making it easy for them to rehydrate and rest.
- Curate zone atmospheres: Give each area its own feel through strategic use of lighting, art, and occasional scent, providing distinct moods without overwhelming the senses.
- Ensure smooth mobility: Keep ground surfaces level (use flooring, mats, or groundwork as needed) and cover all cables or hurdles, allowing people to move freely and safely, even in large crowds.
- Balance energy and rest: Treat the festival layout like a musical journey – mix high-energy spaces with calming ones and adjust to your crowd’s needs, so the entire experience flows naturally and keeps attendees happy.
27th September 2025