This page gives you all the information you need to know about the festival.
Saturday: gates open at 11am and close at 9pm. Performances start at noon and end at 11pm.
Sunday: gates open at 11am and close at 8pm. Performances start at noon and end at 9pm.
Find out where you can buy tickets and programmes.
We encourage festival goers to use public transport wherever possible. For updated train times please visit the First Capital Connect website. You can travel by bus from Luton, Stevenage and the surrounding villages. See the Intalink and Arriva websites for more info. There are buses from Hitchin Station to the town centre and Hitchin Priory is a 5 minute walk through the market square and down Sun Street. Alternatively, the station is a mile from Hitchin Priory - you can walk or there is a taxi rank outside the station.
Alternatively, to reduce your carbon footprint, save money and help others travel to Rhythms of the World, you could offer your empty car seats to others on goCarShare? (Please note, ROTW accepts no responsibility for external sites and services).
There is another large event being held locally which is likely to increase traffic in the area, but if you must travel to the vent by car, a designated pick-up/drop-off point is located on Park Street.
Whenever possible please avoid driving down Tilehouse Street and Bridge Street (see map) to ensure emergency vehicle access at all times.
Weather permitting, parking is available at Butts Close, off Bedford Road, from 11am on both days (donations encouraged). Rhythms Of The world accepts no responsibility for any loss, theft or damage to vehicles. Parking is very limited around the festival site and normal parking restrictions apply. Please respect our neighbours and do not park illegally or block driveways.
Site Layout and Ground Conditions: The festival is based on a grassy site so please take this into consideration when planning your festival experience. Although some temporary trackway has been laid, wheelchair access may be difficult in places, especially during inclement weather.
Disabled Toilets: Wheelchair accessible toilets are located at each toilet point and in the Volunteer Centre (in the marquee near the Priory entrance). Please ask a steward for details.
Disabled Parking: Limited blue badge parking is available, on a first-come, first-served basis, on site and around the town centre for Blue Badge holders.
Tickets: those with a disability who need the assistance of a carer for their day to day activities must purchase a festival ticket. However, your registered carer can access the festival free of charge when accompanying you at all times. Please note, this concession applies to people with permanent, registered disabilities only.
It is a condition of our license that there is no readmission to the site. Anyone leaving the Festival site wishing to return will be required to purchase another ticket. Please note ticket numbers are strictly limited and it may not be possible to purchase a further ticket at the entrance immediately on your return. Please bear this in mind when packing for the day - remember to includes all medications and other essential items.
Please remember that each adult can bring the equivalent of 750ml of wine (in a plastic container) or four cans of STANDARD strength beer or cider onto the Festival site. Spirits cannot be brought on site as no glass is allowed, however you can bring in 4 cans of pre-mixed spirts eg. Gordon's Gin & Tonic but NO home mixed spirits please. Bag checks will be in operation and excessive alcohol or pre-mixed alcohol will be confiscated.
The festival bars operate a Challenge 25 policy - please provide ID is requested. Please do not by alcohol for minors. ROTW reserves the right to remove anyone from the festival site who is intoxicated and no refunds will be given.
Cash machines will be provided on site overlooking the Main Stage. Withdrawals are subject to a service charge.
All lost and found items should be returned to the Volunteer Centre (in the marquee near the Priory entrance), or handed to a festival steward.
Children must be accompanied on the festival site at all times. In case a child is lost, please go straight to the nearest steward or the Volunteer Centre for assistance.
ROTW is a family event and the use of illegal drugs on the site will not be tolerated. ROTW reserves the right to remove anyone from the festival site who is found in possession of, or under the influence of, such drugs and no refunds will be given.
The First Aid Point will be situated on the edge of the site overlooking the Main Stage.
Please dispose of your litter sensibly - use the rubbish facilities provided or take your litter home with you. Please respect our neighbours and do not drop litter in the street on your way to or from the festival.
Dogs will not be allowed on the site, with the exception of Assistance Dogs.
There will be a wide range of stalls and bars selling food and drink from around the world. These are located across the Festival site. Please refer to our stalls page for a full list. You can also bring your own food on site. Please dispose of your litter sensibly. See above for our alcohol and Challenge 21 policies.
Toilets are situated around the Festival site. Wheelchair accessible toilets, and those with baby changing facilities, are available at each toilet location.
A general store will be available on site for basic items such as nappies and sun cream.
ROTW always endeavour to run a safe and enjoyable festival for all. Should you have any concerns regarding safety or sound levels please call the ROTW Response Line on 01462 420500 ext. 342 during festival opening times.
We regularly send out information about the festival, fringe events, artist line-up and calls for help. If you are interested uin any of these things please signup.