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festival faq
festival faq
festival faq
festival faq
festival faq
festival faq
festival faq
festival faq
festival faq
festival faq
Festival FAQ
Can I leave the festival and return later?

No sorry, there will be no re-admittance once you exit the festival.

Which gate do I go through to enter or exit the festival?
  • General Admission - Gate D. 
  • Brewers Pick & Feldspar VIP Experience - Gate E.
  • Disability Access - Gate E.
  • Forsyth Barr Stadium Member - Gate B (Only for the first 2 hours each day. After that, it’s Gate D).


Exit is available through Gate D throughout the event, as well as Gate C and E at the end of the event.

What can I and can’t I bring in?
  • Cameras - Yes your standard camera is all good, but no professional gear without prior arrangement please.
  • Large Bags - For security purposes, backpacks, sports bags and anything larger than a handbag is not permitted. 
  • Glass bottles - Any glass bottles including fragrance is not permitted and will be disposed of. Please leave them at home. 
  • Umbrellas - We are lucky enough to have the only stadium in NZ with a roof. Umbrellas are not allowed into the venue, but if the weather's pretty average outside, then they can be dropped at gate entry into the bins provided, at the owners own risk.  
  • Seating - There will be plenty of seating inside, please leave your bean bags and folding chairs at home. 
  • Food - No outside food is permitted, unless it is for an infant or if you have special dietary requirements.
Have you got a waste strategy?

Absolutely! All vendors will be using compostable packaging products such as plates and utensils and all beverage vendors will be pouring into the official festival glass. With these measures, along with clearly labelled bins, and a robust recycling system, we aim to produce minimal waste.

Lost Something? We’ve Got You.

If you misplace anything during the Festival, head to the Information/Lost Property stall - it’ll be clearly signposted and marked on the Festival map. You’ll also find a coat check service here, so it’s a good first stop before heading home.

Still missing something after the event? All unclaimed items will be moved to the OUSA Main Office (640 Cumberland Street) a couple of days after the Festival. So if you’ve left your jacket or anything behind, give it a day or two and then pop in to check.


OUSA Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 9am – 4:30pm.

Bringing the family on Saturday?

Bringing the family on Saturday? U18 tickets are available as an add-on when purchasing a General Admission or Brewer’s Pick ticket. Available for Saturday only

As a condition of entry to DCBFF, everyone will be ID'd if you look under 25.

If you are under 18 you will be given a wristband to indicate that you will only be able to purchase food and non-alcoholic beverages.

Breastfeeding: You’re welcome to breastfeed wherever you feel comfortable within the public areas of the Festival.

Baby Changing: Changing tables are available in each of the mobility toilets, two on the ODT Slab and two on the North Concourse.

Kids Area: There will be a free kids area on Saturday only . It’s not a crèche, but there’ll be a range of child-friendly activities to enjoy. Check out the site map on the Festival website for the exact location.

Also noting DCBFF is not specifically designed to cater to children.
Where can I park?

If you're a sober driver then, there are some parks available directly behind the stadium (though note VERY limited on the Friday as this is leased parking, so only available from 5pm onwards) or around Logan Park. Either way we recommend coming early to find the best spots around the Logan Park area or beside the harbour.

Getting to the Festival

Forsyth Barr Stadium is just a short walk from central Dunedin, making it super easy to get here by public transport. With plenty of bus routes connecting all corners of the city, hopping on a bus is a smart choice. Check out the Otago Regional Council’s bus journey planner to map out your trip. https://www.orc.govt.nz/orbus/journey-planner/


Planning to taste the alcoholic offerings? Great! Just make sure the car stays at home. Here are a few handy ways to get to and from the Festival:

  • Taxis: Dunedin has no shortage of taxis. If you're unsure where to grab one, just pop into the on-site info tent and they’ll be happy to help.
  • Buses: As we said, there are plenty of options. And if you're still a bit lost, our info tent team at the Festival can point you in the right direction.
  • Walk: Walking bus with your mates? Perfect for your post festival debrief, and a great way to get some steps in for the day. 


We don’t recommend:

  • Scooters
  • Bikes 


Travel safe and make the most of a great day out!

Is smoking and vaping permitted?

Smoking and Vaping is ONLY permitted within the designated smoking/vaping areas Gate E & B (checkout the site map on the Festival Website for location). 

You do risk being ejected from the event if you choose to smoke/vape outside of these areas.

What time does the festival start and end?

Friday: Doors open 4pm and you can enjoy yourself until 11pm (but please note we stop serving alcohol at 10.30pm)

Saturday: Doors open at 12pm and you can enjoy yourself until 7pm (please note we stop serving alcohol at 6.30pm)

Ticket FAQ
Do I need a ticket for my baby / child / U18?

YES! ‍‍

We have a limited number of U18 tickets available for Saturday ONLY. Even though children (infants right through to 17 years old) are free, they will need an U18 ticket to enter the festival.

For Children 0-17 year olds, tickets are offered as an add-on once you have purchased your adult entry tickets. You can add up to a maximum of four U18 tickets per adult ticket transaction.

But remember this is for Saturday ONLY, Friday’s event is strictly an R18 event.

Mobile Tickets

How do I access my mobile ticket?

Open the Ticketek NZ app and sign in using your Ticketek account. Tap “Tickets”, find the Dunedin Craft Beer and Food Festival event, then tap “View” to open your ticket.

Should I add my ticket to my phone wallet?

Yes. If the option is available, add your ticket to your phone wallet before event day. This makes it easier to find your ticket quickly and helps avoid delays at the gate.

What should I do when I arrive at the gate?

Have your ticket open and ready for scanning. Please turn your phone screen brightness up to maximum so the scanner can read your ticket clearly.

Will I receive an SMS link to my mobile ticket?

No. You will not receive an SMS link after purchase. Please access your mobile ticket through the Ticketek NZ app.

I received my ticket by email. Is that a mobile ticket?

No. If your ticket was emailed to you as a PDF, it is an EzyTicket rather than a mobile ticket.

EzyTickets

What is an EzyTicket?

An EzyTicket is a print-at-home ticket. If you selected EzyTicket as your delivery option, your ticket will be emailed to you as a PDF attachment.

Do I need to print my EzyTicket?

If you can open the PDF ticket clearly on your phone, you do not need to print it. If your phone cannot open the file, please print your ticket before you arrive.

Do EzyTickets need to be printed in colour?

No. EzyTickets can be printed in black and white. We recommend printing the PDF on A4 paper.

I did not receive my ticket email. What should I do?

First, check your spam or junk folder. If you still cannot find your ticket, contact Ticketek NZ on 0800 842 538.

My EzyTicket looks blank. What should I do?

Try opening the PDF using an up-to-date PDF reader, such as Adobe Acrobat Reader. Make sure the software or app on your device is updated.

Ticket Sharing

Can I share mobile tickets with other people in my group?

Yes. Ticket sharing lets you send individual mobile tickets to family or friends through the Ticketek NZ app, so each person can access their own ticket.

How do I share a mobile ticket?

In the Ticketek NZ app, tap “Tickets”, open the ticket you want to share, then tap “Manage ticket” and follow the prompts.

How does someone accept a shared ticket?

They will receive a unique link by email or SMS, depending on how the ticket was shared. They will need to sign in to, or create, a Ticketek account to accept the ticket.

What if the person I shared a ticket with has not received it?

Ask them to check their spam or junk folder and confirm the email address or mobile number was entered correctly. You can also check the ticket share status in the Ticketek NZ app and cancel, recall, or resend the ticket if needed.

How long does someone have to accept a shared ticket?

The receiver has 48 hours to accept the shared ticket. If it is not accepted in time, the ticket will return to the original purchaser’s order history.

Can I undo a ticket share?

Yes. In the Ticketek NZ app, go to “Tickets” and check the status of the shared ticket. Depending on the status, you may be able to cancel or recall it.

Can I return a shared ticket after accepting it?

Yes. Go to “Your Tickets” in the Ticketek NZ app and tap “return”. The ticket will be returned to the original ticket owner and removed from your account.

Buying Tickets, Box Office and Collection

Can I buy tickets at the venue?

If tickets are still available, last-minute tickets may be available from the Ticket Box Office on event day.

When does the box office open?

30 minutes prior to gates each day.

Can I collect prepaid tickets at the venue?

Yes. Tickets can be collected from the Ticket Box Office on the day of the event.

Who can collect prepaid tickets?

As part of the terms of sale, prepaid tickets can only be collected by the credit or debit card holder who purchased the tickets.

Refunds, Exchanges and Lost Tickets

Can I get a refund, exchange, or cancellation?

Refunds, exchanges and cancellations are subject to the ticketing terms and conditions. As a condition of sale, bookings are generally final once confirmed.

I cannot find my tickets. What should I do?

If you bought your ticket online, check the “Tickets” tab in the Ticketek NZ app or log in to your Ticketek account and check your order history. Also check your spam or junk folder for any ticket emails.

What if my tickets are lost or stolen?

If you still cannot find your tickets, contact Ticketek NZ or submit a general enquiry through Ticketek. If it is event day, arrive early and speak to the Ticket Box Office team.

Beverage & Food FAQ
Can I take any beers away with me?

Sadly, no. We don’t have an off-license, so all drinks must be consumed on site.

But don’t worry – many of our brewers and distillers have online stores. So if you fall in love with something, you can hunt it down post-festival.

Why can I not just buy a pint? What’s with the tasting glasses?

Our festival is all about tasting – not just drinking. With so many amazing brews to try, we want you to sample widely and discover new favourites.

The smaller pours make it easier to explore more flavours and make it through the day!

How many alcoholic drinks may I buy per vendor service?

On Friday, the limit is four drinks per transaction. If you can carry more than this, we'd be pretty impressed.

Saturday. Go for it, carry as many as you feel physically possible, though the the stall's duty manager might help you out and impose a limit to stop any spillages occurring.

On either day, we may limit the number of drinks per person per transaction if we felt the need to at any point during the Festival. 

What are the serving sizes/ lines on the festival cup?
  • 75ml is a taster measure
  • 100ml for wine pours
  • 150ml for HALF pour
  • 330ml is for FULL pours. 
I lost my festival cup. Can I get another?

You can purchase a new cup for $3 from the info/merch tent. Phew!

What can I drink if I’m not into beer?

While beer’s the star of the show, there’s plenty more on the drinks menu. Think wine, cider, a cheeky cocktail, or even a wee dram of spirits. Not drinking? No worries -  there’s juice, coffee, and soft drinks to keep you refreshed.

And of course, free water stations are scattered throughout the festival grounds. Stay hydrated, pace yourself, and soak it all in.

What time do you stop serving alcohol?

Last drinks are poured at 10.30pm on Friday and 6:30pm on Saturday. 

So make sure you’ve sampled everything you want to prior to this time.

Will you have any special beers I can’t buy at my local store?

100%. That’s kind of our thing. Expect one-off brews, exclusive collaborations, and small-batch experiments you won’t find anywhere else.

What is the festival beer/brew and who made it?

Every year, the previous year’s Blackrock Homebrew Champion gets the honour of brewing their winning recipe with the legends at Emerson’s.

The result? This year’s exclusive Festival Brew - grab a taste and see what all the fuss is about!

Where can I get water?

There are free water stations scattered throughout the festival site. We encourage you to swill your Festival cup out, and refill with fresh water whenever you need it. 

Stay hydrated, pace yourself and make the most of your day!

Will there be vegetarian and gluten free options available?

Absolutely! We’ve made sure there’s something for everyone.

We have a range of vegetarian and gluten free options. To make easy for you, we’ve indicated in the Food section of the My Festival page which stalls have vegetarian fare and/or gluten free, or other dietary goodies.

As many of our chefs are still preparing what they will be bringing along to the Festival, this info won't be available until much closer to the Festival date.

How do I find vendors selling non-alcoholic drinks?

Yes! there are  non-alcoholic options available.

Closer to the festival date, we will have a full list of all vendors and what they will be selling on the My Festival page.

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