The event of the summer is taking place right here on our doorstep – BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend will be held at the Faenol Estate on the outskirts of Bangor on Saturday and Sunday, 22-23 May.
Gwynedd Council Leader Councillor Dyfed Edwards said:
“With the announcement that the event was visiting Gwynedd only being made three months ago, it really has been a huge effort with everyone involved putting in a lot of hard work and dedication to get everything in place in time.
“Gwynedd Council staff have been working with Radio 1 to ensure that this years Big Weekend is the best ever.
“Our work includes providing accommodation and activities information to the thousands who will be visiting Gwynedd; organising opportunities for Gwynedd’s young people to get involved; organising shuttle buses; car parks and traffic plans – a small army of Council officers have pulled out all the stops.
“To make sure that everything goes smoothly over the two days, we would urge everyone who has been lucky enough to bag a pair of tickets to read our essential guide to some of the practical arrangements for the weekend.”
Travel
Gwynedd Council staff are working with BBC Radio 1, North Wales Police, Arriva Trains Wales, Arriva Buses Wales and Silver Star Holidays and local taxi companies to ensure that festival-goers can get to and from the Big Weekend as quickly and easily as possible and to minimises disruption to local residents and businesses.
Please help them to meet your travel needs by completing the online questionnaire on the Visit Snowdonia website, go to www.visitsnowdonia.info and click on the Big Weekend link.
Gwynedd Council is urging people to make use of public transport to get to and from the event.
Shuttle buses
Gwynedd Council in partnership with Silver Star Holidays and Arriva Busses Wales has organised a dedicated shuttle bus service linking the festival site with Caernarfon and Bangor. Shuttle Buses will run between 10am and 12am (midnight), with a reduced service between 2pm and 8pm, on both days and will cost £5 for a return ticket. Tickets are available beforehand from Arriva (Bangor Bus Station, tel 01248 362289) or Silver Star Holidays (Maes, Caernarfon tel 01286 672333)
Stewards will be on duty throughout the day to help people at the main bus pick-up and drop-off points, and to guide people who are walking from the usual public transport stations to the shuttle bus stops.
- Caernarfon – the shuttle bus service will run from the car park near Doc Fictoria, behind the Morrisons supermarket.
- Bangor – the shuttle bus service will run from Farrar Road.
Public transport – bus and train
If you are travelling to the Big Weekend from any part of north Wales, remember you can use the regular bus services to Caernarfon and Bangor and use the shuttle bus service or regular bus service to get to the festival site.
There are also regular trains along the north Wales coast and from Anglesey to Bangor. An extra train will run along the North Wales coast at 11pm. This service also links up with the Big Weekend shuttle bus service.
Check out the local public transport timetables at www.gwynedd.gov.uk/publictransport
If you are travelling by public transport make sure you know what time the last bus or train is leaving and allow plenty of time to get there. Remember that there is a short walk from the festival site to the main road, and allow time to catch the shuttle bus.
Taxi Drop off/ General drop off
The only drop-off point for this event is located at Cast Technium on the Parc Menai business park. Only the official shuttle buses will be permitted to drop off those attending the event on the Felinheli road at the bottom of the Faenol Estate’s main entrance. (this is different to other events held at the Faenol Estate). Pedestrians are strongly advised not to walk to the event along the road network.
Travelling by car
Gwynedd Council is urging everyone who is travelling to the Big Weekend by car to try to share lifts with friends if at all possible. Or why not register at the north Wales car-share website and find a lift with someone else who lives near you who is also going to the festival?
For more information visit https://northwales.liftshare.com
Directions
If you are driving from north-east Wales or Cheshire, use the A55 and exit at Junction 9 for Bangor and follow the yellow event signs.
If you are driving from Anglesey follow the A55 over the Britannia Bridge and follow the yellow event signs.
If you are driving from the south east direction, use the A5 for Bangor and follow the yellow event signs.
If you are driving from the rest of Wales use either the A499 or the A487 for Caernarfon, then take the A487 for Bangor and follow the yellow event signs.
If you are being dropped off and picked up by a taxi, or by a friend or relative, you will be directed to the Cast building at Parc Menai.
Parking
There will be more than 4,000 car parking spaces at the estate.
There is a car parking fee – REMEMBER – it will be cheaper to buy your parking ticket in advance (£7.50 in advance compared to £10 on the day). By booking car parking in advance, Gwynedd Council staff will have a much better idea of how many cars will need parking spaces and this will help the Council to manage traffic better and make the Big Weekend an even better experience.
Parking tickets are available from Arriva (Bangor Bus Station, tel 01248 362289) or Silver Star Holidays (Maes, Caernarfon tel 01286 672333 / 21 King Street, Wrexham tel 01978 898450).
The Big Weekend festival site
Opening times
The Radio 1 Big Weekend festival site will open at around 12 noon on both days. The event will finish at 10pm on both nights.
Refreshments
Food and drink will be sold on the site. REMEMBER – you cannot bring your own food and drink to the festival except for a personal water supply in a plastic bottle with an unbroken seal (up to 500ml per person).
Disability access
The two main stages will have a viewing platform for disabled people with accessible toilet facilities, but please note this is a green field site without pathways in places. Disabled parking is available for those with a blue badge on a first come, first served basis. Charging can be made available at the information tent.
Other useful information
- There is no camping at Radio 1’s Big Weekend
- There is no age limit for those attending the Big Weekend, but those under-16 must be accompanied by a responsible person who is 18 or older.
- Children under two years old do not need a ticket. If you are bringing children to the festival, please bear in mind that this is a live music event with large crowds of people.
- Food and alcohol will be on sale on site. If you look under 21 you will be asked for proof of age when buying alcohol. A passport or photo driving licence are the only acceptable forms of ID.
- If you are travelling by public transport make sure you know what time the last bus or train is leaving and allow plenty of time to get there.
- If you are going home by taxi or being picked up by friends or family make sure you have an agreed pick-up point and time.
