How to keep festivals Covid-safe this summer

The writer is chief executive of We Are The Fair and a member of the One Industry One Voice campaign

If all goes to plan, festivals will make a long-awaited comeback this summer. The UK government’s announcement of its pandemic exit “road map” last month reverberated through the events industry like a klaxon. “We can’t wait to get back to the fields this summer. LET’S GO,” tweeted the organisers of Reading and Leeds festivals. Forty-eight hours later, Reading had sold out.

For those working in the live events industry, the government announcement brought a huge sense of relief. Covid-19 has caused unparalleled disruption and damage to a sector that contributes an estimated £70bn to the UK economy and employs more than 700,000 people. The festival circuit has been especially hard hit after last year’s season was effectively wiped out, with revenues down by 90 per cent.

Now that the initial elation that at least some festivals will go ahead this year has subsided, organisers are planning for their smooth and safe operation. Many factors remain unknown as the government has not yet released its guidance for mass gatherings after June 21. And the sector will not know for certain that large events can be held until the government confirms so a week earlier. This presents planning challenges, not least because insurers are not offering cover for cancellation of festivals due to Covid-19.

The health and safety of attendees remain at the forefront of planning. The UK events industry is known for its expertise in staging safe events and experiences for millions of people each year. With an approach tailored to the size and scale of the event, I believe we can responsibly navigate the challenges, and protect staff and ticket holders.

But social distancing cannot be the sole control — it would be difficult, if not impossible, for venues and festivals to operate with that in place.

Rapid on-site testing — of all audience members on the day and entry granted only to those with a negative result — has been hotly debated. But testing on the gates has huge implications. Is it practical to contain attendees in a sterile area until they get their results? On-site testing technology has to work, and a high number of tests have to be sourced. Who should bear the cost?

Pre-event mass testing similar to that needed to board an aircraft would be a more viable solution. It’s an ambitious measure to implement successfully as approved testing kits would need to be sent out en masse, or the government would need to roll out a special testing programme. But the government’s Events Research Programme’s pilots planned for April should provide answers. Digital “health passports” that serve as proof of an attendee’s good health or as evidence that they’ve been vaccinated could provide another way for festivals to return.

There will be events before June, of course. From May 17, live events will resume at limited capacities. Event organisers will continue to “zone” indoor and outdoor spaces responsibly through distanced seating, the removal from sale of alternate rows of stalls, clearly signposted one-way systems and designated and staggered points of ingress and egress. Platformed private viewing areas, food and drink ordered via phone apps and the prohibition of tickets sold on the door will help events run safely. 

These measures should be accompanied by processes that make people feel more comfortable and reassured. These include the continued enforcement of the use of personal protection equipment where appropriate with obligatory face masks, thermo scanners and contact tracing-systems that use information provided when booking tickets.

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to staging events safely. But working together, we can mitigate the risks, save the UK events sector and return to enjoying the full-sensory, real-life shared experiences and interactions that connect us to others, create lasting memories and bring so much joy.