Frequently Asked Questions
Before you contact us with a query, please read through the common questions people ask us.
The Willow Festival only has to cover it’s costs. It is not an outwardly commercial event and it’s focus and goals are not entirely in profit making, although ideally making a moderate profit helps organisers improve the festival year on year and secure it financially.
The Willow Festival exists to promote the performance of live music by instrument playing musicians and songwriters, and attract a wide audience to watch it. High ticket prices are a barrier to our goals and the ticket price only exists as a necessity to help fund the event.
Please click this link for more information
The Willow Festival is a celebration of live music performed by emerging, unsigned, new and aspiring musicians, either as soloists or in bands.
We support and showcase all genres of music which are performed live by musicians and musician songwriters.
As well as the live music, this family festival offers fairground rides, a food village, an alternative shopping experience, fun workshops and artist led activities.
The Willow Festival in Peterborough is traditionally held on the beautiful surroundings of the Nene River Embankment right in the heart of the city, and just a stone’s throw from the rail and bus stations. Lined by Willow trees, it is one of the most stunning settings the city has to offer and has historically accommodated a great number of memorable events.
Address: Peterborough Embankment, Embankment Rd, PE1 1EF.
Traditionally The Willow Festival is held in July, and for 2023, it will be run over the 21st 22nd & 23rd.
Gates open:
4.00pm to 11.00pm Friday
11.30am to 11.00pm Sat / Sun.
Last entry 10.00pm each evening.
There is only one type of ticket available and that is the Early Bird weekend ticket at an early bird promotional price of £10.00. You can use this ticket anytime over the whole of the weekend, to come and go as often as you wish, entry conditions permitting.
No. There is only one type of ticket available and that is a weekend early bird ticket at £10.00. You can use this ticket anytime over the whole of the weekend, to come and go as often as you wish, entry conditions permitting.
No. There is only one type of ticket available and that is an early bird weekend ticket at £10.00 per person. You can use this ticket anytime over the whole of the weekend, to come and go as often as you wish, entry conditions permitting.
However, under 14’s can enter free of charge, but must be accompanied by a responsible adult / legal guardian. Photo proof of age will be asked for each time they / you enter the festival site.
No. There is only one type of ticket available and that is a weekend early bird ticket at £10.00 per person. You can use this Early Bird ticket anytime over the whole of the weekend, to come and go as often as you wish, entry conditions permitting.
The £10.00 ticket price is heavily discounted and subsidised to benefit all.
If you are a carer, then you go free with whom you are caring for.
You can buy a maximum of 12 tickets.
The Willow Festival uses an outsourced ticket agency which will refund your ticket money, minus any booking fee, if the festival does not go ahead for an unseen reason.
TWF organisers do not receive your ticket money from the booking agent until the following week after the event has been run.
Yes, you can come and go as you wish, as long as you adhere to the permitted entry terms and times on each occasion.
A condition of entry is that you agree for either a personal search or searches of your belongings, this includes, pushchairs, handbags, carriers bags etc. We may on occasion use sniffer dogs to identify illegal substances or weapons.
By entering the festival site you agree to being searched.
No drunk or unruly persons will be permitted to enter.
No alcohol must be brought into the festival.
Sealed bottled water drinks permitted only.
No glass, other than baby feeding bottles.
Parents / guardians must be in control of their children at all times
No children under 14 years unless accompanied by a parent or a responsible adult.
No pushbikes, scooters or other vehicles on site.
No drones or sky lanterns.
No laser pens or laser lights of any type.
No weapons, penknives, metal cutlery or tools.
No unauthorised camping.
No barbeques of any type.
No fireworks
No independent sound systems or radios.
No Nitrous Oxide canisters or dispensers.
No unauthorised traders, leaflet distributors or charities.
No spray paint.
No drums or other instruments which may cause nuisance to performers.
TWF has a zero tolerance policy on drug misuse. Amnesty bins are provided upon entry and drug enforcement units are in operation, this is a family festival, so please respect that.
Failure to comply with any of the above will at minimum result in entry being declined or expulsion from the event without a refund.
Not for 2023 on site, but there are local campsites available.
There are also a good number of hotels to suit various budgets very close to the festival site.
Yes you can, please see our volunteering page here
Sorry, but due to the large numbers of people on site, noise and sanitary considerations, pets are not allowed on the festival site.
Assistance dogs are welcome.
Sealed bottled water and essential baby foods will be allowed to be brought on to the site, no other beverages or foodstuffs will be permitted. Free drinking water is available on the festival site.
There will be a wide array of food and drink vendors on the festival site.
It is part of the licensing conditions of large scale events that organisers must keep control of the amount of alcohol consumed at any given time across the weekend.
This is a legal requirement.
Due to the large numbers of people on site and the hazards various vehicles can create, only essential mobility scooters, wheelchairs and pushchairs will be allowed to be brought on to the site.
Yes, folding chairs are permitted on site.
Is it advised that young children should not be taken into live music performance areas or too near to the large outdoor stages without wearing ear defenders.
There will be profanity and adult lyrical content in some songs performed, especially in one of the performance areas which will be showcasing punk, DIY and hardcore live music. This area will be clearly marked as not suitable for children, but it is up to each parent or guardian to make the choice as to what they wish their children to listen to. No area is off limits to accompanied children.
Children under 14 yrs should be under parental control at all times.
You are welcome to use cash or card for purchases.
No, The Willow Festival is entirely funded by S&J Bars
No, The Willow Festival is entirely funded by S&J Bars
Please go to our artist submission page here
We are big fans of DJ’s and non-live music, but The Willow Festival exists to promote musicianship and songwriters who write music using musical instruments. Showcasing non-live music is simply not our remit. So every available performance space is given over to musicians and their music.
However, expect to see bands which have DJ’s in them, as well as plenty of dance and electronica performed live!
As long as it’s performed live by musicians, then no genre is omitted. Expect to see everything from punk to jazz or from classical to pure pop etc.
TWF contributes to the local economy in various ways, including paying land lease fees to Peterborough City Council.
During 2014 TWF had an independent accountancy organization calculate what the overall local financial spend was of the organization, it’s partners and it’s festival attendees. The figure was approximately 6 million pounds over the seven days either side of and including the festival dates.
The calculation included local spending by all involved and while attending the event. It covered such things as infrastructure, services, staff, commercial fees, licenses, taxis, busses, rail travel, fuel, restaurants, hotels, camping, bars, nightclubs, high street stores, city leisure venues, supermarkets, parking, advertising, merchandise production, insurances etc.
No, please keep all of your belongings with you at all times. Do not leave “any” belongings unattended.
There will be a lost property area to drop and collect things from if lost or found.
Please only bring what you need.
If you bring rubbish on to the festival site, please take it away with you.
There will be adequate refuse bins available for waste created by consumers on site.
We wish to leave our beautiful Embankment area as clean as we can, so please be responsible and considerate about how you deal with your waste. View our Environmental Policy here
Bands will be supplied a table and T- shirt hanging area near the stage they are performing on to be able to sell their merchandise.
The band’s members or crew will need to manage their own merchandise sales.
The Willow Festival does not take a commission or charge a fee for merchandise sales. The area supplied is free to use.
If you have news about releases or merchandise, please send it to media@thewillowfestival.co.uk and we’ll be pleased to help promote your products for you, also free of charge.
For now, you can visit our shop by clicking here:
On the festival weekend we will also have a stand where you can purchase t -shirts, Hoodies and other collectable accessories.
