Splendour in the Grass: Music festival attendees give their views on the event

Splendour in the Grass has rolled into its final day, with some festival revellers praising the event while others are less than impressed.

BYRON BAY, AUSTRALIA - Newswire Photos, 22 JULY 2023: Splendour in the Grass 2023: Flume plays to crowds at Splendour in the Grass, Saturday night. Picture: NCA Danielle Smith / Newswire

It’s one of Australia’s biggest music festivals, but the revellers who took over New South Wales’ North Byron Parklands for three days are split on whether they’ll return to Splendour.

For Splendour in the Grass’ 21st anniversary, the weather forecast has been by far more promising than last year’s ‘Splendour in the Mud’, when heavy rain, mud and traffic chaos marred last year’s event following two years of Covid cancellations.

But it was also a smaller crowd than usual.

Organisers said in recent days ticket sales were down about 30 per cent, with 35,000 tickets being sold — compared to 50,000 in the days leading up to the event last year.

A father and daughter in matching tie-die at Splendour. Picture: Odessa Blain.

However, despite the smaller than usual ticket sales, as the event’s final day rolled around the crowd was awash with glitter, pink and tie-dye — with young and old coming from all over the country to attend.

A trio visiting from Brisbane, Patrick Hassall, Jordan Gibson and Ella Sutherland, all said they had loved the festival — it was the first time any of them had been there and they had camped out for the entire three days.

“I’ll definitely be back — for sure,” Ms Sutherland said.

“It’s such a good vibe here, like we haven’t even had one bad moment in the entire festival.”

(L-R) Patrick Hassall, Jordan Gibson, Ella Sutherland. Picture: Odessa Blain.

While two French men, Gildwin Robert and Gillian Harouard, said they knew they would be attending the festival as soon as they planned their holiday to Australia.

“We just knew we had to be hear, we’d heard good things about it,” Mr Harourard said.

“And it’s lived up to our expectations — we’ve loved it.”

(L-R) Gildwin Robert, Gillian Harouard. Picture: Odessa Blain.

However, not everyone was so happy with the event.

A trio from the Sunshine Coast, Jasper White, Charlotte Smith and Georgia Boyle, all said they think this might be their last time at New South Wales’ North Byron Parklands.

Mr White in particular was vocal about how he thinks the festival has gone “down hill”, after attending it for over ten years.

“It’s quieter than last year and everything here is more expensive now,” he said.

(L-R) Jasper White, Charlotte Smith, Georgia Boyle. Picture: Odessa Blain.

“It just feels a bit like a grift — like they’re charging us $36 for only two beers.”

NSW Police have already urged attendees to celebrate in a safe and responsible manner as the crowds finish off their festival and return home.

A high-visibility police operation is targeting alcohol-fuelled violence, anti-social behaviour and illegal drug use and supply.

In addition to the operation at the festival site, officers from the Traffic and Highway Patrol Command will be deployed to the region to target speeding and drink and drug driving.