Organisers of the Sidmouth Folk Festival are seeking recruits to join the team as volunteers over the Folk Festival weekend.

As organisers gear up for the 70th anniversary festival, running from August 2-9 2024, they are inviting new recruits to join in the fun behind the scenes, supporting in a huge variety of roles. 

Volunteers help to run and manage all kinds of venues around the town, as well as the official campsite and car parks. They also collect donations, look after artists and their accommodation, run the festival box offices and fulfil admin tasks. 

The online application form has a job description for each position and the hours involved. Sue and the team try to match people up to the volunteer role that suits them best. Apply to be a Sidmouth Folk Festival volunteer here

In return for a few hours’ work each day they get a festival season ticket with free access to events, free camping on the festival campsite, plus a whole host of other benefits. People can sign up individually or with friends or family members.

Sue Torres of Wicked Events recruits and coordinates the festival’s volunteers each year, she said: “Ideally we need around 500 and at the moment we are looking to recruit about 100 more. We have some amazing people who have been volunteering for 60 years or more, but we’re also after some fresh faces to come on board."

“It’s a wonderful, historic, quirky event. You get colour and spectacle, brilliant music and a lovely, friendly atmosphere, all in a beautiful old Devon seaside town. Just come and try volunteering. It’s a great way to save money, meet new people and get to know how the festival works behind the scenes.

“If you stay for the whole festival it’s like a seaside summer holiday! But if you can only be there a couple of days we can try to accommodate that too.”

“We look at the information they supply about their skills and experience and take those into account alongside their preferences. Things like stewarding in the Ham Marquee and the Manor Pavilion are very popular because there’s a chance to see some of the major performances, but there are countless other exciting opportunities."