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GENERAL
Entry to the Gala is free, but entry to the Music Festival is by ticket only.
The Gala starts at 12:00pm with the celebrity bowls starting at 13:00. The Gala culminates with the bowls final around 16:00.
Gates to the music festival will be open from 13:00. Live music will end at 21:30, with the event closing shortly after this.
You are free to move between the Gala and Music Festival with your wristband.
There is no re-entry to the Music Festival zone after 9:30pm.
Address: Ruskin Sports Village, Ruskin Drive, St Helens WA10 6RP
From the A580/Rainford Road head towards St Helens town centre on the A570, turn right onto Bishop Road, continue onto Dentons Green Lane then take your second left into Ruskin Drive.
For satellite navigation use WA10 6RG
We welcome all ages to the music festival.
However, anyone 16 and under must be accompanied by a ticket holder over 18 years old at all times.
For information purposes only, age checks will be carried out on the entrance gates.
We operate a Challenge 25 policy, on both entry into the festival and at all bars.
If you are lucky enough to look under 25, we advise that you bring photographic ID to prove that you are 18+.
Acceptable ID is a card bearing the PASS hologram, a photographic driving license or a passport. Please note that photocopies will not be accepted as ID under the Challenge 25 policy.
“Challenge 25” basically means if you lucky enough to look under 25, you will be asked to prove you are at least 18 years old or more. Please do not be offended if we ask you for proof of age upon entering the festival or at any of our food or drink outlets, including bars.
Acceptable ID is a card bearing the PASS hologram, a photographic driving license or a passport.
Please note that photocopies will not be accepted as ID under the Challenge 25 policy.
We operate a Challenge 25 policy. The following forms of identification are accepted:
- A Passport (Not a photocopy)
- Full Driving Licence or Provisional Licence
- A Proof of Age Card bearing a PASS hologram
- A Ministry of Defence identity card
- A National identity card issued by an EU member state
Galafest operates a cashless festival. This is to speed up service and reduce queue times to provide a better customer experience.
All bars, food concessions, merchandise and other points of sale will only accept card or mobile payment.
Please make sure you bring a card / fully charged phone with you to ensure you have a payment method as cash will not be accepted.
Please note that a variety of different lighting and effects may be in use at this event. This may also include strobe lighting, lasers and smoke machines. Anyone affected by these should bear this in mind before attending.
All areas of the site will have many security & stewarding staff, who are able to offer information, help and support where it is needed.
In the unlikely event of an emergency or site evacuation, Security and Stewards are deployed throughout the festival.
If you are unwell or require assistances, please approach a member of the Security and Stewarding Team who are clearly identifiable by their tabards/shirts.
Security and stewards will assist in moving everybody to a place of safety.
During the event, we have a dedicated medical provider on-site who are able to assist should a medical situation arise.
We don’t have any official meeting points onsite, so when you do arrive arrange some key meeting points for if you happen to get lost. Try to choose locations that will not get too crowded and are easily located – day or night.
MUSIC FESTIVAL
The entry gates for the music festival are located on the car park behind the Percival Suite. Entry will be open from 13:00 and you are free to walk freely between the gala and festival with a wristband.
There is no re-entry to the music festival after 9:30pm.
All ticket sales are handled by our ticketing partner, Skiddle
For full information on ticket pricing, and to buy tickets, please click here
Upgrade your festival experience & get out of the crowds for a breather with access to the VIP area. It’s a great place to hang out with friends & relax over a beer.
This area will include:
- Luxury toilets
- Exclusive VIP bar
- VIP viewing area
- After event access to the Percival Suite
- Additional food outlets
- Chill out area, with plenty of seating
When you arrive at the festival, you will show your VIP ticket for a wristband, to enable you to come and go from the VIP area as you please.
Tickets can be purchased upto 12 noon on 25th August, provided we have not sold out, however they will be subject to a higher ticket price. Further information regarding this will be communicated nearer to the time of the event.
We strongly advise you to purchase tickets in advance to avoid disappointment.
- You are able to purchase a gazebo plot for you and your friends to have cover.
- Gazebos can not be bigger than 3M x 3M
- They must be dropped off and erected before 10.30 on Sunday 25th Aug. They must be left in situ overnight at the owner’s risk and must be dismantled and collected between 10:00 – 13:00 on Monday 26th August.
- Chairs will only be allowed in with Gazebos
14:00 – Lewish Capaldi
15:15 – Do it Like Dua
16:30 – Arctic Monkeyz
17:45 – Gerry Cinnamon Experience
19:00 – Kazabian
20:30 – Take That Live
Times are approximate and subject to change.
RESTRICTIONS
No food or drink of any description is permitted into the music festival.
There will be food stalls inside offering a wide range of food and the Percival Suite will be open selling alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.
You must be over 18 years of age to purchase alcohol. We will be operating a challenge 25 policy if you look under 25 we will ask you for ID so please do not be offended.
If you have a pre-existing medical condition which relates to food or drink please contact our Access Officer to discuss options.
Only people with Gazebo tickets can bring chairs.
Anybody who does bring a chair with them will have the chair confiscated. Should you have a medical condition or a disability, please refer to our Accessibility info.
- Admission will be by ticket only.
- Challenge 25 will be in operation – if you are lucky enough to look under 25, acceptable photographic ID must be provided. This includes a driving licence or passport.
- A full prohibited items list can be found below.
- Gazebos must be dropped off and erected before 10.30 on Sunday 5tth Aug
- Chairs will only be allowed in with Gazebos
- Each person can only bring one small bag, and it must not be bigger than A5 size (H297mmxW210mm).
- There is no cloakroom or storage facility for large bags. No-one will be allowed to leave their bags at entrances or the surrounding areas and all items left will be removed and disposed of accordingly. No responsibility will be accepted by Event Stewards for any item left in their care.
- No chains or spikes which may be deemed as offensive weapons will be allowed into the site.
- Ticketholders may be searched by security, including their person or any bags/possessions. There is also a right to search at any time when on the premises as a condition of entry, looking for prohibited articles including but not limited to; alcohol drugs or weapons or anything that be used as a weapon.
- Illegal substances or any item reasonably considered for use as a weapon will be confiscated and the person found in possession may be passed to the police. Flares, Chinese lanterns, fireworks and laughing gas are not permitted on site. Refusal to be searched will result in the denial of entry to the festival.
- No animals will be admitted to the site with the exception of guide dogs or other assistance dogs.
- No unauthorised sound systems are permitted on site and will be removed.
- Trading anywhere on-site is strictly forbidden without specific prior permission.
- Whilst every effort is made to ensure the full, advertised lineup performs, the Festival Management reserve the right to change the lineup and/or running times without prior notice (tickets are for the event and not a specific artist/band).
- Ticket holders consent to the photography and filming/sound recording of the event as members of the audience. Images and footage may be used for promotional purposes.
- Aerosols
- Air Horns
- Alcohol
- Animals (other than registered guide or hearing dogs)
- Knives and any other item which may reasonably be considered for use as a weapon
- Backpacks, Large handbags (larger than 30cm x 25cm – A4),
- Bottles
- Cans
- Excessive amounts cigarettes
- Fireworks and Flares
- Glass
- Illegal substances or associated equipment (Grinders, spoons, etc)
- Umbrellas or Flag Poles
- Large chains, spiked bracelets, or wallet chains
- Liquids – No liquids are permitted
- Megaphones
- Balloons, Gas Cylinders and Nitrous Oxide type substances.
- Portable Laser Equipment and Pens
- Selfie Sticks
- Smoke Canisters
- Unofficial tabards or reflective jackets
ACCESSIBILITY
Rail
St Helens Central is the nearest Railway Station.
Bus
Arriva Bus company runs the 37,38,38a,152 from the Bus Town Centre Depot to Eccleston Area
Please contact For help planning your journey, call 0151 330 1000, open 0800 – 2000, 7 days a week.
Car
There are car parking spaces on Ruskin Sports Village and Queens Park School. Access is via Ruskin Drive and exit is via Rivington Road via a one way system.
Car Parking is £5 per car and must be paid by Cash on the day.
You will be refused entry on the day if you do not bring cash, no payment terminal will be present.
After the concert you will be held in the Car Park until all attendees have left the area of Queens Park and Rivington Road.
We strongly encourage you to take advantage of the great public transport links to Ruskin Sports Village and leave your car at home.
Please be aware that the festival is an outdoor event, taking place on a grassed field within Ruskin Sports Village.
It is important to be aware that should we experience adverse weather, parts of the site may become muddy or waterlogged.
Access through the music festival area will largely be by a hard standing path.
When applying for access, we ask that you provide one of the following forms of documentation which will act as evidence of your requirements. Without this documentation we will be unable to grant you access, or provide complimentary PA Tickets.
- Front page of DLA letter (no specific rate required)
- Front page of Attendance Allowance letter (no specific rate required)
- Receipt of Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- Evidence that registered severely sight impaired (blind)
- CredAbility Access Card
- Recognised Assistance Dog ID card
- Evidence of War Disablement Pension
If you do not have one of the forms of documentation listed above, please contact us and we’ll be able to advise further.
Once you have submitted your application, we will aim to process it within 4 weeks. However, please note that due to demand, this is not always possible. Once your application has been processed, we will contact you via email with further details. We will send further information ahead of the event detailing the access facilities.
If a customer is unable to attend the event without the support from a Companion/PA then we will provide an additional ticket at no extra cost. You can apply for a Companion/PA Ticket when completing your Access Application Form.
You do not need to purchase a Companion/PA Ticket, however Access Customers will need to purchase a ticket for themselves before applying. We are unable to refund tickets purchased for Companion/PAs.
Companion/PA Tickets are provided on the expectation that Companion/PA’s are willing and able to assist you throughout your visit, and would be available and able to help you in the event of an evacuation.
We will have a number of wheelchair accessible toilets available on-site. Access to these toilets is restricted to access customers, and a pass to use them will be provided.
