Festivals and concerts have faced cancellations globally to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. However, with the easing of lockdowns, one event is gearing up to be the first socially distanced festival of the summer.
The Stendhal Festival is being organized in , with hopes that it will occur at Ballymully Cottage Farm in during the last two weekends of August. This will happen if lockdown measures continue to ease, allowing for larger gatherings, which the organizers are counting on.
If the festival secures approval, it will be among the first to operate within a socially distanced context—a situation that will necessitate adjustments, fundamentally changing the festival, while striving to preserve the essence of live music experiences.
For this festival, no more than a thousand attendees will be allowed on the 25-acre property of Ballymully Cottage Farm, and all guests must be over 21 years of age. Additionally, to maintain safety, there will be a cap on the number of individuals allowed to share a tent, limited to two people, with both being from the same household.
Health and safety protocols will be enforced at the festival, similar to those at other public events, as explained by Ross Parkhill, Director of Stendhal Festival. “The setting is different, the preparation and facilitation of the measures are different, but the idea is the same.” If the festival proceeds, there will be designated floor markings indicating where guests should stand, and cleaning teams will ensure proper sanitization of all areas. Moreover, there will be restrictions on the amount of alcohol that an individual can consume.
“We are implementing a token system to limit alcohol consumption,” Ross Parkhill mentioned. “This allows people to enjoy their time while still being responsible and maintaining social distance.”
To learn more about the proposals for the Stendhal Festival and receive updates regarding its status, you are encouraged to visit the official website here.
