Arrival / Security Info

Folk by the Oak Festival 2026

We are always keen to ensure that your visit to Folk by the Oak at Hatfield Park goes as smoothly as possible. Before you head to the festival please read this useful advice and information regarding arrival and security.

Getting to the Festival

The festival is clearly signposted from all major routes into Hatfield, Hertfordshire.

• On approach, look out for our temporary yellow ‘Hatfield Park Event’ signs. You can then follow the signs instead of your Sat Nav (which may direct you to the wrong estate entrance).

• Please consider the environment and car share if possible.

• Plenty of free parking is provided on site, including accessible parking. Car parks are open from 10.30am, with gates opening to the festival arena at 12 noon. Our first set is from the wonderful London Youth Folk Ensemble on the Acorn Stage at 12.30pm so make sure you’re with us promptly!

• Traffic from the A1(M) should come off at Junction 4 and follow yellow concert signage through the Sawmill entrance via the A414 dual carriageway

• Traffic from A414 dual carriageway will be directed through the Sawmill entrance

• Local traffic coming from Welwyn Garden City on the A1000 towards Hatfield will also be directed on to the A414 dual carriageway and then through the Sawmill entrance

• Any traffic coming up from Potters Bar through Hatfield will be directed through Georges Gate

• Upon parking, please make a note of your row number and the direction of the exit.

• Pedestrians and Cyclists ONLY may enter through the Station Lodge entrance (opposite Hatfield train station). Please dismount from bicycles within the estate.

• Arriving by train: Please be sure to check your routes for up-to-date advice before travelling. Enter through Station Lodge opposite the train station.

• Please note that entry to the House is not included in your Folk by the Oak ticket and that Hatfield House and Gardens is not always open on the festival weekend.

Taxis

• All vehicles dropping off or picking up should follow taxi signage to the designated taxi drop-off / pick-up route.

• All taxi journeys must be booked in advance, allowing around 15 minutes for you to return to the taxi pick-up point at the end. (Festival is due to finish at approx. 10.30pm)

• We advise you to keep a record of the driver’s phone number with you.

• Please click here for detailed taxi route / instructions.

Leaving the Festival

• With several thousand festival-goers in attendance, traffic will inevitably be heavy on entry and exit.

• Please be assured that stewards and organisers will be working hard to keep traffic flowing as efficiently and safely as possible at all times. With a target rate of 800 cars per hour per exit, it could possibly take up to an hour to exit the car park and your patience and co-operation are greatly appreciated.

• In order to relieve congestion, we advise visitors not to rush back to their cars at the end of the festival.

• When driving from the car parks please be considerate of pedestrians still making their way to their cars.

Ticket Verification

• Please ensure that you have printed all your tickets and programme vouchers OR that you have saved them to a mobile device for verification on screen.

• If you have not received your e-tickets please click here to use our ticket re-send link to have them sent straight to your inbox.

• In order to be verified by the scanners, the square barcode in the top left corner of your ticket must be a clear printout. A faded or imperfect printout will result in delay at the gates.

• For quick and efficient entry on the day please present tickets individually. Before you get to the gates, ensure that each member of your party is holding a ticket ready to present the barcode to the stewards.

• If you plan to present tickets on your phone / tablet screen it is vital that you download and save the PDF to the device, or add the tickets to your Apple Wallet, prior to arriving at the festival. It will not be possible to guarantee sufficient roaming internet coverage to do this on arrival.

Security Information

Whilst Folk by the Oak is considered a low-risk event, your wellbeing and safety is paramount to us. With this in mind we would like to make visitors aware of the following security measures which will be in place on the day:

• A canine search team will be working along the queues and within the auditorium. When you see the dogs at work please do not distract them, but if you wish to say hello please ask the handler!

• Door supervisors will carry out targeted bag searches and customer checks, including searches using pat-downs and metal detection wands.

• If you are bringing a picnic please consider preparing ahead as far as possible in order to limit the amount of equipment you need to bring with you on the day. Knives permitted on site will be limited to domestic knives 5 inches or under and folding knifes with a 3 inch blade or under. Any prohibited items found on site must be disposed of or taken back to your car.

Get Packing…

• Please bring your own seating / rugs and you are welcome to bring a picnic and drinks which may be consumed anywhere in the festival arena.

• Come prepared for the unpredictable British weather! We recommend bringing warm clothes even in good weather as it is noticeably cooler after dark.

• The festival arena and car parks are well lit, but it can be useful to bring a torch to help pack up your things and find your car.

• The following are NOT permitted on site: drones, balloons / helium balloons, flame torches, sky lanterns, BBQs, stoves, any naked flames, sound recording equipment. Dogs are NOT permitted (with the exception of assistance dogs). Please do not leave your dog/s in your car.

• Please note that there are no cash points on site, and not all traders are able to take card payments.

• Structures such as gazebos, tents, fishing umbrellas are permitted at the very rear of the crowd in the Main Stage arena. Please advise stewards on arrival if you have such items with you. For guidelines please see our FAQs question on gazebos.

• Support the Willow Pop-Up Shop! We’re inviting our audience to bring 2-3 good quality pre-loved items of clothing or accessories to donate to the charity shop at the Willow stand.

…and Go Green!

Please help with our site welfare and support our waste collection / recycling team in reducing the environmental impact of the festival as follows:

• Please take all rubbish home with you.

• Please consider preparing your picnic ahead as far as possible to limit the amount of equipment and disposable plastics you need to use on the day.

• Pack food in Tupperware or similar re-usable storage rather than cling film, and bring re-usable plates and cutlery.

• Bring plenty of filled re-usable water bottles with you and refill them at the water points on site.

• When you visit the bar your pint will be served in a re-usable souvenir Folk by the Oak plastic glass (£1.50 extra or £2 at the Concert Shop) which you can re-fill and then take away and keep! You’re also welcome to bring your own glass to be filled at the bar.