What is WOMADelaide's green policy?
Simply put, to leave Botanic Park as beautiful as we found it and cause minimal environmental damage. Further details here.

Where is the festival held?
In Botanic Park, on Hackney Road in inner city Adelaide. Here's a map.

What are the opening hours of the festival?
Friday - gates open 4:30pm, performances are on from 6pm-1am. Saturday - gates open at 11am, performances are on from midday-1am. Sunday - gates open at 11am, performances are on from midday-midnight.

Can I camp on site?
No, the venue is part of the Botanical Gardens.

How many entrances are there to the festival?
Two - one on Hackney Road, one on Frome Road.

How many stages operate at the festival?
Seven - with three or four playing at any one time.

Is it far to walk in between stages?
No. It takes 3-10 minutes depending on 'people traffic'.

What can I bring?
The essentials are your entry pass/WristTicket, valid photo ID, hat, sunscreen, medication (especially for asthma or hay fever as the Park can get dusty), portable ashtray if you smoke (such as empty film canister/other plastic container), clothes to suit the weather and insect repellant if the mozzies love you!

What can't I bring?
Animals (except guide dogs), any glass (bottles, containers, glasses etc) weapons, fireworks, flame-twirling items, 'high' chairs.

Is WOMADelaide a 'reserved seating' event?
No. 15,000+ people attend each day. It's quite a mobile crowd and one cannot reasonably expect to 'reserve' a spot by placing a blanket etc in front of a stage. Generally speaking it is a 'stand up and dance' crowd.

Can I bring a chair to WOMADelaide?
Yes, but only if it's a low 'beach chair'. These are for sale at camping/army disposal shops, K-Mart and at the merchandise stall on site. No higher chairs can be brought in - there is no negotiation on this (gate security will confiscate them). Chairs are expected to be used at the outer edges of the playing arenas. For elderly/infirm patrons, around 20 chairs are fixed to the front of the wheelchair viewing platforms at Stages 1, 2 and 3.

The D in WOMAD is for Dance, so you can expect that the crowds will regularly be on their feet! Patrons wishing to remain seated should position themselves to the rear and sides of the audience area. For selected performances, all of the audience will be asked to sit down and, in these cases, those who want to stand or dance will be asked to position themselves to the rear and sides of the audience area.

What happens if it rains?
We play rain or shine. Umbrellas are permitted but because they block people's view, we recommend ponchos instead - buy them for a few dollars at camping/army disposal stores or at the festival's merchandise shop.

Can I give out pamphlets/flyers in the Park?
No. Pamphlets and flyers can only be given out by stallholders and, due to the festival's Zero Waste/green policies, even the Info Booth can only give out the event schedule.

Can I raise money with a donations tin at the festival?
No. Fundraising is not permitted by anyone on site

Can I busk at the festival?
No. All of the entertainment in the Park is selected and programmed in advance.

Is there an age limit to come to the festival?
No, but to buy alcohol you must be over 18 and have photo ID.

Do children have to pay to get in?
Children under 12 get in for free when accompanied by a paying adult. There is no limit on the number of children an adult can bring in and they do not need a ticket in advance. Kids aged 13 and upwards have to buy a concession price ticket.

Can I bring a stroller/pram into the festival?
Yes

What is there for kids do at the festival?
There is never a shortage of brilliant things to do in KidZone - arts and crafts workshops run by Carclew Youth Arts, Evelyn Roth's Nylon Zoo inflatable creatures, the ever-popular Amazing Drumming Monkeys, a carousel, a bouncy thing and ball pit for the littlies, face painting from Adelaide Face Painters and the Adelaide Zoo Discovery Stall, where kids can get the lowdown from Zoo staff. For the first time, the Zoo will provide special access from Botanic Patk to its Petting Zoo, for a gold coin donation. The Samba workshops also happen in KidZone.

What happens if I lose my child in the Park?
Parents should get wristbands for their children from the gates or the info booth and mark them with the adult's name, mobile number and the child's name in case they get lost and organise with children to meet at the Information Booth if they do get separated. If a lost child arrives at the Information Booth, volunteers will alert festival security and (if it's after 6pm) will alert the SA Police on site. Please note that the KidZone is not a crèche/child-minding facility and all children should be accompanied by and adult.

What happens if I lose something else (phone/bag etc) at the festival?
Report it to the Info Booth. Found items will be kept at the Info Booth until the end of the festival, then left onsite from 10-14 March, then held at the the festival office (tel 8271 1488) until 28 March. Thereafter, valuables will be taken to the Norwood Police Station (tel 8207 6800) and the remaining items will be donated to charity.

What kind of security is in place?
Plenty - but they're friendly. They check bags for glass etc upon entry and keep an eye out for people filming live performances (a no-no), and any shabby behaviour in the crowd (along with the SA Police). And please don't try and jump the fence to get in - people have been impaled!

Can I smoke?
We would prefer that you did not for the comfort of patrons - but if you must smoke please be conscious of those around you - do not smoke near ANY of the stages, the wheelchair platforms, the Global Village, Kidzone or Speakers Corner. Please keep WOMADelaide & Botanic Park Butt Free - use the bins provided to dispose of your cigarette butts. Plastic film canisters will be available at the Info Booth for your butts if you forget to bring your own portable ashtray (please remember to take this home with you as it will contaminate the festival's waste recycling program). While the stage MCs will make announcements over the weekend - if you are a smoker please help us by following these simple protocols. Cigarettes are not sold at the festival.

Where can I meet up with my friends?
The Info Booth is the easiest spot.

Can I buy food and drinks at the festival?
Yes. We have over 40 international food stalls, with prices ranging from approx $3-15. There are also three bars.

Can I bring in my own food and drink?
Yes, but no bottles/glass containers are allowed. We ask you to think about your waste items as our bins only cope with biodegradables (food scraps etc) / drink containers (bottles, cans) eg if you have tin foil, you'll have to take it home with you!

Can I take my digital camera or video camera into the festival site?
Yes, but you cannot use either to film any live performances on any stage or your camera will be confiscated. Longlens/professional media cameras are not permitted into the Park unless by prior arrangement (refer to the media page on this website).

Can I take in a tape/MP3 recorder?
No

My mobile phone can record audio and video, can I take that in?
Yes

What kind of merchandise is on sale?
We sell CDs by the featured artists, souvenir festival t-shirts and in sometimes unique art work (eg woven baskets from indigenous artists). If you don't get the chance to buy the CD you want at the festival, Womusic is open all year round.

What do I do if I have a suggestion or complaint?
Before or after the festival, write to apadmin@artsprojects.com.au. At the festival itself, take it to the Info Booth.