Managing festival queues is both an art and a science – especially when small children and strollers are involved. Long waits can quickly turn excited kids into grumpy, tired youngsters, and stressed parents may think twice about returning. A family-friendly festival experience begins the moment attendees line up at the gate, not just when the music starts. If entry is smooth and considerate of little ones, it sets a positive tone for the whole event. On the flip side, poorly managed lines can become health and safety hazards: for example, one summer festival in Malta saw hundreds stuck in hour-long queues for water that ran dry, leading to dehydration and even a parent fainting (timesofmalta.com) (timesofmalta.com). The lesson is clear – happy kids and relaxed parents = a successful festival.
The good news is that with the right strategies, queues can be tamed. Think of it as queue science tailored for families – applying smart design and empathy so that “the line is part of the show.” Below, we break down practical steps to transform your festival’s queues into a family-friendly experience.
Comfort in the Queue: Shade, Water, and Wait-Time Info
Standing in line is hard enough for adults – for kids, it’s even tougher. Comfort is key. Simple provisions can prevent meltdowns and keep everyone safe and sane:
– Shade and Shelter: If your entry or attraction lines are outdoors, provide shaded areas. Use canopy tents, umbrellas, or shade sails to protect waiting families from harsh sun or rain. Many theme parks (experts in queue science) design queues with cover, fans, or misting systems knowing that cooler, covered guests are calmer guests. Festivals can do the same by setting up temporary structures or even planting fast-growing trees at permanent venues.
– Hydration on Hand: Make water easily available in queues. Place water stations or vendors along the line route. On hot days, consider staff handing out free water cups or misting the crowd to keep kids cool. At Glastonbury Festival one year, staff handed out free bottles of water and even used a sprinkler hose on waiting crowds to turn a sweltering wait into a refreshing break (www.efestivals.co.uk). A little water goes a long way to prevent crankiness (and heat exhaustion).
– Posted Wait Times: Uncertainty aggravates impatience. Take a cue from amusement parks and post estimated wait times at intervals along the queue. A sign that says “Approx. 15 minutes from this point” or regular PA announcements can manage expectations. Clear, visible signage at the queue start and finish with expected wait and entry requirements keeps parents informed (www.wearetricycle.co.uk). When families know what to expect, the line feels shorter – especially to kids who constantly ask “How much longer?”. Some festivals even use their mobile apps or social media to live-update queue times so people can plan their entry for less busy periods.
Additionally, think about queue layout: zigzag switchbacks can be easier with strollers than one massive straight line (less feeling of “endless” distance). Make sure there’s enough space for prams and toddlers to stand without getting jostled by big crowds. A little extra room and a few creature comforts will dramatically improve the family queue experience.
Streamline Entry by Separating Problems from the Flow
Nothing kills the momentum of a moving entry line like one complicated case blocking everyone behind. For families with excited kids, delays like this can be brutal. The solution: separate the tricky stuff from general entry. Plan a system to pull out anyone with ticketing or credential issues into a side area, so the main queue keeps flowing.
For example, set up a clearly marked “Ticket Help/Issues” booth or lane just before the main entry. If a parent gets to the front and their ticket barcode won’t scan or they need to swap a typo-ridden name on a pass, staff can direct them to the side booth to resolve it. Meanwhile, the next family in line steps up without holdup. By untangling complex customer service issues from the normal entry queue, you prevent one stroller’s snag from becoming everyone’s delay.
The same goes for things like on-site ticket sales, guest list collection, or accreditation pickup – handle them away from the main gate. Many large events have learned this the hard way. A dedicated resolution area with trained staff means the main line is reserved for quick wristband scans and bag checks only.
Also, leverage technology to streamline the entry process for all. Make sure your ticket scanning system is reliable and fast – test scanners in advance and have backup devices. Using a robust ticketing platform (like Ticket Fairy) with fast mobile scanning and offline capability can ensure there are no technical glitches slowing the line. Every second counts when you’ve got fussy toddlers in tow. The goal is to have families “scan and go” in seconds, and if anything does require extra time, you have a plan to handle it without creating a backlog.
Family Priority Lanes During Peak Hours
One of the best innovations for family-friendly festivals is the family priority lane. When children are involved, a little priority can make a big difference (and prevent tantrums at the gate). In fact, in recent years many festivals have introduced “family queues” or fast-track entry for parents with kids, recognizing that it helps them get in and settled faster (www.irishtimes.com).
Consider adding a dedicated Family Lane at your festival entrance, especially during peak arrival times for families. Peak kids’ hours are usually morning and early afternoon – that’s when a lot of families arrive (kids are up early!) or exit for bedtime. During these windows, having a separate lane where those with young children and strollers can check in can dramatically reduce their wait. It’s similar to how some airports provide family lanes at security because they know it reduces stress for everyone. As Melanie Pinola noted in Lifehacker, even TSA agents often expedite families through if they see a stroller in tow (lifehacker.com) (lifehacker.com). The same principle can apply to festivals.
When implementing a family lane, clearly signpost it (“Families with Kids Entrance”) and state the criteria (e.g. must be accompanying a child under 12). This ensures other attendees understand why parents with a baby get to zip through – preventing resentment or confusion. Many events handle this smoothly: for example, Glastonbury Festival (UK), which hosts thousands of children each year, has long allowed families in campervans or those headed to the Kidzfield to use dedicated gates, making their entry less hectic. Electric Picnic in Ireland and boutique family festivals like Camp Bestival (UK) also offer fast-track family entry as a standard, to the delight of parents. By officially acknowledging families’ needs at the gate, you’re sending a message: kids and parents are welcome here.
Keep in mind, a family lane isn’t about unfair skipping – it’s about efficiency. Families often have more stuff (strollers, diaper bags) and may need a bit more time at bag check, which can hold up a normal line. Putting them in a separate lane with perhaps slightly gentler security (like not asking a 5-year-old to empty their tiny backpack of crayons) helps both the families and the other festival-goers. It’s a win-win for flow.
Roving Explainers and Friendly Staff Presence
Even with great planning, some queues will form. This is where human touch makes all the difference. Train a team of roving explainers or queue ambassadors to work the lines during busy periods. Their job? Engage with waiting families, answer questions, and calm any frustrations before they boil over.
A well-trained staff member walking along the queue can reassure parents that things are moving (“folks, it’s about a 10-minute wait from here”), check that everyone is in the correct line, and even pre-verify tickets or vaccination wristbands before people reach the front. This not only speeds up the process, but a friendly word can diffuse tension. If a toddler is getting antsy, an outgoing staffer might chat with them, hand out a sticker, or point out something fun (“See that clown on stilts over there? We’ll get inside soon and you can meet them!”). These small interactions massively improve the mood – suddenly the queue feels like part of the adventure, not just dead time.
Crucially, roving staff should be empowered to solve minor issues on the spot. If someone didn’t fill out a form needed for entry, the staffer can provide it and help them complete it while waiting, so no extra delay at the gate. If a family is in the wrong line (say, they have VIP tickets but joined the general line), the explainer can redirect them early. This kind of attention keeps the main queue moving smoothly and shows attendees that the festival cares.
For staff to be effective in this role, they need the right training and attitude. Emphasise customer service and crowd communication skills. They should be identifiable (bright “Here to Help” t-shirts or badges) and approachable. Think of the volunteers at the London Olympics 2012 – nicknamed “Games Makers” – whose cheerful guidance and high-fives turned waiting in lines and security checks into a memorable part of the event. Your festival’s roving explainers can have a similar impact with just smiles and useful information. People often calm down if they feel seen and informed. As one event operations guide notes, having staff guiding the queue instills confidence in attendees and keeps things orderly (www.wearetricycle.co.uk). In short: when in doubt, communicate.
Make the Line Part of the Show
Here’s a pro tip from veteran producers: don’t treat the line as separate from the festival – make it an extension of the experience. If families are going to wait, ensure that waiting itself has elements of fun, or at least distraction. The goal is to transform passive queue time into engaging pre-show time.
There are many creative ways to do this. Some festivals deploy entertainers to roam the entry lines – jugglers, magicians, or musicians who perform for those waiting. Imagine kids’ faces lighting up as a balloon artist comes by while they’re in line, or a mascot in costume high-fives them. It gives parents a break from having to constantly entertain their kids, and it gives kids a memory before they even step inside. Even simple things help: bubble machines blowing streams of bubbles over the queue, or a staff member leading a fun call-and-response chant with waiting groups.
Visual stimulation works too. If you can’t spare live performers, consider creative signage or displays along the queue path. Maybe it’s an art installation that doubles as a shade structure, or posters with trivia about the festival (“Did you know? This festival grounds is 100 acres – can you spot the giant puppet roaming around?”). For kids, you could set up an “I Spy” scavenger hunt visible from the line (“Can you find 3 objects of the colour red around you?”). By engaging their minds, you shorten their perceived wait. In the theme park world, it’s well-known that an occupied mind feels a queue half as long (www.wearetricycle.co.uk).
Music is another ally. If the line is within earshot of a stage, great – if not, set up speakers to play upbeat, family-friendly tunes for those in queue. Some events even curate a “waiting playlist” or have a DJ booth near the entrance to keep energy up. The key is to avoid silence and boredom at all costs.
Finally, embrace the mentality that the festival experience starts at the gate. Your front-of-house crew, security, volunteers – everyone at the entrance – are effectively part of the show’s cast. Encourage them to be warm, welcoming, even a bit theatrical if it suits your festival’s vibe. For instance, at a pirate-themed family festival, gate staff might greet kids with “Ahoy, matey!” and hand out a simple sticker or treasure map for activities inside. The line then becomes a prologue to the story you’re telling.
By the time a family reaches the front, they should already feel involved and excited, not exhausted. If you’ve provided shade and water, kept them informed, maybe even made them laugh, the actual moment of entry will be smooth and celebratory. Parents will breathe a sigh of relief, kids will be eager to explore, and you might even hear a few “wow, that wasn’t so bad at all!” comments. That’s when you know you’ve done it right – you turned the queue from a pain point into an asset.
Tailoring Strategies to Festival Size and Type
Every festival is different. A small local family day in the park won’t have the massive queues of a giant music festival – but the principles still apply at any scale. Know your audience and peak times. If you’re running a boutique kids’ festival for a few hundred people, you might not need a formal family lane because essentially everyone is a family. Your focus would be on making that single line as pleasant as possible: plenty of shade, a craft table or clown entertaining those waiting, and so on. On the other hand, if you have a huge all-ages festival with tens of thousands of attendees (like Glastonbury or Latitude in the UK, or Outside Lands in the US), you’ll need a more robust plan: multiple entry gates, separate lanes, electronic ticket scanning, and more staff to cover all bases.
Think about the demographics of your crowd. Are you expecting a lot of strollers and toddlers, or mostly school-age kids and teens? For events skewing to very young families, comfort and calm are priorities – parents will need nursing areas, toddler-friendly toilets (perhaps even a “kids-only” toilet as some festivals provide), and zero tolerance for rowdy queue behavior near their children. If the crowd includes older kids and teens, they might be more patient or able to engage with interactive elements, so you can get creative (maybe a festival app game they can play while waiting, or social media photo ops in the queue).
Also consider cultural expectations. In some countries, orderly queuing is second nature; in others, crowding can get chaotic if not managed. Set the tone with clear signage and staff guidance so families from all backgrounds understand the system. Use multiple languages on signs if you expect international guests (for instance, Singapore’s family events often have English, Mandarin, Malay, etc., instructions for courtesy). The more inclusive and clear your queue experience, the more it says “everyone is welcome.”
And don’t forget to learn from past events. If you’re an experienced festival organizer (or learning from one), you know to do a post-festival debrief. Gather feedback specifically about entry and queues. Did families face any trouble? Were strollers clogging one area? Did anyone mention the wait times on social media? Use that to tweak your plan for next time. Maybe you’ll find out that a water station was too close to the line and caused a bottleneck, or that your family lane wasn’t well advertised and many parents missed it. Continuous improvement is part of the science.
Key Takeaways for Family-Friendly Queue Management
- Plan for Comfort: Ensure shade, water, and rest opportunities in any line where families will wait. A comfortable family is a patient family.
- Post the Wait: Inform guests how long the wait is (signage or announcements). Transparency reduces stress and helps parents manage kids’ expectations.
- Dedicated Family Entry: Implement family priority lanes or entry times so parents with small kids aren’t stuck in general crowds. Many festivals now do this to great success (www.irishtimes.com).
- Quick Problem Resolution: Don’t let one issue stall the whole line. Pull aside ticketing problems or special cases to a help desk so the main flow continues.
- Engage the Queue: Treat the line like part of the event. Use entertainment, music, and friendly staff interactions to keep spirits high and boredom low.
- Train Your Team: Educate staff and volunteers to be courteous “queue ambassadors”. A little empathy and proactive help go a long way to calm frustrated parents or kids.
- Adapt to Your Audience: Tailor your queue strategies to the size and demographics of your festival. One size doesn’t fit all – be flexible and responsive to family needs.
- Make Safety a Priority: Never overlook basics like hydration, first aid access, and crowd control in queues. A well-managed line is not just faster, it’s safer for kids and adults alike.
- Learn and Improve: After each event, gather feedback from families about their entry experience. Use those insights to refine your queue design, staffing, and amenities for next time.
By applying these principles, festival organizers can ensure that waiting in line is no longer the dreaded opening act of a family’s day out. Instead, it becomes a manageable, even enjoyable, part of the overall experience. Remember, when it comes to family-friendly festivals, every detail counts – and that includes the queue. Handle it with care, and you’ll earn the trust (and repeat business) of parents and kids for years to come.
27th September 2025