FAQs

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When is the Festival?

The 2023 Festival runs Thursday 27 to Sunday 30 July 2023.

 

 

Cherry Hinton Hall, Cherry Hinton Rd, Cambridge, CB1 8DW (Downlaod the map here)

 

We normally announce the first round of artists in December the year before. When we announce we will update our line up page HERE, social media and will email our customers. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram or like us on Facebook to be kept up to date! 

 

You can buy tickets online. The Cambridge Live Tickets Box Office is the sole outlet for the Folk Festival (other than payment-plan tickets through Gigantic). We regret that we cannot guarantee the validity of tickets bought through any other outlet.

 

Please see our Secondary Ticketing FAQ for further information.

 

Phonelines are open 10am - 5pm Monday - Friday (01223 357851), please note - due to staffing availability, there may be times we are not able to open phonelines during our stated hours. If we are not open, please email tickets@cambridge.gov.uk with your query and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

 

Yes. There is a Box Office on site at Cherry Hinton where you can still purchase tickets, subject to availability. This will be open from 10am each morning.

 

You can buy a maximum of 10 adult tickets, per person or per booking.

 

Tickets cannot be exchanged, transferred or re-sold.

 

Tickets at discounted rates are available for: 

• Cambridge City residents 

• Disabled Access & Personal Assistant tickets

 

This discount is for those who pay their council tax to Cambridge City Council (or those living in a household which does). Each person with a Cambridge City Resident ticket must provide proof of residence upon arrival at the Festival Wristband Exchange. Failure to provide proof will result in the full cost of the ticket being charged.

 

Yes, everyone needs a ticket. Children under 5 are admitted free but still require a ticket and must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Under 14s must be accompanied by a responsible adult on site and ages 14-17 must be accompanied by a responsible adult over 18 on arrival. 

 

If you’ve chosen to print your tickets at home, they will be available immediately.

If you’ve chosen to have your tickets posted to you, they will arrive about a week after you booked them.

 

No. To camp, you must purchase sufficient camping tickets for the size of your tent for the campsite of your choice. One camping ticket entitles you to a plot large enough for a 2/3 berth tent (max size 4.5m x 3.5m inc guy ropes, measured from the longest to the widest point). Each tent, awning or canopy will require its own Camping ticket.

 

10am on the Thursday of the festival. The on-site box office/wristband exchange will also be open each morning at 10am.

 

Yes, there is free WiFi across the Festival site. 

 

All people will have to be off-site by 1pm Monday following the festival.

 

Cherry Hinton campsite is the main campsite and is on the same site as the Festival arena and stages. Cherry Hinton Hall campsite is a beautiful park complete with a duck pond, gardens, lovely trees, and a small country house. The campsite surrounds the main arena and has a wonderful atmosphere. The creche is not available this year, however there is still a Kid’s Area by the paddling pool with even more fantastic activities for the younger folkies to get involved with.

 

 

In 2017 we made some improvements to the main arena which increased its overall size. See here for details.

 

Coldham’s Common is situated approximately 1.5 miles from the main Festival site with free regular buses running to the main site. It is more peaceful and child friendly than Cherry Hinton Hall. Facilities include: on-site parking; showers; catering; grocery services; family campsite entertainment; floor-singers’ late night bar; stage; craft stalls; nearby local swimming pool.

 

We like to make sure that no one misses out. If you have any questions please get in touch: 

Email: tickets@cambridge.gov.uk

 

Only assistance dogs will be allowed at the event – please note this includes all campsites.

 

Transport emissions from Festival customers make up the largest part of our carbon footprint! You can all really help by considering your own impact and planning ahead for a green sustainable journey. You can find out more information on how to help us become a Greener Festival HERE

 

Anyone attending the Festival arriving from Cambridge Rail Station and going to the Festival site can catch one of the regular buses to Cherry Hinton Hall (The Cambridge Folk Festival site). Journeys cost £2 and you can buy a ticket directly from the bus driver. Buses run every 10 minutes and Citi buses are all wheelchair accessible.

Cherry Hinton Hall and Coldhams Common are a 35-45 minute walk from the train station.

 

Folks cycling to the Festival can lock their bikes at the bike racks opposite the Cherry Hinton Hall site.

 

 

Yes, parking is available however we have introduce parking tickets for 2023 which is £20 for a full weekend and £6 per day. You can purchase parking tickets HERE. 

 

We introduced a car parking charge in 2023 to help support the future of Cambridge, reduce our carbon footprint and continue to bring you an event that proudly lives up to its title as one of the world’s oldest and best Folk Festivals!

 

If you are camping at Coldham's Common then you are welcome to park your car next to your tent but you won't be able to use your vehicle for the rest of the weekend. If you need to use your car during the weekend we advise people to pitch their tent on Coldham's Common and then move their vehicle to the car park at the top of the site. From 2023, we will be introducing a car parking charge at Netherhall to help support the future of the festival. For more information on alternative modes of transport to and from the festival please head to our ‘Useful information page’ HERE

 

Don't forget there is a regular shuttle bus that will take you from Coldham's Common to Cherry Hinton Hall. You can also find out more about how you can help us to become a greener festival HERE

 

Please note that the bars are card only.

 

You are allowed to bring in food and a reasonable amount of alcohol for personal consumption on your campsite and in the arena, however, we have a fantastic food and drink offer and we ask that customers continue to enjoy and use our bars, food stalls and traders wherever possible. Using this offer helps us to keep the festival financially sustainable. Please remember no glass is allowed into the arena.