Download Festival announce ‘Download Pilot’ COVID-19 test event
DOWNLOAD FESTIVAL have announced a COVID-19 test event!
Under the name Download Pilot, the iconic festival will see a return to Donington Park in June this year. With a capacity limit of 10,000, the festival will be camping only with no day tickets available as festivalgoers will be expected to stay for the duration of the event.
The announcement comes as part of the second phase of the Government’s scientific Events Research Programme, which has already seen successful results in previously run trials across the UK in phase one. The ground-breaking study will look to build on the evidence base gathered from the successful first phase and apply findings on a greater scale with larger crowd numbers. The attendance at the Download Pilot will provide additional evidence for the government, event organisers and consumers on the logistical and practical considerations of reopening events safely, including multi-day events.
Whilst the event will be working closely to adhere to safety guidelines, Download Pilot will see the ditching of social distancing and mask use over the course of the three days. Even moshing has been given the go-ahead, much to the delight of people planning to attend. However, due to this being a Government scientific Events Research Programme event, festivalgoers will need to consent to take part and must be over 16 years of age. It will also be required for goers to take a lateral flow test before the event and must be negative to be granted entry, alongside this before and after the event it will be required that goers take a PCR test.
Melvin Benn says, “Following the huge success of our Sefton Park event, we are delighted to contribute to Phase II of the Government’s Events Research Programme with the creation of the first three-day camping festival which will be the Download Pilot at Donington Park. 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 will be offered to 2022 ticket holders as a priority on Tuesday 1st June, and then on general sale Thursday 3rd June. The full-line up for the pilot event will be announced in just a matter of days.
More information on the Download Pilot event can be found here.
For more information on Download Festival like their official page on Facebook.
