FAQs
We will try to include as much information as possible here for our visitors – the page will continue to be updated in the lead up to the event
From an environmental perspective, we would prefer that as many Solstice goers as possible walk to the venue.
If you do need to drive, please do consider car sharing.
PEDESTRIANS:
The MAIN public entrance this year, is via the carpark alongside the Dourdan Pavilion. Once you have been admitted and have your wristband, you will then be able to use the re-admission/exit gate, which is located just below the children’s play area, the Church End side of the event. This entrance will make it easier to bring your festival gear onsite direct from the carpark.
DRIVING:
If you do have to drive, please follow the signs for ‘CAR PARKING’, these will direct you to the entrance gate at the lower end of the Recreation Ground, this is accessed via Lime Tree Hill. (Near the Angel and Harp Pub, use postcode CM6 2AD). We would be grateful if you could refrain from parking on the nearby roads.
By Public Transport
The nearest and most accessible train stations to and from Great Dunmow are in Chelmsford and Stansted. From Chelmsford, take the X30 bus to Great Dunmow town centre, which takes about 40 minutes. From Stansted, take the X30 or 133 bus to the town centre, which takes about 15-20 minutes.
The bus stop in Great Dunmow is a 5-10 minute walk to the festival. Our recommended route can be found here.
By Taxi
Taxis in Great Dunmow are usually fully booked on a Saturday evening, so we recommend that you pre book any that you require. To find a list of our taxi services, click here.
By Air
The site is 8 miles east of London Stansted Airport. We recommend you take a bus or taxi from the airport (see above for details). Additionally, Southend Airport is about 30 miles south east of Great Dunmow and is easily reached by bus. The X30 takes around 90 minutes to reach Great Dunmow town centre.
There are a number of hotels, guest houses and B&Bs in and around the area. Please click here to see the range of accommodation that Great Dunmow has to offer.
From an environmental perspective, we would prefer that as many Solstice goers as possible walk to the venue.
If you do have to drive, please follow the signs for ‘CAR PARKING’, these will direct you to the entrance gate at the lower end of the Recreation Ground, this is accessed via Lime Tree Hill. (Near the Angel and Harp Pub, use postcode CM6 2AD). We would be grateful if you could refrain from parking on the nearby roads.
There is NO PARKING at the Dourdan Pavilion, except for emergency services and some disabled spaces (also available in the main car park area).
We will have volunteer marshals at the Recreation Ground gate to assist in parking and directions.
We will be asking for an optional donation of £5 to park your car. All proceeds will go the Helen Rollason Cancer Charity.
Please Note Vehicles And Contents Are Left At Owner’s Own Risk and GDSSS Accepts No Responsibility For Loss Or Damage Whilst Parked On This Car Park.
Yes we do.
There are a few disabled parking spaces in the Dourdan Pavilion carpark, (CM6 2AA) just show your blue badge to the gate marshals/security and if they haven’t already been taken, the marshals will direct you in.
We also have a marked designated disabled parking area in the Recreation Ground, please follow the signs for ‘CAR PARKING’, these will direct to the entrance gate at the lower end of the Recreation Ground, this is accessed via Lime Tree Hill. (Near the Angel and Harp Pub, use postcode CM6 2AD)
The parking spots will be alongside the top of the footpath so easy access for mobility aids on the tarmac. Marshals will also be available to direct you.
Obviously this is an outdoor event and so once you are in the event’s arena be aware that this is grass only.
There are disabled access toilet facilities available in the Dourdan Pavilion for your use.
Please Note Vehicles And Contents are Left At Owner’s Own Risk And GDSS Accepts No Responsibility For Loss Or Damage Whilst Parked On This Car Park.
NO, SORRY but overnight parking is not possible at the event.
The Recreation Ground is booked for our local football teams from early on Sunday morning, and all access points will be secured.
Yes, children and youngsters are more than welcome and we have cheaper tickets available for the U18’s – see ticketing page. Children’s tickets must be booked in with an adult ticket on the booking site. We would love it if you could put a contact mobile number on your child’s wristbands in case of emergency once you have been issued with them on the gate.
We will have a festival face painter onsite (chargeable) so they and you can get into the spirit of it all.
Parents or guardians are responsible for their children at all times.
All ages are welcome at this event. All U18s need to be accompanied by and adult 18 years of age.
Proof of age may be requested on entry (acceptable forms of ID are a valid passport valid photocard driving licence or a photo ID card with National Proof of Age Standards Scheme – PASS – logo) Failure to produce a valid ID may result in access to the event being denied without a refund.
A ‘challenge 25’ policy will be in operation at the Bar.
Re-admission will be strictly controlled by security but do come and go as you please! All Festival goers will be provided with wristbands and hand stamps to ensure that you can do so easily. We would ask that youngsters’ wristbands have a contact telephone number written on in case of separation.
Please note at the security check point you WILL NOT be able to take alcoholic drinks into or out of the Festival Arena.
The Town Centre is a short walk away should you wish to have a little break.
The answer is hopefully not much. We have an onsite fabulous bar and varied onsite catering. Cash and cards will be accepted by most vendors.
The Great Dunmow Summer Solstice is an outdoor music festival and takes place on a greenfield site. We would suggest that you dress appropriately for the occasion and the weather.
Don’t forget to bring your TICKET/S preferably on a mobile device, or printed out, so we scan these on the gate.
ID – A challenge 25 policy will be in operation at our Bar, so if you are lucky enough to look under U25, please bring valid ID to ensure you will be served. Irrespective of your purchased wristband we reserve the right to ID check at the gate and Bar.
This is not a seated event. However if you would like to bring something to sit on, like a rug or small foldable chairs, then please feel free. However it will be at your own risk for loss or damage.
For everybody’s safety and enjoyment these cannot be used in the premium area directly in front of the stage. Our stewards and security at their discretion may ask Festival goers to reduce the size of their seating area, or to pack away chairs and blankets if they feel they are causing an obstruction.
If you have booked a ‘Reserved Area’ with tickets, you are allowed to bring along a gazebo/tent to pitch in your space BUT, we are sorry, they cannot be used anywhere else in the general admission area.
Please bring along your creature comforts, but note that there are several items that are not allowed on site.
These are:
Alcohol: please don’t bring your own alcohol, as an independent festival, bar sales keep the event alive. The YFC will be running the Bar and will be fairly priced and will offer plenty of local bitters, lager and ciders as well as wine, prosecco and soft drinks.
Glass: no glass bottles, glasses, crockery , as broken glass is a hazard to those at the event and also to the general public who use the Recreation Ground.
Barbeques and other heated cooking implements. We would like to keep our green spaces green!
Any Illegal substances (obviously!).
Gazebos are allowed in the designated ‘Reserved Areas’, as these are around the perimeter of the event BUT we are sorry they cannot be used anywhere else in the general admission area.
Tents: there are no camping facilities available and overnight camping is not allowed.
Random searching by our security will take place at the Festival and any contraband will be confiscated and disposed of.
Yes, we have 10 portable toilets available for use throughout the event. Please don’t worry, you won’t be caught short!
Sadly no, unless it is a registered Guide Dog or a registered Medical Assistance Dog.
The performers are on a covered stage and the festival will go ahead. Only in extreme conditions and where a question of health and safety is involved, would the festival be postponed or cancelled. Please ensure you bring adequate clothing for the weather conditions and don’t let the rain stop you having a good time.
No.
We like everyone to have a good time and hate having to search people on their way in. But as a community festival we are a “not for profit” organisation which focuses on putting on the best possible line-up and to raise money for charity. We therefore rely on the bar to help us fund the bands we book and ensure we raise money for our nominated charity. That’s why we are asking people not to bring their own alcohol. The bar will be fairly priced and offers plenty of local bitters, lager and ciders as well as wine, prosecco and soft drinks.
Random searching by our security will take place at the Festival and any contraband will be confiscated and disposed of.
We are very lucky and thankful that local companies or individuals wish to sponsor our event financially or in much needed equipment and help for the day.
We are always on the lookout for more sponsorship though, as the cost of set up increases each year such as insurance, first aid cover, band costs, crew cost, hire of the Recreation Ground and so on, so it’s very easy, just send us an email with SPONSORSHIP ENQUIRY in the subject box, and one of us will be in touch.
In return you will join our dedicated sponsors page on the website, as well as shout outs on Social Media.
There is the opportunity to sponsor the stage on the day too.
We look forward to hearing from you to discuss further.
This is a fundraising event organised by a willing band of volunteers and more help is always welcome.
In particular we are looking for people to help with marshalling on the day.
We are looking for volunteers aged 16+. You will work 3 – 4 hour shifts (or more if you are willing) and have the rest of the day at the festival to yourself, but we do need to cover the whole event with volunteers and so shift patterns will be organised to cover the whole day. We will provide some refreshments.
Stewards help control crowds, directing attendees, pointing out amenities and creating a happy vibrant atmosphere.
Duties include manning the entrance/exits and perimeter of the festival, checking wristbands at the gates, keeping an eye out for suspicious behaviour, litter picking, replenishing toilet supplies, assisting in set up and breakdown of the event, removing banners and providing general info and directions to the public.
There is trained security on site and stewards would not be expected to get involved if anything happens in regards to the public misbehaving, just to report to the nearest security guard.
Please complete the volunteer form if you would like to help with marshalling or in any other way.
You CANNOT bring alcohol into the Festival Arena
We do ask that you support our local food and drink vendors
who will be serving a wonderful selection of quality food and drink throughout the day. The Dunmow Young Farmers have confirmed that they will be in charge of their well run Bar and will be reasonably priced (as anyone who goes to the Countess of Warwick Show will know) and other Vendors will be announced over time on the website. By supporting them you will be helping us make more profit to go towards the Helen Rollason Cancer Charity our 2023 Nominated Charity.
While you are able to bring your own food, please avoid turning up with single use containers / plates, cutlery, packaging wherever possible to be as environmentally friendly as possible.
Random searching by our security will take place at the Festival and any contraband will be confiscated and disposed of.
GDSS Marshals in Hi-Viz will be ready to welcome you. Please show us your ticket(s) preferably on a mobile device, to reduce paper waste. You will be provided with either a handstamp or a wristband per person on entry, which will be colour coded depending on your ticket type.
We will be asking that children’s bands have the contact number for their responsible adult added.
As at our previous festivals we have a LIMITED number of marked out RESERVED AREAS for sale.
These are for sale via the Ticket Source booking site and are sold with 10 individual tickets so a group can enjoy their own ‘space’.
These reserved areas will be marked out at along the back of the festival arena, facing the stage. They are approx. 4m x 4m grassy areas.
We DO NOT provide anything to furnish these areas. However you are allowed to bring your own gazebos/tent to pitch in your area, but these must be securely fixed to the ground in case of inclement weather.
You must put up and TAKE DOWN (before 11pm) and take home your own gazebo.
This year we are proud to be supporting The Helen Rollason Cancer Charity https://www.helenrollason.org.uk/
You will be able to donate more pennies and pounds on the day, there are HR volunteers walking around the ground shaking their charity buckets, and will be on the gates as you leave later. Please give generously.
Please refer to the Ticket Source cancellation policy for further details of what happens if you have to cancel, or if in a situation that we do not foresee, the event has to be cancelled.
Ticket holders give their express consent to the use of their actual or simulated likeness in connection with the production, exhibition, advertising or exploitation of any photographs, film, video and/or audio recording of this event and/or any element thereof in any/all media throughout the world.
They also agree to being filmed by police or security staff for the purposed of helping ensure the security of customers and preventing crime.
No retail, giveaways or any other form of promotional activity may take place within the event site or within the boundaries of the venue without written permission from the organisers.
We have professionally trained security staff on site throughout this event
- Any item that could reasonably be considered a weapon, or be used as a weapon, or which could cause harm or distress to another person will be confiscated and not returned.
- Any person in possession of an illegal item/substance or conducting an illegal activity will be refused entry or evicted without a refund and may be handed to the police.
- Any person whose behaviour is deemed by the organiser to be disruptive, dangerous or inappropriate maybe refused entry or evicted without a refund.
- The following items are not permitted within the event site; Any potential harmful fluids, drugs (including so called legal hights and psychoactive substances), knives, fireworks, smoke cannisters, spray cans, flares, weapons, dangerous or hazardous items, laser devices, any glass bottles or containers (including perfume and aftershave), blow torches, unauthorised items for trading, and any article that might be used as a weapon and/or compromise public safety.
- Items which are surrendered or confiscated will not be returned. Any person who resists the surrender or confiscation of a banned item maybe refused entry or evicted without a refund.
- The organisers accept no responsibility for any loss, damage or injury incurred at the event other than as a result of the organisers negligence.
- Attendance at the event and participation in any activity at the event is voluntary and at your own risk.
- The organiser may seek legal action and/or damages if you cause damage to the venue, property or cause harm or injury to another person whilst at the event site.
"Fantastic work from everyone at the Great Dunmow Summer Solstice Sundown team"
