Looking for info on getting into Hillside? Find it here!
Accessibility and Support
If you require support, the Access Support Tent is located near the accessible parking area, next to the First Aid Tent. You can ask any volunteer for help and they will connect you with the Access Support Krew (ASK). Click here for more information on accessibility at the festival.
Alcohol and Bars
Local and regional suppliers will be serving all alcoholic beverages in reusable drinkware. Purchase your Hillside cup and drink tokens before lining up for drinks.
Non-alcoholic beer and cider in cans are available at the bar cashier. Pick up your non-alcoholic drink where you normally line up to purchase drink tokens.
A friendly reminder that Ontario’s new BYOB law does not apply here. Hillside Festival is not licensed for outside alcohol. Grab your drinks from our on-site partners and support local businesses!
App
Download our festival program app ahead of time to see the schedule and add shows to your favourites to get notified when they start.
ATM
A cash machine will be on the island during the festival weekend at the Merch Tent. Cash can only be used at some food and craft vendors. Hillside is fully cashless, including the Main Gate Tent, bars, Info Booth, Merch Tent, and parking.
Children’s Area and Child Care
The Children’s Area is open on Saturday and Sunday from 11 am to 6 pm, with plenty of crafts and activities for children to enjoy. Child care is open in the Children’s Area on Saturday and Sunday from 12 pm to 6 pm, for a maximum of 1.5 hours. Download the Hillside Festival app for the full Children’s Area schedule.
Please do not leave your children unattended.
Dishwashing and Reusable Dishes
We strongly encourage the use of reusables at Hillside Festival. Bins for dirty dishes are located at the Trash Turnaround stations outside the Food Pavilion and all over the island. Remember to scrape your plate! You are also welcome to bring your dirty dishes to the Dishwashing Tent to be washed! Read more about our dishwashing system and green initiatives here.
First Aid
The First Aid Tent is located at the entrance of the festival site and is staffed by paramedics.
Information Booth
Located directly across from the Indigenous Circle. Paper schedules are available for free, and earplugs, sunblock, batteries, and other items are available for purchase here. Scan the QR code at the Info Booth to complete the Hillside survey online for a chance to win the Ultimate Hillside 2027 Weekend Package!
Lost and Found
Located at the Information Booth. After the festival, items will be moved to the Hillside Office at 341 Woolwich St, Guelph. Items will be kept for a month and then donated if unclaimed.
Merchandise Tent
Pick up your favourite performers’ latest CDs, books, T-shirts, and more! This is also where you can purchase Hillside merch—beer cups and lids, t-shirts (for adults and children), water bottles, hats, and sweatshirts, to name a few. Located across from the Main Stage.
Photography at Hillside
All ticket holders, accompanying children, guests and vendors acknowledge the right of Hillside Festival to capture likenesses and/or voices in photo or video without any written release or further compensation, for any purposes whatsoever.
You are welcome to capture your festival experience with photos and videos, however, we ask that you be respectful of your fellow festival-goers and the environment around you when doing so. Please do not take photos or videos of the Indigenous Circle.
Prohibited Items
Please note the following items are prohibited: fireworks, laser pointers, air horns; weapons of any kind; outside alcohol; single-use plastic items, including bottled water; pets, with the exception of licensed service animals.
Safety & Reporting
Everyone has the right to experience Hillside Festival as a safe place where they are welcome and respected. Read our Code of Conduct here. We have an on-site Trust Tent, medic team, and security services.
We also encourage incident reporting through our internal Hillside Festival Incident Report form to help us respond to incidents and develop ongoing prevention strategies. Reports are reviewed by authorized Hillside Festival personnel only. Information will be shared only as necessary to address safety concerns, investigate complaints, comply with legal obligations, or coordinate support services. Reports can be shared anonymously.
Smoking
The Smoke-Free Ontario Act prohibits smoking (including cigarettes, vaping, and cannabis) in areas near tents and where people are eating and drinking: smoking of any kind is prohibited in the Island Stage tent, Lake Stage tent, Food Pavilion, and Dining Tent. Cannabis smoking is prohibited within the fenced licensed areas of the Island Stage, Lake Stage, and backstage. Please be considerate of others: smoke away from other people and dispose of your butts appropriately.
tives such as the solar water heater in a refurbished camping trailer parked just outside the dishwashing area. Solar charging stations are available at the Main, Lake, and Island stages to charge personal devices.
Solar Power
Hillside promotes the use of sustainable energy alternatives such as the solar water heater in a refurbished camping trailer parked just outside the dishwashing area. Solar charging stations are available at the Main, Lake, and Island stages to charge personal devices.
Security Tent
In the event of an emergency, ask any Hillside volunteer for directions to the Security Tent (located near the Indigenous Circle).
Shade Tents
Please be considerate and share the shade. The Oasis tent, one of the three shade tents in front of the Main Stage, is reserved for people with disabilities, older adults, pregnant people, and parents with infants. Spaces cannot be reserved.
Small shade structures (e.g. 2 person shade tents) are allowed at the Main Stage in a single row along the back of the grass only. All structures, chairs, and blankets must be taken down at the end of each night.
Take Care of Yourself
Be aware of symptoms of heat exhaustion and stay cool by enjoying the misting tent, putting your feet in the lake, wearing a hat, drinking water, and seeking out some shade. We recommend bringing sun protection, and ear protection for some of our louder artistic performances.
Thirst Quenchers Water Wagon
Festival-goers can fill their containers with Guelph tap water for free at the eight tap and fountain stations on the Guelph Water Wagon to the left of the Main Stage. Water is tested regularly to ensure its quality and safety.
Trust Tent
We offer a safer space for everyone, a space staffed with volunteer Active Listeners that is designed to provide comfort and confidentiality in a supportive, non-judgmental environment. The Trust Tent is tucked away just next to the Indigenous Circle. Masks are available for free at the Trust Tent.
Friends of Bill W pop-up meetings Saturday and Sunday at 7:00 pm at the Workshop Tents.
WiFi
Free Hillside public WIFI is available in specified locations so festival-goers should be able to go online during the festival weekend.
