Download Festival to host a 3 day camping festival for government pilot

Virgin Radio

26 May 2021, 14:22

Get ready to rock for three days at the iconic Donington Park festival.  Music fans are very excited after it was announced that the iconic Download festival is the latest government pilot event to take place. 

It will be on June 18th to 20th, with a 10,000 person capacity. 

Even better, it's been confirmed that moshing will be allowed.

Festival Republic'sMelvin Benn says “Following the huge success of our Sefton Park event, we are delighted to contribute to Phase II of the Government’s Events Research Programme with the creation of the first three-day camping festival which will be the Download Pilot at Donington Park."

"This massive next step will help us understand and study the safe return of large-scale festivals with no social distancing or facemasks over a full weekend… the return of the full festival experience we have all been waiting for and a much needed return to work for musicians, backstage crew, caterers and many more that form part of the UK’s exemplary live music industry.”

Donington Park has been the home of rock and metal since 1980.

If you want to go, tickets go on sale on Tuesday 1 June for Download Festival 2022 ticket holders, before general on sale on Thursday 3 June. The full line-up will be announced Friday 28 May.

This event will form part of the second phase of the Government's scientific .

Event organisers look to build on the evidence base gathered from the successful first phase and apply findings on a greater scale with greater crowd numbers than before.

The attendance at the Download Pilot will provide additional evidence for government, event organisers, and consumers on the logistical and practical considerations of reopening events safely, including multi-day events.   Festivalgoers will need to consent to take part and must be over 16. Full details will be available via www.downloadfestival.co.uk/download_pilot.   Tickets are £120 (plus booking fee) for the full three-day festival.

Whilst festivalgoers will not be socially distanced or required to wear face coverings once inside the festival, they will be required to follow existing Government guidance when travelling to and from Donington Park and adhere to rules set out by the festival organisers.

Attendees must have proof of a negative lateral flow test result to enter the festival.

As part of the wider scientific research on the trial events, the Download Pilot attendees will also be asked to take a PCR test before and after the event to gather further evidence on the safety of the festival.

They will also have to provide contact details for NHS Test and Trace to ensure everyone can be traced in the event of an audience member receiving a positive test after the event.