Please read this page fully, paying special attention to which days you would be on site
Join us on the Facebook page for Crew
- All Volunteer Crew get their ticket in plus they gain access to additional discounted tickets, a free vehicle pass, free camping and a good meal every day you help.
- All Volunteer Build / Break Crew are fed up to 3 times a day during the Build / Break phase and have an aditional discount voucher for tickets / bar tokens.
- If you just want to come for the public opening dates there’s a wide range of roles – these Volunteers fulfil 3 shifts (4hrs each) during the event. Training is given on the afternoon that you arrive.
- For those who’d like to get a bit more involved, come and be part of the Build Crews, arriving the Thursday or Friday before the show. Join a team of about 50 creating assembling all sorts of aspects of the event. During the show there is no duty – just have fun! On Monday it’s breakfast, then we start take-down. We clear the site on Wednesday or Thursday.
- If you are reliable, reasonably mobile and have a smile we would like to hear from you.
- If you want to bring kids or family you can buy their tickets via the F&F discounted scheme (see below). You must ensure care for children on site is in place so you can fulfil your shifts, ie you will need to have an agreement in place with an adult on site to look after your kids during your shifts so the event can have your full attention during these times.
Harlequin Fayre runs with the help of a large number of Volunteer crew in diverse and easy-going roles. We create more crew places than the event strictly needs, which means we all get to enjoy the week. This is a great way to experience a brilliant event, as well as meet a diverse and positive crowd who are your crewmates. It’s much more than simply being a free way into the festival. The crew roles are loaded with benefits which can equate to a really generous wage, plus you get the enjoyment of being part of it. Crew are valued and form a long term community of positive people.
Having brilliant crew is part of what makes Harlequin Fayre so special, so big thanks go out to all of you for helping to make it happen.
From one of our many amazing long standing crew:
“I’ve been coming to Harlequin Fayre for around 10 years. Harlequin resets, it grounds me and sets me up for another year. Being a steward, it’s on us to take care of the people, make sure they have the best experience possible and keep coming back every year. The best thing about being a steward is… feeling like a family. Crew camping is awesome, the meals supplied are really good and wholesome and I would recommend the role to people who are veteran stewards or never before, the team are so welcoming. Definitely my favourite family festival to steward at for these reasons. It’s not just for a few days it’s for life.“
Friends & Family discounted entry
We really appreciate our amazing Crew!
On top of the great camping, great fun, good food and brilliant team mates, Volunteer Crew are able to buy Friends & Family tickets at the Box office at the same time as you are being issued your wristband – it is not possibe to access these prices once you have got your wristband and left the box office, so do it when you arrive! The Box office only accepts cash. Your F&F tickets will allow entry to the event during public dates, ie from the Thursday of opening (NOT BEFORE; we are a building site up until the point of opening). If your F&F are coming later the Box Office will add their names to a gatelist.
Adult Volunteer Build Crew arriving Thursday or Friday the week before the event and staying for take-down are additionaly given a discount voucher which can either be exchanged for Bar Tokens or used towards their F&F tickets.
All Adult Volunteer Crew can buy up to 4 F&F tickets (including children). This can create a saving of about £120 depending on which tickets you buy.
2026 Crew F&F prices TBC
Adult (18+): £140 which includes Thursday Arrival (normally an additional £20)
Baby (0-2yrs), no ticket needed, no charge
Child (3-13yrs) : £15 (these must arrive with the accompanying guardian)
Young Adult (14-17yrs) : £50 (these must arrive with the accompanying guardian)
Friends & Family of Crew using this offer will pay for vehicle passes on arrival if they don’t arrive with you.
What to bring
All Crew MUST bring; a cup, plate / bowl, fork / spoon. Water bottle & suitable footwear. Outdoor clothing plus all your normal camping kit. You might want to bring a torch, mosquito repellent, snacks, your tent and a friend or two. If you may be in the hot sun for long periods of time a wide brimmed hat or an umbrella is hugely beneficial.
Crew deposit
A deposit is payable which is refunded after completion of your shifts. From your second year with us you may return without paying a deposit (await the email link).
Ask your friends to sign up asap – you’ll meet plenty of good people on the crews but having mates there is always fun
The Build Crews
As well as your ticket, vehicle pass and meals we also offer you a £60 Discount Voucher to use either for Friends & Family tickets, or Bar Tokens.
Arrival is the Friday the week before the event – when the site is empty of kit and people. We aim to leave the site empty by the Wednesday after the event.
We have a lot of fun and work pretty hard then kick back and relax during the event then swing into the takedown. During the Build / Takedown the Build Crews are fed up to 3 good meals a day.
Freight concentrate on moving, craning, stacking, roping and driving. On site there’s plenty of other roles.
Team Build It gets involved in all sorts of ways, laying out the site, putting up tents and marquees, erecting lighting & other decor, making up signs and backdrops, installations. Plus laying out cabling, water, siting the loos, fencing and more.
There’s plenty to do, but with a team of around 50 of us it’s an enjoyable way to learn skills, make skills and build a great show. No previous experience needed, though positive mindset prettymuch essential!
Creation Crew look after the decorative side of the site, from flags and lighting through to some installations.
We make up new backdrops, menu boards, and other decor, plus there’s plenty of set dressing and creative ideas to be carried out.
The Shift Based Teams
Arrive half a day before their first shift to set up camp and receive training. During the event do one 4hr shift three times across the 4 days. These roles ask that you enjoy yourslef and help the public to have a good time. There is no Security work in these roles – Security is handled by a separate company.
As well as your ticket, vehicle pass and meals we offer 6 bar tokens to those who take a fourth shift for these teams;
Stewards (Car park & Camping or Arena) (9am-9pm) guide the public in arriving and finding their way around the site.
Night Stewards (9pm til close, either Thursday & Saturday or Friday & Sunday) wear hi-vis and make sure crowds don’t block up entrances in the late night Woodland party area.
Bar Crew (11am-3am) serve on the bar and keep it fun in there.
Box Office (9am-9pm) Issue wristbands, vehicle passes and the first smiles of the public’s weekend.
Toilet Fairies (9am-9pm) liaise with the toilet contractors, and make sure loos and urinals are kept useable; this is mostly about distributing loads of loo roll with a wheelbarrow.
Crew Catering (hours to be set; can involve early starts) help the food happen to keep the crew moving! We feed hundreds of crew, both in the build / break phase and during the event. Roles include general food prep / servery / back kitchen as well as cooking and other roles to suit your abilities.
Lost kids (hours to be set). Small tightknit team ensuring child happiness and safety.
Kidz Area (10am-6pm) fill roles as parts of workshops or general helpers.
Recycling Team (9am-5pm) help the event stay clean and support with amazing recycling – please note we need you to help litter pick on Monday after the event.
Artist Liaison (hours to be set. Can involve late nights.) Join the team that keeps the acts running smoothly.
