Festival Survival Guide: Living in the Future

Future Forest is a music and arts festival in its ninth year of operation. In 2017, it relocated to Eighteen Road, Albright’s Corner, north-east of Fredericton. The event is hosted by Future Forest Music & Arts Festival Inc., a company owned and operated by the Event Director, Tim Kukula. Future Forest has ZERO corporate sponsorship.

The health and safety of participants, staff, volunteers and contractors are of paramount importance to Future Forest Festival and it is the policy of the festival to comply with and promote all legislation, policies, and expert guidance in this area. If you have concerns, email us at info@futureforest.ca

From the beginning, Future Forest has been organized with the intention of providing a safe, clean, creative, and professional atmosphere in a natural setting. The location of the event is a 200-acre wilderness retreat on the side of Little River, north of Albright’s Corner. The location is surrounded by crown land and is over 8kms from the nearest residence.

Come with an open mind. Come ready to learn. Come to be a part of the festival community. Future Forest is destined for connection. Connection with music, diverse humans, performance, art, and nature. Your comfort zone will be stretched. But we promise, it’s worth it.

18+ for entry, all participants MUST present a government ID at the gate for entry.

Individuals under 18 years of age are not permitted.

THURSDAY ENTRY (REQUIRING PURCHASE) – Thursday August 3rd, 2023
GENERAL ENTRY – Friday August 4th to Monday August 7th, 2023

SATURDAY/SUNDAY PASS

SUNDAY PASS

2300 weekend passes are available in total. We have been at capacity in previous years. Tickets are only available at the gate if not sold out.

In addition there will be around 150 volunteers, 300-400 artists, and 50 future forest staff.

Address: Future Forest Festival, 18 Rd, Albrights Corner, NB E4B 1A4

• Closest Gas Station/Convenience Store: Intersection of Route 10 and 18 Rd. (at the beginning of the road to the festival site)
• Closest Town: 20 minutes to Minto (small grocery store, hardware store, dollar store, NB Liquor store, Tim Horton’s)
• 60 minutes east of Fredericton (nearest airport, all amenities)
• 32 minutes northeast of  Oromocto

• We encourage carpooling in order to decrease the impact on both our global environment and the future forest grounds. Parking is very limited on the grounds.

  Check out the official Future Forest Rideshare group.

Our location is rural and the dirt road can be rough. Whatever vehicle you are driving, ensure it is in good condition for the drive. Drive slow! Fill up your gas tank either along the highway, Fredericton, or at the gas station at the start of 18 Road. The road can be really dusty so consider getting your air filter cleaned or replaced after the weekend.

Watch for the Gas Station at the corner of Route 10 and 18 Road. Turn north on 18 Road.  The festival site is 8 km from this intersection along a dirt road. You will come to a fork in the road, about 6 km GO LEFT.

Expect long lines of cars.

Keep as far to the right of the road as you can to allow for others to pass.

You may find that staff pass you occasionally.

Gates open at 8am on Thursday for Early Entry. Only volunteers, vendors and staff will be allowed onsite prior to this time.

On Friday the gates open at 8am for weekend pass holders.

All vehicles will be searched by our security team.  All banned items will be confiscated. Please read our Do Not Pack List to make sure this process runs smoothly!

Wait times to get into the festival are variable and difficult to predict. It could be as little as a few minutes or several hours. If you arrive for Thursday Entry, be prepared for wait times (between 1 and 2 hours). Thursday and Friday are our highest volume entry days.

Come prepared for the heat of the day. We recommend having sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, appropriate clothing for day and night temperatures, lots of water (4L per person), at least one substantial meal, and snacks. For extra comfort, consider keeping a couple ice packs and a spray bottle (to mist yourself and others) in your cooler. Above all be patient!

Fresh Free Water from our well!

Crisp, cold, UV treated, and tested for safety.  Hydration Stations are located:

• on the road to Prism stage
• by first aid
• by the showers
• by the river near the Nest Stage

Hot Showers!

• Pay by donation
• Accessible 24/7
• Lines can be long.  Please be considerate of others and limit shower time to 5 minutes.
• Biodegradable soaps and shampoos only please!

• open daily throughout the weekend
• Food Trucks featuring a variety of cuisines
• Local art, Handmade Clothing and Accessories
• Our Forest Finds shop has official Future Forest Merchandise
• Picnic tables are available for your convenience

• Open daily in the heart of the festival
• General information, Schedules, and Maps
• Volunteer Shift Check-in
• Ice and coffee available for purchase
• General supplies for purchase (toothbrushes, aloe vera, etc)
• Guest Message board – leave notes for your friends!

• Located at the info booth
• Hours of Operation: 12 hours Daily from 10:00-22:00 (plan accordingly)
• If not functioning, tell the info booth

• Refer to the map for our location (indicated by red and white cross)
• open 24/7, a team of nurses, medical students, paramedics, nursing students, and first aiders are always on site
• Bandaids, tampons, cold packs, ear plugs…anything you can think of
• Come say hi, especially if you have a medical condition we should be aware of!
• Please be prepared to wait outside if you are the friend of someone seeking first aid
• If you think you or a friend needs to go to hospital, talk to security and first aid team before leaving the festival site! We are here for you!

If you get sent to the Fredericton Hospital by ambulance…

• you must have your wallet, with medicare card
• you will need to arrange a way back, taxi prices and availability ranges, however the hospital is 40 km from the Futre Forest Site
• you should discuss with the emergency room physician if it is safe for you to return
• please check in at first aid if you come back to the festival

A comfortable, shaded communal chill space where all are welcome.  Kitty corner from the Tea Hive, The Burrow has hammocks and cosy spaces where you can chill with friends, sip your tea if the Hive is buzzing, or have a snooze.   Craft supplies are available if you are feeling creative as well as sensory toys if you need something to do with your hands. While harm reduction and safety volunteers will check in periodically, there will not be someone on site at all times.  If you are feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or need a kind person to talk to, visit the Tea Hive. If you require medical attention, go to the first aid tent.

The Tea Hive is a harm reduction collective, offering a chill out space, free tea, and peer-support.   We are open all hours of the festival!

Our volunteers are trained in harm reduction, psychedelic support, and space-holding,  and can be a calm presence for anyone who might need so! We always have ear plugs and condoms available free of charge,  as well as a diverse range of pamphlets and resources on safer sex, safe drug use, community care, and more. Our art supplies is always stocked, and we have blankets galore!

The hive is a cozy space that can give you a moment to relax and regroup before rejoining the festival feeling recharged and energized! Come visit us, warm up with a cup of tea or cool down with some home-made gatorade, and let’s take care of each other!

The Consent Kitties are a team of people committed to promoting consent and communication across dance floors, festivals, and everywhere!

Our slogan is JUST ASK, and that’s just what we want you to do (and of course LISTEN)! If you wanna dance with someone, touch someone, or kiss someone, you’ve gotta ask first. If it isn’t a resounding “yes”, it’s a “no.” Communication is sexy, and Consent is Mandatory! We can all get weirder and happier together if we ask first, so let’s make consent and good communication a big part of Future Forest and our lives!

If you’re in a situation you don’t feel comfortable in, or see something going on that you don’t think is consensual, go find a kitty and let us know! The more people looking out for each other the safer we all are! We’ll have our classic ears and bandanas on, and be covered in LEDs so we shouldn’t be too hard to find! There will also be a Consent Kitty in the Tea Hive in the evenings so you can always find one there!

And if you just wanna talk, or have questions regarding consent, come say hey! Consent can be a complicated thing, and we’re all learning, so don’t be afraid to ask a kitty if you don’t know.  We all know what a beautiful thing Future Forest is, and we just want to make it better, safer and weirder! So we’ve all gotta work together and make it the best that it can be!

Flying Safe is a peer-based harm reduction organization that is currently in the process of registering as an NGO. We offer information, support, and comfort in rave and festival settings. Our aim is to encourage safer partying by providing party-goers with fact-based information and other services in order to give back to the community we all know and love!

• Campsites at Future Forest are backwoods camping. Please be prepared to scout out a site and move some debris.
• Smaller tents are recommended.  If you have a particularly large tent, you might want to consider purchasing an RV spot to guarantee space.
• Please respect quiet hours between 0500-noon.  Rest is a necessity.
• No power to campsites. No fires. Camping stoves are permitted but must be attended at all times when in use.
• staff/volunteer/musician camping zones available
• RV campsites by prepaid ticket purchase only (via Future Forest website).
• Many campsites are in shaded areas between the trees, with ideal spots for hanging hammocks and tarps.
• Make sure you have all your tent pegs and poles before arriving to the festival site.  Set your tent up in your yard before packing it up to make sure you have all necessary pieces.  Nothing worse than discovering you are missing a pole!
• Please note, most camping sites are walk in only. Be prepared to carry all your gear!

How do I find the best camping?

• Arrive early! Camping is first come, first served.
• Having a flag/sign at your campsite is a great way to let your pals know where to find you.
• Please be considerate, do not rope off large areas for friends who will arrive at a later date. If you are arriving late, consider sending your tent with your friends to set up before your arrival.

Check out the schedule for a list of workshops.  Past workshops have included yoga, relaxation, rope tying/bondage, and foraging for edible plants.  Capacity for workshops is limited and is on a first come first served basis.

• 3 different stages, each with its own unique atmosphere. Projection artists, performers, live painters and creators provide a feast for the eyes while our world class musicians, entertainers and sound systems will keep you moving until dawn.
• No smoking on the dance floor please!! There will be designated smoking sections close to each stage. Fresher air = fresher moves 😉
• If you are feeling uncomfortable, speak to a Consent Kitty.  This wonderful team of volunteers can be found on dance floors in their cat ears and kerchiefs.  Consent Kitties are always happy to speak to other guests about appropriate dancing, touch and consent in a kind, non-judgmental way.

Prism Stage

• Striking geometric 2 story stage design with mind bending visual projections, flanked by two platforms for live performances .
• Hydration Station nearby
• Comfortable sand covered dance floor
• Natural seating
• Live performances and aerials acrobatics
• Live painting area

Musical Genres include:

• Friday: Weird and Wonky Bass
• Saturday: Live Music
• Sunday: House

Mushroom Stage

• Organic, octagon, mushroom stage design, inspired by the landscape.
• Located under tall pine trees for shaded daytime dancing
• Hydration Station nearby
• Sand covered dance floor
• Natural amphitheater design
• Living wall surrounding lower dance floor
• Live Painting area and performances

Musical Genres include:

• Friday: Modern House
• Saturday: Dubstep, DnB, Halftime
• Sunday: World Bass

Nest Stage

• Breathtaking stage design, unique each year, by the Lunosol artist group.
• Hydration Station nearby
• Located 50 meters from Little River and our communal campfire
• Towering maples provide comfortable shade
• Sand covered dance floor
• Live painting area

Musical Genres include:

• Friday: PsyBass & Psytrance
• Saturday: Melodic House and Techno

• Our art gallery tent displays work from local artisans, some of which can be purchased on site.
• Art installations can be found all over the festival.  Enjoy these creations, but please be respectful of the artwork and leave it in place for everyone to enjoy.

• Nestled between the trees you will find shelves and hooks containing treasures for trade. Make sure you bring some small items, costume pieces or goodies to leave behind.
• Please note, drugs of any kind are NOT appropriate to leave in the Trading Grove.

Volunteers: Future Forest relies on our wonderful team of volunteers.  If you would like to join our volunteer family, a Future Pass is required (this eliminates the need to pay full ticket price and wait for a refund).

Staff: This dedicated team works hard all year long to prepare for the festival. Future Forest would not be possible without them.

Production Team: Keeping the sound and lights on!

Safety/Security: Working hard to keep us all safe and sound.  If you see someone who needs help, please do not hesitate to let them know!

Artists:  Musicians, painters, performers, and artisans.  These creative souls entertain and entrance all weekend long.

Join the “Friends of Future Forest” Facebook group. Connect with Future Forest veterans for tips and tricks.

When you arrive on site, it is always a good idea to explore the festival in the daytime.  Make note of where water taps, bathrooms, First Aid, the Tea Hive, and The Burrow are located. Orient yourself to where your campsite is, look for landmarks!  Things look different in the dark and knowing where safe spaces and your cosy campsite are is essential.

Nutrition

• Staying well hydrated is important!  Fresh water is available onsite to refill your water bottles.
• Make sure you have water at your tent, you will be thankful for it when you wake up!
• Rehydration/electrolyte powder is always a good idea after working up a sweat on the dance floor.
• While food vendors are available on-site, it is a good idea to have some snacks or easy meals available at your camp.  Fruit and veg, protein bars, or items that don’t require refrigeration are best. Ice for coolers is available for purchase at the Info Booth.
• Our communal campfire can be found by the river.  Bring smores, make friends.

Cell Phone Service

• There is NO reliable cellular service or wifi on site. Please plan accordingly!  Enjoy being unreachable for the weekend. Consider leaving notes for your friends at the Message Board by the Info Booth.  Remember to put your phone on airplane mode to conserve your battery! You will want to take pictures.

HOW TO PREPARE

PACKING LIST

Pets and other domesticated animals are not allowed on the festival site.

Service and Guide dogs* will be allowed on site. However, as there have been issues with illegitimate animals being named service dogs, each case will be assessed by our health department manager. We will pay close attention to the health and well-being of any service/guide animal that is on site and if there is any question of mistreatment or exposure that may cause harm, we will not hesitate to call the SPCA.

*Service or Guide Animals are medically prescribed. They require:

1. adequate medical documentation (does not have to include private information, such as diagnosis) or
2. a legitimate certificate from a reliable source. Service vests do not count as adequate proof of status as a service animal. Documentation must be provided in advance of entering the festival grounds. Without appropriate documentation, the animal, and hence their owner, will be refused entry.

If those with service or guide animals decide to enter the festival, they do so at their, and their animal’s, own risk. They should be aware that there is potential for dehydration, excessive sound exposure, and other unforeseen risk that may endanger the well-being of their animal. The service/guide animal is the responsibility of the individual to which the animal is prescribed ALONE. Hence the service animal should always be tethered to that individual.

Failure to abide by these regulations will result in the individual and their animal being asked to leave the festival and the possibility that entry will be denied in the future. Should there be any concern about mistreatment or being put in danger of harm, the SPCA will be called to investigate.

We have sought legal counsel on the topic of animals on the premises during the festival, as well as consulted with the humane society, human rights organization, and Service Dogs of Canada. Please note that the festival environment is unsafe for any domesticated animals. The sound levels, extreme temperatures, and crowded areas unfortunately do not allow us in good conscience to have animals on site during festival hours. If you have a service or guide dog and would suffer undue hardship or be unable to attend without this tool, please email health@futureforest.ca.

As much as we try to create an alternative to the everyday at our festival, we also realize that the normalized cultures of our society are somewhat inescapable. This includes the oppression of our bodies, especially the sexualisation and abuse of feminine bodies. We want to do whatever we can to make sure that humans of all shapes, sizes and genders can feel safe at our festival, which is why we have harm reduction, medical, safety and security teams in place.

We want to BLATANTLY say that FUTURE FOREST DOES NOT TOLERATE ACTIONS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT OR ABUSE.

If you want to dance with someone, ask.  If you want to touch someone, ask. If you want to have sex with someone, ASK.  If they say no, DON’T KEEP PUSHING IT!

At Future Forest, we are building a community based on Three Pillars of Harm Reduction!

Take Care of YOURSELF

Take Care of EACH OTHER

Take Care of THE EARTH