Please review this guide before coming to the festival. It will make sure that you have maximum fun and be safe at the same time.
Personal Safety
Keep your wits about you – that means not drinking too much or taking other substances.
Learn the layout of the site – particularly your camping area so you can find toilets and stewards without wandering about.
Keep your mobile on and look out for your mates. It’s always more fun in a crowd and you help keep them safe just like they help you.
There are plenty of festival staff here to help. Don’t be worried about asking us for directions or to report something or someone you are worried about.
Be really clear about what you say ‘yes’ and ‘no’ to. Don’t get pressured into doing anything you’re not comfortable with. If you don’t like the way things are going, walk away or call out for help.
Should you experience any problems or feel the need to talk to someone please go to the Guest services tent in the festival arena.
What To Bring
Remember when packing that glass is not allowed onsite for safety reasons
• Entry Ticket
• Money
• Clothing for all seasons
• Sleeping Bag / Blanket
• Tent
• Camera (pocket sized for personal use only)
• Mobile Phone
• Sun Cream and a Hat
• Tissues and Wet Wipes
• Toiletries and Towel
• Torch
• Plenty of clean socks
• Strong shoes
• Insect repellent
• Any medications that you need
Only bring what you can afford to lose. There is no way you can make a tent secure.
We would encourage you not to bring anything that would cause unnecessary rubbish.
Clean up after yourself and have brilliant festival:)
Children
Please remember the following tips when bringing kids to the Big Bear Fest.
No unaccompanied under 16s are allowed onsite – all under 16s must be accompanied by an over 18.
Pick up a wristband for your kids when you arrive and write your mobile phone number on it in case they wander.
.Any children under found unaccompanied will be looked after by the Guest Services Tent who will make efforts to contact you. Please remember however that the Tent is not a crèche and they cannot detain anyone, adult or child, against their will. Social Services and / or Essex Constabulary will need to be involved in any cases of lost children or found children of a significant duration.
Please note that we a have a duty of care to all of our festival goers, including children and will do all that we can reasonably do to keep everyone safe.
Eviction From The Festival
The Big Bear Fest is produced for the enjoyment of all those persons who attend. The licence is granted under strict conditions of public safety, prevention of disorder and prevention of public nuisance. Any person who disrupts the festival under any of the below sections will leave themselves liable for eviction from site. The decision as to the eviction will be at the discretion of the Event Manager following advice from Big Bear Fest security staff.
Persons will be liable for eviction under the following circumstances:
a) Entering or being onsite without a ticket or relevant pass/ wristband
b) Unacceptable, disruptive or anti-social behaviour**
c) Having been arrested or cautioned in connection with a criminal offence, pending or post hand-over to the Police
**Unacceptable behaviour that can lead to eviction includes:
- illegal activity;
- breaching the terms and conditions of entry;
- failing to submit to a search upon entry to the site;
- offensive behaviour;
- throwing hard objects in the direction of people;
- encouraging others to behave badly by incitement;
- preventing our security or emergency services reacting to a situation;
- committing a criminal offence but not arrested by the police;
- in possession of unlawful drugs
- unofficially selling alcohol, tobacco, counterfeit or any unauthorised goods
- any other behaviour that leaves the premises licence holder open to prosecution or is not conducive to maintaining a safe event
Missing Persons
Lost children and people are looked after by the Welfare team at the Guest Tent in the festival arena.
We recommend picking up one of our kids wristbands which you can write your mobile phone number on – you can get these when you arrive onsite and get your main wristbands.
Fire Safety
NO FIRES ARE ALLOWED IN THE ARENA, IN THE CAR PARKS, OR IN THE CAMPING AREA.
Anyone caught burning toxic materials, creating large bonfires, throwing gas canisters or aerosols onto fires, putting tents on fires, throwing missiles or taking part in anti social behaviour that endangers other festival goers will be evicted from site. As part of the eviction process, we will take a photograph of you.
Candles are very dangerous inside a tent and useless in a field so use torches in and around tents.
No fireworks are allowed onsite. Any fireworks that are found will be confiscated.
Security and Stewards look out for fires, accidents and risky situations and are there to help you, so please use them.
What To Do Should You Discover A Fire
Should you discover a fire, raise the alarm, check out people nearby are OK, and tell the nearest member of staff about the problem IMMEDIATELY.
You may discover a fire in its very early stages and think that you can deal with it yourself. The first thing that you should remember is that fire spreads very quickly. Even a small contained fire can quickly spread, producing smoke and fumes which can kill in seconds. If you are in any doubt do not tackle the fire, no matter how small. You can put yourself at risk by fighting the fire. If in doubt, get out, get the onsite Security/Stewards, stay out. Many people put out small fires quite safely. However, some people die or are injured by tackling fires which are beyond their capabilities.
Here is a simple fire code to help you decide whether to put out or get out -
o Only tackle a fire in its very early stages
o Always put your own and other peoples safety first
o Make sure you can escape if you need to and never let a fire block your exit
o Never tackle a fire if it is starting to spread or has spread to other items nearby
o Around 70% of fire deaths are caused by people being overcome by smoke and fumes.
Fire extinguishers are only for fighting a fire in its very early stages.
Drug Policy
The dealing in or use of illegal drugs is not condoned by the Big Bear Fest. It is illegal to take, to buy or to sell drugs. Drug enforcement laws are as applicable on site as anywhere else in the country. If you deal in drugs, it is likely that you will be arrested via security and handed over to Essex Constabulary.
Neither anti-social nor illegal behaviour will be tolerated and participants will leave themselves liable for eviction from the site.
Drugs can kill. The crowds and the size of the festival can be very frightening and disorientating and taking drugs could spoil your enjoyment of the event. If you do take drugs and you become ill, depressed or frightened please ask a steward to direct you to the medical tent on site which can help and support you.
Onsite Emergency
In an emergency please contact the nearest member of security or steward.
There are onsite fire marshalls who are fully equipped to deal with any fires. There is a fire observation tower located near the campsite. There are fire extinguishers located throughout the site and many of the stewards and security staff have been trained in fire safety.
There are medics onsite who are fully equipped to deal with all situations. The provide an Accident and Emergency facility with full resuscitation.
Don’t Drink & Drive
“The number of drink drive deaths has fallen by more than 75% since 1979, but drink driving is still devastating lives with around 250 people killed in collisions where the driver was over the limit last year. Our THINK! Campaign makes it clear that drivers who get behind the wheel over the limit risk losing their licence as well as facing a fine and even a prison sentence. My message is clear: don’t drink and drive.” Mike Penning, Road Safety Minister Dept Of Transport
Avoid drink driving by following the advice:
- Have a designated driver
- Use the shuttle bus service
- Do not get into a vehicle if you know the driver has been drinking
