Woodford Folk Festival ticket pre-sales increase as community rallies

The legendary Woodford Folk Festival has come up with solutions like afterpay to pump up ticket sales after it sounded a dire warning over its future and many answered the cry for help.

Socials from the first day of the Woodford Folk Festival. Photo - Stephen Archer

The organisers of a legendary Queensland music festival have relaxed camping rules and allowed Afterpay in just two of many moves aimed at attracting more ticket sales before the events starts.

The Woodford Folk Festival put out a dire warning last week over its lagging ticket sales.

After a groundswell of support from patrons, artists and volunteers, ticket pre-sales are improving.

However, festival director Amanda Jackes said there was a “long way to go” yet.

Fresh ideas from the community have been adopted by Woodford in the effort to ensure the festival remains viable.

At the end of November, ticket pre-sales were down 15 per cent across the board for the 37th iteration of the celebration of music, arts and culture.

Ms Jackes said it was great the community had rallied behind Woodford after the call-out.

Woodford Folk Festival director Amanda Jackes. Picture: Patrick Woods/Sunshine Coast Daily.

“There’s a long way to go yet, but there’s an increase in people buying their tickets and locking their plans in for the festival,” she said.

“What we’re seeing is a great early indication.”

Some of the measures introduced by Woodford include an afterpay facility for all ticket purchases.

They will also allow season campers to have up to four family and friends stay with them overnight in their season camping area.

Woodfordians also have the option of paying it forward by purchasing day and season passes for family, friends or strangers who could use some support.

“We need more of that to keep happening,” Ms Jackes said.

A ticket donation page has been set up for people who want to buy a ticket to support the festival’s future who could not come this year.

Ms Jackes said this festival thrived on the kindness and willingness of Woodfordians to stand up when it counted.

“It just goes to show that when you need help, you need to call out and ask, otherwise people don’t know you need it,” she said.

The official Woodford site build started on Saturday night, kicking off with the traditional build party.

The festival has 300 volunteers on site, alongside the crew and contractors.

The team is building in extra wet weatherproofing of the site and installing more cooling facilities for hot days in preparation for any scenario.

The long-range weather forecast is looking optimal with daily temperatures of 28 to 29 degrees.

The festival starts on December 27 until January 1.

Originally published as Woodford Folk Festival ticket pre-sales increase as community rallies