Methods to not pay for a ticket to festivals large and small.

I like music festivals. However they aren’t low-cost. One-day occasions can simply price greater than £80 after charges (these rattling charges!), and also you’ve bought to consider journey, food and drinks on prime. And clearly it’s rather more for weekend festivals.

This implies I’m at all times searching for offers and methods to avoid wasting on festivals, but when cash actually is tight but you have got the time, then it’s effectively value wanting into volunteering.

Basically in trade for a shift or two (or three if it’s an extended pageant), you get free entry to the pageant. Sure, you’re working, so that you would possibly miss a few of the motion, however it may simply be saving you lots of of kilos.

What volunteers do at festivals

In case you’ve ever been to a pageant, you’ve seen the kind of jobs volunteers do. There are these scanning tickets and tying wristbands. There are folks pulling pints. There are others choosing up garbage and recycling. And there are some simply usually serving to out by giving data.

Shifts are typically seven or eight hours lengthy. Although these are assigned upfront, it seems to be like at most festivals it’s attainable to change with different volunteers in the event that they agree – simply in case your favorite band clashes with the time you’re working.

For longer festivals chances are you’ll be required to work one evening shift, and also you may be working far-off from the phases. Day festivals shifts have a tendency to finish at 8pm so that you’ll have the ability to catch the headliner.

You additionally normally have to attend some coaching, and a few festivals require volunteers to attend a day or two earlier than the lots arrive.

Festivals you possibly can volunteer at

There are dozens of festivals operating in 2025, and I’ve seen alternatives together with:

  • Glastonbury (ready checklist just for 2025 as of Could)
  • Leeds/ Studying Competition
  • Isle of Wight Competition
  • BST
  • All Factors East
  • Obtain
  • Boardmasters
  • Latitude
  • Camp Bestival
  • Boomtown
  • Latitude

In case you actually need to get one of many larger occasions you’ll need to control registrations which are inclined to open within the new 12 months. You might also should have volunteered at a smaller one first.

Different volunteering advantages

You usually get safe tenting, guaranteeing you a good spot that isn’t miles away from the motion – and presumably some unique showers and bathrooms. If you’re working you’ll in all probability get a free meal too, saving some further money.

Some festivals will will let you carry kids with you too – although it will depend on every occasion.

Volunteering necessities

You will want to be over 18 at most if not all festivals with a purpose to volunteer and have proof you possibly can work within the UK.

You additionally have to pay a refundable deposit, which is normally the equal of the ticket value. There’s cause for this – it stops folks utilizing volunteering as a chance to get tickets to bought out occasions and never turning up for his or her shifts. But it surely does imply you should ship money up entrance. You might also have to attend as much as 30 days for the deposit to be refunded.

Some roles require expertise, reminiscent of bar work, although that will depend on the pageant. The most well-liked festivals may also request you’re employed one other pageant in the identical 12 months too.

Methods to apply for pageant volunteering

You’ll be able to try the knowledge pages at totally different festivals, or check out one of many following websites. Some festivals supply totally different alternatives by means of totally different organisers. For instance, you possibly can volunteer for Studying or Leeds with both Hotbox or Oxfam.

In case you’re making use of with associates you possibly can ask for shifts collectively (or on the similar time) on the appliance.

Most are first come first serve, so the sooner you apply the higher.

In case you go through the likes of Oxfam or My Trigger then you definitely’re additionally serving to charities, which sounds good to me!

Have you ever ever volunteered at a pageant? I’d love to listen to about your experiences within the feedback under.