Help Keep the Forest Row Festival Alive!

The Forest Row Festival belongs to our community. We need your help to keep it going.

The Forest Row Festival has been bringing people together for over 20 years. It’s a chance to enjoy live music, have fun with friends and family, and celebrate the wonderful community we’re part of.

The festival is run by volunteers who give hundreds of hours of their own time to make it happen. We do it because we believe in what the festival brings to Forest Row, and we want it to continue for years to come.

But we also want to be open about the financial reality of putting on an event like this.

A year of change

2026 was a year of transition, with a new venue, a new format and new management team members. There was a great deal to organise, and moving to a new site brought additional costs and logistical challenges.

One of our biggest priorities this year was the safety and wellbeing of our young people. This was a concern shared by many in the community, and we wanted to make sure that families could enjoy the festival with confidence.

Around £27,000 was spent on health and safety - including a dedicated welfare team, additional first aid provision, increased security and the extra requirements of the new site. This represented around a third of our total expenditure.

We were delighted that there were no incidents, and we're very grateful to everyone who helped make this possible, particularly the parent volunteers who provided a reassuring and constant presence at the skate park throughout the weekend.

Where does the money go?

It can be easy to assume that festivals make a lot of money from ticket sales. The reality is that putting on a festival of this size is expensive.

Last year, the total cost of putting on the festival was around £80,000. That figure doesn't include the hundreds of hours spent by the management team planning, organising and preparing for the event throughout the year. All that time is given voluntarily, for free.

We work hard to keep ticket prices affordable. A £35 adult ticket gives you a whole weekend of music and entertainment, at a price considerably lower than many comparable festivals.

Keeping the festival accessible matters to us. We don't want anyone in our community to feel they can't come because of the cost. If the ticket price is a barrier, there are options. You can volunteer for a three or four-hour shift in exchange for a weekend ticket, or if that doesn't work for you either, get in touch and we'll do our best to find a way.

Our volunteers are a huge part of what makes the festival special. Their contribution doesn't just help make the event possible; it creates the welcoming, community spirit that Forest Row is known for.

Why are we crowdfunding?

The combination of rising costs and the challenges of a year of transition has left us with a financial shortfall. We're asking the community to help us bridge that gap.

We're not asking because we want to make a profit. We're asking because we want to protect something that has been part of Forest Row for more than 20 years, and give it the best possible chance of continuing.

Every contribution, however small, will help. If lots of people give a little, together we can make a real difference.

Help shape the festival's future

As part of the transition, we've also said goodbye to some much-valued members of the management team. We need new people, fresh ideas and extra hands to help take the festival forward.

If you've ever thought about getting involved, we'd love to hear from you. It is a commitment, but it's also hugely rewarding to be part of something that brings so many people together.

We welcome your thoughts, ideas and feedback about what you'd like the festival to be. We want it to reflect the community it serves, and we'd love to hear what matters to you. You can share your views with us via our website or come along to our AGM.

How you can help

❤️ Donate - every contribution helps us cover the shortfall and secure the festival's future.

♥️ Give your time - join the organising committee or volunteer at a future festival.

♥️ Spread the word - share this crowdfunding appeal with friends, family and local groups.

The Forest Row Festival has lasted more than 20 years because people in this community care enough to make it happen.

Let's keep it that way. Thank you for being part of it!