TENS of thousands of music lovers are about to descend on the Caloundra Music Festival, as gates open tomorrow for the massive four-day event.
Organisers were in the final stages of the set-up yesterday, with preparations ongoing from a week before the festival ahead of a crowd expected to rival last year’s 35,000-40,000 people through the gates.
Acts including Ronan Keating, Xavier Rudd, Art Vs Science, Wolfmother, Baby Animals and Killing Heidi will draw fans of almost any genre.
Tickets will be available at the gate, but booking online is strongly recommended in case tickets sell out.
About 600 volunteers will aid in everything from the set-up to manning stalls.
Getting there
There will be no car parking available at the venue and very little in nearby streets, but free parking is available at the Caloundra Transit Centre, Caloundra State Primary School and Caloundra State High School with free shuttles to and from the festival site every 15 minutes at 11am-11pm (10pm on Monday).
A free shuttle will run every 15-20 minutes from Golden Beach, with occasional shuttles also available from the Caloundra RSL and the Sebel at Pelican Waters.
Cashless wristbands
Your festival entry wristband will have a RFID chip for tap-and-go payments at bars, merchandise spots and some food stalls across the festival.
Load money onto the wristband at one of the top-up booths across the festival, by cash, card or pre-purchased voucher off the Caloundra Music Festival website.
Remaining credit can be refunded at top-up booths of online at the end of the festival, but you’ll need to claim the refund within seven days.
ATMs will be available on the site for cash food vendors.
For the kids
Kids will love the Funky Forest area, with activities and workshops including face painting, jumping castles, soccer, African drumming workshops and circus workshops.
Most activities are free, but some workshops ask a fee to cover materials.
Don’t forget a bottle
The BYO bottle rule is still in effect, with chilled water taps throughout the festival available in place of sold bottled water.
Reusable cups will also be available for purchase, doubling as a festival souvenir.
Stay safe in sun, heat
Forecasters expect maximum temperatures in Caloundra to reach the low 30s on Friday and Saturday, with a cooler day predicted for Sunday at 24 degrees.
The festival will be one of the best places to beat the heat over the weekend, with sea breezes, plenty of shade and the ocean on hand for a quick cool-down, but festival-goers have been urged to bring a hat, sunscreen and keep that water bottle at hand.