Download is happening in 2021 … kind of…
Following the success of the Sefton Park Pilot Festival earlier this month, Download Pilot has been announced and the first camping festival event as part of the government’s scientific Events Research Programme.
Welcoming 10,000 attendees – Download Pilot will take place between 18 – 21 June 2021. This will be a 3-day camping festival.
The best part: moshing is allowed!
Festival Republic’s Melvin Benn had this to say about the event:
“This massive next step will help us understand and study the safe return of large-scale festivals with no social distancing or facemasks over a full weekend… the return of the full festival experience we have all been waiting for and a much needed return to work for musicians, backstage crew, caterers and many more that form part of the UK’s exemplary live music industry.”
Tickets are on sale June 1st for the loyal ticket-holders of Download 2022. General sale tickets will be available on June 3rd.
Of course this will take place on the hallowed ground of Donnington Park, with a full line-up announced on May 28th.
The event will be part of the second phase of the goverment’s Event Research Programme and will determine if multi-day events, like Download, can go ahead safely.
Attendees must be over 16, there are no day-tickets and campers are expected to camp on-site. For more information go to https://downloadfestival.co.uk/download-pilot/
Although social distancing and face-masks are not required within the festival, they must adhere to government guidelines when travelling to and from Donnington Park. Attendees will also be asked to take a PCR test before and after the event to gather further evidence on the safety of the festival camping experience, reduced social distancing and the removal of non-pharmaceutical interventions like face coverings. They will also have to provide contact details for NHS Track and Trace to ensure everyone will be contacted in the case of an infection.
To wet your appetite (safely), here is some highlights of the 2019 festival:
