Have you ever volunteered at a festival?
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This is a personal story about how life can take a twist when you sign up as a volunteer at a festival.
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The author of this story has a total of 46 festivals under their belt as a volunteer. Roskilde Festival, Skanderborg, Tinderbox, Skive Festival, and more.
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The very first year as a volunteer, I was part of an association that raised money for the local sports club. Everyone was gathered. Parents, young people, and sports club members all worked together to make the best impression on the festival’s many guests. Afterward, when a new springboard appeared in our gymnasium after the summer break, I felt the sense of community.
I wanted more of that. In the subsequent years, I was simply a volunteer and had various roles. I’ve tried working in a food booth, tended a bar, been a gatekeeper, collected trash, built stages, set up artists’ gear on stage, only to pack it all up again after the show and move on to the next festival location. All of this gave me a wealth of knowledge about different job functions I hadn’t tried before, and most importantly, a network I would never want to be without to this day.
Plus, the many memories that come with it. Fun moments, challenging times, epic experiences, and moments so hilarious that they made my stomach hurt.
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As a volunteer, I’ve always experienced that people from different backgrounds come together in friendships, marriages, and partnerships. Everyone comes together for a common task, working as a team to make the best effort, all while having access to the grand setup that a festival provides.
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One year, I went all out and attended four festivals during the summer. I was in a job where I felt a bit stuck, unsure of what I wanted. Just two hours after checking in at the first festival and receiving my work assignments, I found myself handling five tasks I had never tried before. It was so rewarding to step out of my comfort zone and receive praise for my work.
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To this day, I find myself in a completely different industry, waking up each day feeling happy and fulfilled—all because of the festivals that opened my eyes to a different world. I met people I otherwise would never have encountered, and those connections are irreplaceable.
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Being a volunteer has repeatedly led to other opportunities that were hard to turn down. New job prospects, expanded networks, lifelong friends, and, most importantly, joy in my own life. The sense of camaraderie among volunteers at festivals cannot be bought with hot baths and cold beers.
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It’s remarkable how strong social bonds form across generations and political beliefs. You might end up singing together or inventing a fun game just because things are quiet during your shift. And the people I’ve met as a volunteer have somehow stayed with me throughout life, making me return year after year to the volunteer experience