Festival FAQs
What time does the festival start?
The campsites will open at 9am and close at 8pm on Thursday to those of you with a Thursday Camping Ticket. The campsites will reopen on Friday at 9am. The main festival arena opens at 1pm on Friday.
Can I pay on the gate?
Tickets will be available on the gate as long as we don’t sell out in advance.
Will there be a cash machine on the festival site?
No. But a free bus runs to Aspatria and Silloth over the weekend if you need to withdraw extra cash. The bar will have contactless cashpoints this year.
Is there an online program showing which acts are on when?
No. We want you to enjoy the whole of the Solfest experience which is why we don’t publish our programme of events prior to the festival starting. We’ll tell you who is performing but never when.
Will you have programs / timetables for the weekend?
Yes. Programmes will be available at the information area on site over the weekend. We don’t publish information in advance, mostly because we’d like people to come for the whole weekend, not just one-band. But, also, owing to the nature of the event, timings are subject to a bit of change, so we leave the publishing to as late as possible.
What time is “my favourite band” playing?
Because we want people to come and enjoy the whole festival experience and not just cherry pick one band, we do not release the times and days acts will perform until the start of the festival. Our Programme Policy has more details.
Can I arrive on Thursday?
Yes, but adults (18+) will need to purchase advance Thursday Camping tickets. This is a £15 supplement which must be purchased at the same time as your tickets. Anyone under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult with a valid ticket and thursday camping pass. You must get to the site between 9am and 8pm on Thursday because moving vehicles around the camping areas as it gets dark poses a significant safety risk. The gates will be closed at 8pm on Thursday and reopen on Friday at 9am. The main arenas will open at noon on Friday.
What time do I have to be off site at the end of the festival?
You must be off site by sunset on the Monday Bank Holiday.
Is there somewhere I can park so that I can leave site early?
If you need to get your car off site during the weekend, please explain to the stewards, you’ll need to leave your car in day parking, as we don’t allow any vehicle movements on the campsites over the weekend wherever possible.
Is the festival family friendly?
Yes. We pride ourselves on having something for everyone, from workshops and events in the Healing Garden to activities in the Children’s Arena, and a vast array of music and performance spaces around the site. We want grans, granddads, brothers, sisters, mums, dads, aunts and uncles to join in the fun and have a brilliant time together.
Can I bring my dog?
No. At the request of the landowner, pets are not permitted for safety reasons.
We recommend a local boarding kennels, Grass Roots Kennels who offer a great service for our festival goers dogs.
Can I bring or buy alcohol?
Yes, but it’s exactly the same at Solfest as anywhere else. We would ask that you do not bring glass into the arena and that you use our recycling points when you’re finished. Under-age drinking is not permitted. Your adult ticket/wristband has nothing to do with the sale of alcohol or any other licensed products. The law is the law. If you are asked for ID and you do not have any, you will not be served alcohol.
Can I charge my mobile phone on site?
Yes. You can charge your phone in the Information Tent just inside the main entrance to the arena, ask a steward for directions.
I’d like to be a volunteer, how do I apply?
You can apply to help at Solfest via this website. Select your area of interest from the links on How to Apply page.
How can I apply to be a steward?
Find out everything you need to know about Stewarding at Solfest then visit our How to Apply page to complete our online application form. Please fill in all your details and upload a passport-style photo suitable for an ID badge. We will let you know if your application has been successful.
I’m disabled, what help is there?
There will be as much assistance as we can provide on a case-by-case basis. There is no concession for a disabled person but you may bring a carer free of charge. Please purchase the tickets you require (adult, young persons, children and Thursday camping) with the exception of the Carers’ ticket. Then when you arrive on site present your Middle Level Disability Living Allowance paperwork to our ticketing fairies and they will furnish you with your extra adult ticket. We can provide electric hook ups for powered wheelchairs but please contact us in advance to arrange this, or for more information.