FAQS

GENERAL FAQ’S

How do I buy tickets to the festival?

Tickets can be purchased online through our ticketing provider Moshtix using your credit/debit Visa, Mastercard or Amex card, or via Paypal. There is also an option to pay via instalments with Paypal Pay in 4. You can access tickets through our website or directly through the Moshtix website. For any issues, please email [email protected] or call 03 5568 2227.

What To Bring?

A refillable water bottle: There are many Wannon Water filtered water stations across the Festival site for you to refill your reusable water bottle.

Your bank card: There is no ATM on site on the Festival arena site.

Food stalls, merchandise store, and vendors will accept card/EFT payments.

There will be no drink tickets this year. Bars on site will accept card/EFTPOS and limited cash.

There will be a limit of 2 drinks per customer in one purchase after 7pm at all bars.

Sun, wind and shade protection: Slip, slop, slap and stay warm. Port Fairy is known for a variety of weather conditions. Be prepared!

Seating: Low fold up Folkie chairs can be brought on site to enjoy watching your favourite act in Stages 1 & 2 in comfort!

Can I buy a one or two day ticket to the Festival?

Only full festival 4 day tickets will be available.

When is the Festival held and how long does the Festival go for?

The Port Fairy Folk Festival is held on the Victorian Labour Day long weekend in March. The festival is a four day event and your ticket entitles you entry to all concerts and activities for the duration of the festival.

Hours are:
Friday 4:00 pm – 1am
Saturday & Sunday 8:00 am – 1am
Monday 8:00 am – 2:00 pm

What is there for kids?

The Festival presents a wide range of programs for children of all ages. Including concerts, storytelling, circus activities, art and craft, dance and music workshops, and comedy. Within the arena there are 3 dedicated children/family friendly performance/activity areas.

How do I find accommodation?

Port Fairy is a small town of 3,000 residents and motel/hotel/house rental is at a premium during the festival weekend. There are many other accommodation options, mostly for camping. This includes Southcombe Caravan Park (adjoins the Festival Arena), Rent a Tent (500 metres from the Arena), Gardens Caravan Park, Showgrounds Camping and many other caravan parks. Check out our Accommodation page for more options. Alternatively, Warrnambool is 28km from Port Fairy and with a population of 34,000, it offers a wide range of accommodation options.

I’ve bought a ticket but I can’t find a confirmation email

You should receive an email from our ticketing provider within minutes of purchasing your tickets (check your spam or promotions folders).

What does the ticket give admission to during the Festival?

A ticket to the Port Fairy Folk Festival is exchanged for a wristband. This provides admission into the Festival Arena and other venues throughout the town. It entitles you to attend all of our performances, concerts, workshops, dancing, instrument makers exhibition and more! Our venues do have a maximum capacity for the safety of all patrons, so there may be times where people cannot enter a venue due to it being at full capacity. Artists perform multiple times over the weekend.

Do I need to exchange my ticket for a wristband?

Yes. All tickets are exchanged for a wristband. This wristband gets you access to the Festival Arena and other venues throughout Port Fairy. Please bring your BARCODED TICKET either on your smartphone or printed out so it can be scanned.

Can I get someone else to pick up my wristband for me?

No. Each individual person must come to the ticket exchange to have their wristband fitted.

When can I exchange my ticket for a wristband?

The Ticket Exchange is located at the Southcombe Park Stadium next to the Folk Festival Arena on Campbell St.

The Ticket Exchange
Southcombe Park Basketball Stadium
Hours

THURSDAY: 1:00PM – 7:00PM
FRIDAY: 9:00AM – 11:30PM
SATURDAY: 9:00AM – 5:00PM
SAT STADIUM FOYER: 5:00PM – 11:00PM
SUN STADIUM FOYER: 9:00AM – 12:30PM

I am 13-17 years of age – can I purchase a youth ticket?

Youth tickets can only be purchased in conjunction with an adult ticket or by an adult who has already purchased a ticket.

Do I need to purchase a ticket for my child?

Children 12 and under will continue to be free, but we require a children to be ‘registered’ at the time of purchase of adult tickets to adhere to potential capacity requirements. Tickets for children 12 and under can also be registered at any time after the adult ticket has been purchased through our ticketing provider. Bring your child/ren with you when you go to the ticket exchange to get your wristband and we will also put a wristband on your child/ren. We also recommend writing your phone number on the wrist band for younger children in case you become separated.

Can I go to the Festival for one day and then give my wristband to someone else to use?

No. Wristbands are not transferable. Wristbands must remain intact to gain entrance to the Event. Damage to a wristband (even if accidental) will render it invalid and access to the venue denied, unless the Ticketing Manager or security staff approves a replacement.

Can I buy a ticket at the gate?

If we still have tickets available, and you want to buy a ticket during the Port Fairy Folk Festival, you can purchase tickets at the Ticket Exchange.

How do I change my email subscription to Enews?

Go to our website www.portfairyfolkfestival.com and type in your details under E-NEWS SIGN UP. If you are already subscribed it will take you to another page where you can either unsubscribe or change your email address. Alternatively, you can scroll to the very end of an e-news you have already received from us, and select update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. This will take you to your unique contact page where you can change your details. Contact our office if you have any issues or need help. Please note that due to GDPR laws the PFFF is unable to make direct changes to details on individual subscriptions.

Can I bring my own chair to the Festival?

Yes you can. Most of our large venues now have seating – this has changed a lot over the past few years. For venues that have partial or no seating, low chairs are permitted at the front within the white lines and high chairs at the rear in the area marked by red lines. There is no maximum height requirement for BYO chairs.

I have a companion card – how do I obtain a ticket for my companion?

Companion Cards can be processed at the time of booking through your Moshtix account. Once you have purchsed your ticket, you will be asked to supply a copy of a valid current companion card and you will be issued an extra ticket free of charge for your companion.

What public transport is available?

V/line operates trains and buses to Port Fairy from Melbourne, Ballarat, Ararat and Mt Gambier. Transit South West also operate buses from Warrnambool to Port Fairy.

The Festival offers a Festival Bus Service between Warrnambool and the Festival and also Gum Tree Caravan Park and the Festival.

There is also a Festival Shuttle Bus that does a circuit of the town every 45 minutes, finishing at the Festival Arena. This bus operates regularly throughout the Festival and we ask for a gold coin donation. The Shuttle Bus is a low floor bus with pram and wheel chair access.

Can I park near the festival arena?

Parking near the arena is extremely limited, and road closures are implemented during the festival period. There is a Festival Shuttle Bus which operates every 30 minutes and does a complete circuit of Port Fairy to the Festival.

Is there an area for accessible parking?

Dedicated accessible parking is located in Campbell Street at the front gate of the Festival Arena, within the road block. Those with an appropriate permit will be given access to these parks by volunteer staff who will be in attendance.

Can I bring my own food and alcohol to the festival?

You are welcome to bring your own food and soft drinks to the festival. But there is a strict no BYO alcohol policy. Within the Festival Arena there are two licensed areas, the Shebeen and The Speakeasy. Children under 18 are permitted in these areas when accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Where I can refill my water bottle?

You can fill your water bottle with great tasting water at dedicated water fountains located throughout the arena. We encourage you to bring your own refillable water bottle, as we are working towards eliminating single use plastic.

When do I find out when artists are performing?

The program schedule will be emailed to all ticket holders and published online in February. The scheduled program and artist profiles are also published in the Souvenir Program which you receive when you exchange your ticket for a wristband.

Will you refund my ticket if the event has to be cancelled?

In the event that we are forced to cancel, we will give you a 90% refund of the ticket purchase price, minus the booking fee. Ten percent of your ticket purchase price will be retained so that contractors and artists are paid their retainers, if not their full contracted rate.

Are there concession tickets available?

No, we currently do not have concession tickets available for Port Fairy Folk Festvial. However, our ticket sales work in a tiered ticket release system, so discounted tickets are available if you get in early.

Can I bring dogs/ animals to the festival?

The only animals allowed in the festival arena are assistance animals. This includes Guide Dogs, Seeing Eye Dogs, Lions Hearing Dogs, Autism Assistance Dogs and Physical Disability Service Dogs. The animals should be wearing a harness, lead or a coat identifying them as assistance animals.