Practical information for those Coming to the event

Food & Drinks

You are welcome to bring your own food and drink to the event, and we only ask that you do not bring any glass bottles/containers. Also Security may refuse entry if you are bringing an excessive quantity of alcohol (e.g. a giant slab of lager).

We have a small range of food concessions run by local businesses and serving a selection of delectables to keep you going. There will be vegan options available.

Seating/Standing/Ground Conditions

We do not have any seating, attendees are welcome to bring camping chairs, but please follow the instructions of the Stewards and Security, there are some areas and times for which chairs may not be appropriate. (Full picnic and dining sets are not appropriate at this event). Please take your picnic equipment away with you.

The ground on Calton Hill is uneven and sloped. When its raining the gorund becomes slippery. The event takes place at night time in Edinburgh and can be very dark

• wear sensible shoes (good walking boots)
• take your time moving around the site
• bring a torch/flashlight
• help others

For details of special access arrangements (including companion/carer tickets and booking prearranged vehicle/taxi drop off) please contact access [at] beltane [dot] org

Toilets

We have some event toilets located near to the entrance, please go to the loo before you come to help us minimise queuing.

There is also a stewarded wheelchair accessible portaloo located in the welfare/first aid area (look for the ambulance).

Please use them considerately and leave them for the next person as you would wish to find them.

Do not urinate on trees/walls/bushes/doorways in the park or in the city.

Waste/Litter/Recycling

There will be additional waste bins for you to put in your waste. We have Dry Mixed recycling bins and general waste bins, and all waste is sorted, separated and and processed for recycling off site. Please help us minimize damage to the park by either binning your waste or taking it home with you. Leave no Trace!

Conditions of Entry:

Children/U16s

• Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult with a ticket
• Parents and guardians please note – this event contains semi-nudity and uninhibited behaviour, your discretion is advised.
• We will ask for the adults name and number at the box office, and children will be given a wristband to wear with your details on them. Please queue on the left hand side (as this is where the black gazebo for wristbands will be)

Safer Spaces

• Beltane Fire Society events operate within a culture of creating safer spaces built on mutual respect and consent. We expect all attendees to embrace this culture and to call out breaches – seek a steward if you see something which endangers our safer space.
• BFS aims to provide a welcoming and celebratory atmosphere. Harassment of performers or other audience members will not be tolerated.

Being Around Fire at a Fire Festival

• Help yourself by staying out of performance and production areas, which will be marked out with either ropes, barriers or fences with signs (including white lines on the grass)
• The event may include a lot of fire, although there wont be any big fire works.
• Follow the directions given by BFS Stewards and technical crew
• Please avoid wearing synthetic clothes (but do wrap up for being out side in Scotland)
• Please try to observe a 2 meter minimum distance from performers moving or performing with fire.
• Familiarise yourself with where the medical assistance is (at the car park).
• Do not play with the fires, our volunteers have trained for months to be here this evening.

Use of Camera’s and Smart Phones

• We would much prefer it if you kept your devices in your pockets and celebrated the festival with us with your hands free to clap, your eyes free to watch and your face free to smile
• Flash photography can be very distracting for performers, we ask that you switch off the flash on your phone or camera.
• Please do not hold your phone or camera in the faces of our participants, they are volunteers and do not enjoy close proximity interactions with phone and camera lenses.
• Drone use is not permitted on site and the police will be called should a drone come into the airspace above the festival.
• Do not walk backwards holding a camera/camera phone, the ground is uneven and you wont be paying attention.

Prohibited items

We do not permit members of the public to bring or use the following items on our event site;

• Large Bags/airport luggage. Bags should be no bigger than an A3 piece of paper: we do not have a cloakroom/left luggage (but Waverley Railway Station does)
• Glass bottles and containers
• Drums
• Loud instruments
• Fire Props
• BBQs, Fire Pits or Fire Wood
• Fireworks
• Flammable Liquids
• Dogs (Except Guide Dogs)
• Drones