Volunteering

A festival doesn’t happen just by itself. The Upside Down Festival crew needs a lot of helping hands during the festival to get everything running!

We’re looking for 20 supervolunteers (update: all spots are filled), as well as plenty of volunteers who will work together with staff and tech crew members.

Any help is very much appreciated <3

Supervolunteers

All of our spots for supervolunteers are filled. Thanks for the many responses!

If you have applied, we will be in touch.

You would like to be part of the team of Upside Down during the festival? Wonderful!

Every year, around 20 supervolunteers join the crew behind the UDF scenes. They contribute to a crucial part of the festival during the day or night.

We won’t sugar coat it: being a Supervolunteer is quite a responsibility. Besides your duties, you will have time to enjoy the festival, although you won’t be able to join all activities as regular participants. On the other hand, the supervolunteer experience will get you unique memories and skills.

As a supervolunteer, you will be involved in a practical capacity for about 20 hours in total. This could be 4 hours spread over 5 days, or 6.5 hours spread over 3 days. You are present from 27/12 morning to 01/01 evening + either 26/12 or 2/1 for the build-up and break-down.

During the festival, you have a fixed supervolunteering task package.

  • We will distribute the responsibilities before the festival, and make sure that everyone is happy with the job or combination of tasks they get. You can indicate your strengths and preferences when signing up.
  • You work alone, with a group of supervolunteers and/or together with volunteers.
  • Examples of task packages: venue responsible, bar and catering, registration desk, decoration support, social media, photography, second-hand shop salesperson…

Our thank you for your super help:

  • You’ll be part of an amazing team and experience the festival as an insider
  • You’ll learn new skills and understand how to organize or support things in your own community.
  • Lots of love and appreciation
  • Food & drinks during your shifts
  • We can organize hosting for you if needed
  • You can join the whole festival for 65€. That includes access to everything: parties, all tracks and all Pick ‘n’ Mix activities. Though because of your work schedule, you will be limited in your choices.
  • We will do our best to facilitate your festival so that you can have the best supervolunteering experience.
  • If you want, you can also be kept in the loop about the preparations that are already happening, and you can take part in the trainings and workshops we organise for the team.
Here’s how our supervolunteers experienced UDF23:

“The buildup gave me time (although truthfully it also tired me out a little before the festival started) to become acquainted and familiar before the festival started, while the breakdown felt like it also created space for me to decompress and slowly let go as the festival winded down”

“My workload was more than I expected. However this awakened the feeling that is related to being a part of a community. I felt connected, and all of the times, I felt not alone in that.”

“My needs for understanding the values of the festival have been met in an incredible way.”

“I got to know myself better, my strengths and weaknesses and what I need to work on more. Besides, I got to know many amazing people who were involved in the team.”

“I received so much more than what I put in.”

“Perhaps the needs that I did not think of but have been met at the festival: support, celebration, being heard, togetherness, growing, movement, cohesion, inspiration. But if I choose just one word, that would be “connection” for me.”

“I have so much respect to all the hearts that were being put into creating this magical learning environment. The sparks are with me, will take them wherever I am or will go.”

! Filling out the supervolunteer form doesn’t grant you entrance to the festival. As we have limited spots for supervolunteers, we may not be able to offer a spot to everyone who shows interest.

! Make sure to also register through the regular registration system. If we confirm you as a supervolunteer, your spot at the festival is guaranteed. Please sign up as you would normally, choosing the options you want, so you can still participate in case there’s no supervolunteer spot for you.

Feel free to reach out to us by e-mail for questions related to volunteering.

Volunteers

There are volunteering shifts of 1h30 available during the festival. For each shift you get our eternal gratitude and a drink ticket.

The overview of volunteerings slots will be shared in the week before the festival.

Feel free to reach out to us by e-mail if you have questions.