The organisers of the The Most Beautiful Festival in the World care about the comfort of participants – they are creating an event that is accessible to all. Here are the facilities they have prepared!
Festival–goers, photo. Nikola Naus
Accessible Festival infrastructure
As in previous years, the organisers have made sure that the infrastructure on the event site is accessible. They have provided numerous accessible toilets and specially adapted sanitary areas. Sinks and cold water taps can be used at no extra charge. If, on the other hand, people with mobility impairments would like to take a warm shower, suitably equipped cabins are available for them in the Alpha sanitary area.
For people with disabilities who come to the Festival by car, the organisers have provided parking spaces adapted to their needs. The car park is located near the entrance to the Festival grounds.
A detailed map can be found in the free guides and on the festival app.
For people with disabilities who come to the Festival by car, the organisers have provided parking spaces adapted to their needs. The car park is located near the entrance to the Festival grounds.
A detailed map can be found in the free guides and on the festival app.
Wheelchair users on the festival site, photo. Lucyna Lewandowska
The Czaplinek–Broczyno airfield area is exceptionally friendly, free of most architectural barriers. Virtually the entire Festival can be navigated using the airport's tarmac roads. This is extremely important not only for people with disabilities, but also for the elderly and families with children. The even surface will also be useful for Festival–goers with wheeled luggage.
Once again, considering the needs of people with disabilities, the Festival organisers have provided a special area on an elevated platform overlooking the Big Stage. This will enable people with disabilities and their assistants to fully experience the concerts in a safe and comfortable environment.
Once again, considering the needs of people with disabilities, the Festival organisers have provided a special area on an elevated platform overlooking the Big Stage. This will enable people with disabilities and their assistants to fully experience the concerts in a safe and comfortable environment.
People with disabilities attend the concert on accessible platform, photo. Lucyna Lewandowska
Technical support for people with disabilities
The Avalon Foundation runs a technical support desk which is available to all people with disabilities staying at the Festival site. It is stocked with the necessary tools to repair wheelchairs and other orthopaedic equipment such as crutches and prostheses. Electric wheelchairs can also be recharged here. The technical support point is located at the Avalon Foundation stand in the AFA zone.
If a person with a disability suffers a technical malfunction at a location far from the Avalon Foundation stand and is unable to reach the technical support point on their own, they can contact the Avalon Foundation at +48 797 555 796. Foundation staff will help them over the phone or, if necessary, come to them with tools. If there is a more complicated problem with the equipment, they will offer transport to their village, where they will help those in need.
If a person with a disability suffers a technical malfunction at a location far from the Avalon Foundation stand and is unable to reach the technical support point on their own, they can contact the Avalon Foundation at +48 797 555 796. Foundation staff will help them over the phone or, if necessary, come to them with tools. If there is a more complicated problem with the equipment, they will offer transport to their village, where they will help those in need.
Festival-goer at the 28th Pol'and'Rock Festival, photo. Lucyna Lewandowska
Volunteers ready to help
Peace Patrol volunteers will help whenever Festival–goers need it. Their involvement is not just limited to answering any questions, giving directions or telling what is happening at the Festival. They also help travelers to get to the event. A large part of the Peace Patrol team is trained in handling and supporting people with disabilities. People with disabilities and their carers can count on support and a quick response from volunteers anywhere in the Festival area.
Peace Patrol volunteer talks to festival-goer, photo. Dominik Malik
Activities for people with disabilities
During the 29th Pol'and'Rock Festival people with disabilities will find various activities for themselves. Anyone interested can attend consultations on how to cope with everyday life. There is also an Avalon Foundation Comfort Zone at The Most Beautiful Festival in the World. The Foundation's team created it with people with disabilities in mind, who will find there a bit of respite from the festival sounds and emotions.
Education as the key to understanding disability
The festival organisers also focus their efforts on raising awareness about people with disabilities and those in mental health crises. It is worth noting that this is not the first time they have taken such steps! This year's Festival programme includes many interesting activities related to the theme of accessibility.
People learn through experience. Through these events, Festival participants can find out in practice what life is like for people with disabilities:
People learn through experience. Through these events, Festival participants can find out in practice what life is like for people with disabilities:
- Obstacle Course - The World of the Blind (Fundacja Avalon [Eng. Avalon Foundation]), where participants can experience what challenges a blind person faces in everyday life.
- Wheelchair Obstacle Course (Fundacja Avalon [Eng. Avalon Foundation]), where participants can try their hand at seemingly simple challenges (such as kerbs and bumps).
- The World through the Eyes of an Elderly Person (Fundacja Rozwoju Społecznego SPINACZ [Eng.PAPERCLIP Foundation for Social Development]) - using an age simulator, Festival-goers will feel like elderly people.They will perform ordinary activities, such as reading timetables or carrying shopping through an obstacle course.
- The Handbike challenge (Fundacje Avalon [Eng. Avalon Foundation]), which involves riding a special bicycle, adapted for people with disabilities, on which you pedal... with your hands!
- Barrierbreaker (Spółdzielnia Socjalna FADO [Eng. FADO Social Cooperative]) - Festival participants will play a game full of excitement and curiosities that simulates four different disabilities.
Handbike Challenge, photo. Lucyna Lewandowska
Other workshops to learn more about accessibility for people with disabilities include:
- Sign language workshops (Polish Deaf Association Lodz Branch) - during the workshop their participants will not only learn the basics of sign language! Deaf lecturers will talk about Deaf Culture and answer questions such as why we sometimes spell deaf with a capital G and why mimicry is so important in sign language.
- Workshop - Savoir-Vivre towards people with disabilities (Avalon Foundation) - Festival-goers will learn more about the everyday life of people with disabilities in Poland, as well as how to behave towards people with disablities.
- The Avalon Foundation's Great Knowledge Quiz - during the quiz you can test your knowledge of the sexuality of people with disabilities and inclusive language, and fight stereotypes about people with disabilities.
- How to get along with a person on the autism spectrum? (Organised by Power of the Spoilers) - at this workshop you can learn more about communication errors between people on and off the spectrum. Proven methods for good communication when dealing with neurodiverse people will be presented.
The festival's website also offers hints for people without disabilities, describing, for example, how to offer mobility assistance in case of problems or how to communicate with a deaf person.
Wheelchair obstacle course, photo. Lucyna Lewandowska
Accessibility on the internet
The Pol'and'Rock Festival is accessible to everyone - also to people who, for various reasons, cannot get to the Czaplinek-Broczyno airfield. The organisers make it possible for anyone interested to experience these extraordinary emotions and joyful atmosphere also in the comfort of their own home. To do so from anywhere in the world, just turn on the live broadcast!
We encourage you to use the photos published in the PressKit on the Pol'and'Rock Festival Newsroom - if you use photos, please provide the name of the author. If you would like to obtain higher resolution photos, please contact foto@wosp.org.pl.
Łukasz
Press Office at The Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity
Pol’and’Rock Festival Poland (formerly known as Woodstock Festival Poland) is the biggest music event in the country and one of the biggest in Europe. The first edition of the Festival was held in 1995 by the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity Foundation as an acknowledgment for volunteers’ contributions during the winter Grand Finale fundraiser.
29th Most Beautiful Festival in the World will be held between 3-5 August 2023 at the former Czaplinek-Broczyno Airfield. Czaplinek is located in the West Pomeranian Voivodeship, Poland, between the Drawsko and Czaplino Lakes, ca. 125 km from Szczecin. The Pol'and'Rock Festival is a free, unticketed event. The first announced stars of this year's Most Beautiful Festival in the World are Apollo 440, Spin Doctors, Biohazard, Carpenter Brut, Brodka, Napalm Death, DRAIN, While She Sleeps, Zalewski, Saint City Orchestra, Bullet for My Valentine, Royal Republic, Get The Shot, LemON, Rise Of The Northstar and Hoffmaestro, among others.
