In case you haven’t had a chance to grab a program, here’s some information on this year’s event.
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Festival arena opening and closing times
Friday: 5pm to 1am
Saturday: 8.30am to 1am
Sunday: 8.30am to 1am
Monday: 8.30am to 2pm
Audience guide
- Turn off mobile phones or switch them to silent
- Listen inside – please talk outside
- Make space – please do the Port Fairy Shuffle when requested
- Do not obstruct views
- Do not reserve spaces – unattended chairs/rugs may be removed
- Keep aisles clear
- Be a good neighbour
Venue seating and chair guide
Most stages have grassed surfaces and patrons usually bring low chairs and rugs to sit on at the front sections of the venues. All festivals seem to have issues concerning seating and no one solution works for all situations. If we all do our best, things should work out. It helps to be considerate and follow our guidelines for seating arrangements.
Seating for arena stages
Stages 1-3: Have a variety of seats provided from raked seating to higher chairs. Follow the chair code marked on the venue’s grassed surface. Stage two now has an area designated for dancing/standing as well as seating.
Stages 4: BYO rugs and Folkie chairs.
Stages 5 and the Lighthouse Stage: Have seating provided by the festival.
White section
The front of venues will be marked white for ground seating and low-height chairs only. The chairs in this area must have maximum measurements of 20cm seat height and 65cm back height.
Red section
The area marked red will be for higher chairs. NB: no higher chairs in stage 3. Raked seating is at the rear. Higher chairs are always to be located towards the rear of the venue. No chairs or seating permitted in the aisles or along the sides of the venue.
The Port Fairy shuffle
This is a ‘take five moment’ when the concert announcer may ask the audience to stand up, stretch the limbs and shuffle to close gaps and create more room during popular concerts.
Dancing
Stage 2 will have a designated dancing/standing area. Fear not, if you don’t want to dance, there will be a designated seating area and all acts performing on stage two are performing at seated venues throughout the festival. Dancing at other venues is encouraged only when venue space permits and only where it does not obstruct the view of the seated patrons.
Great wall of chairs
A designated ‘lock up’ point for Folkie chairs, the Great Wall of Chairs, is located near the Campbell Street entrance. BYO lock.
SERVICES
Music shuttle bus
The shuttle bus leaves The Gardens Oval every half hour. Friday 7pm to 12.30am, Saturday and Sunday 8am to 12.30am, Monday 8am to 2pm.
Access
The festival is a one and all accessible event and provides facilities for people with a disability. There is wheelchair access to all venues in the festival arena, Fiddler’s Green, Railway Stage and the Reardon Theatre in Bank Street. If you need your wheelchair charged, please visit the festival information tent.
Hearing loop
There are two dedicated stages for people with hearing aids. Stage one and two have a radio frequency transmitted hearing induction loop system in each, providing those with hearing aids a superior sound experience. Those who wish to utilise the loop will need to pick up a receiver from the festival information stall. This service is provided by Word of Mouth.
Festival information stall
Need help? Volunteers on duty at the information stall are more than happy to help. The stall is located opposite the main entrance gate on the north east corner of the Shebeen. Here you can ask questions, access free sunscreen, pick up some great festival merchandise or bring in or search for lost property. It operates from 6pm to 10pm Friday, 9am to 10pm Saturday and Sunday and 9am to 1pm on Monday.
Parents’ room
A facility is set aside for the use of parents for baby change and feeding. It is located at the Folk Circus and CraftworX tent adjacent to stage 4.
Drinking water and dishwashing
The festival provides complimentary drinking water at the western end of stage 1. Dishwashing facilities for those bringing their own cups and plates are available near the entrance to stage 5.
