Here at Folk Weekend Oxford we take our access responsibilities seriously. This page contains information on the accessibility arrangements that are in place. If there is anything that you are unsure about, or that we haven’t covered here, or if you just want to discuss any aspect of your visit to the festival, please contact us on info@folkweekendoxford.co.uk. If you provide a contact number in your email and let us know a good time to call, we will ring you. Do bear in mind that most of us are volunteers, but we will get back to you as quickly as we can – we want to help.
About the Festival site
Folk Weekend is a city-centre festival; we use existing spaces in the centre of Oxford, so all of our venues are indoors, and accessible by road or pavement. The main festival venues are listed here, along with a map (coming soon) Please see Parking info below for details on disabled parking in Oxford. On foot, all of our festival venues are within a mile or so of each other.
Before the festival
Alternative formats
The main schedule and the venue map are available to download as a PDF documents. If you would like any other information in an alternative format please email info@folkweekendoxford.co.uk.
Carers / Personal Assistants
Ticketing is handled by each individual promoter or venue, so although we ask them to follow our accessibility guidelines there may be slight variations in policy between events. We recommend that promoters provide free tickets for carers where an audience member wouldn’t be able to attend without their carer; if you need any help or support with this please contact info@folkweekendoxford.co.uk.
Wheelchair users
We don’t have any viewing platforms available in the venues, but if you are a wheelchair user and are able to give us notice of the events you wish to attend we can ensure that you are supported to enjoy the event as best as possible.
Planning your visit to Oxford
Parking in Oxford
Thanks to Oxford City Council for this downloadable leaflet and map with Blue Badge parking spaces in Oxford. Apologies you have a scroll through a few adverts to get to the useful stuff!
There is some information on the Oxford City Council website regarding disability and access in Oxford, or you can download their Accessible Oxford guide or ring Oxfordshire County Council on 01865 815700 for information or Oxford City Council Access officer on 01865 249811 or contact the Access Officer by email.
The new Westgate shopping centre is accessible to wheelchair users including the parking, with disabled spaces on all levels, and Shopmobility. Gloucester Green underground car park is not accessible to wheelchair users. Click here for information on City Centre car parks.
Accessible Toilets
There is a Changing Places toilet on the top floor of the Westgate shopping centre in Oxford city centre. This toilet is free to use, and does not require a Radar key. It is accessible by lift, with standard toilets available in the same area.
There are standard accessible (public) toilets in Gloucester Green, and some more information on the City Council website about other toilets around the city centre.
We have included information about accessible toilets for each venue below (please note these are all ‘standard’ disabled toilets, not Changing Places toilets). This is being regularly updated as we find out more information, so please keep checking back or get in touch with any questions.
At the Festival
Ticket collection
Tickets will be issued by each individual promoter or organisation, and they will give you instructions on how and when you can collect them, although most are now emailed as e-tickets so no paper required
Questions / Queries
If you have any particular questions or need any more information throughout the weekend, please ask one of our volunteer stewards or venue staff. If you have questions they can’t answer they will be able to get hold of Folk Weekend HQ to find out the information you need.
Festival Programme
The festival programme is free, and you’ll find them all over the venues in the city (unless they’ve already been snapped up!). Find us at the festival hub to pick one up.
Medical Services
There is First Aid cover at each venue, but don’t currently have any specialised medical provision for people with disabilities.
Access to Performances
Currently we do not have BSL interpreters or Audio Descriptions at our performances, though it’s something we’d like to work towards in the future. If this is something you think you can help with please get in touch!
Assistance Dogs
Assistance dogs are welcome in all venues. We do ask that you bring with you some proof that your dog is registered with an organisation that is a member of Assistance Dogs UK.
Strobe Lighting
We will update information here if we are aware of any strobe lighting at Folk Weekend shows.
Festival Venues
We will update this section as we obtain details for all our festival venues. Please check in again soon or contact us on info@folkweekendoxford.co.uk