EVENT INFORMATION

Main Arena
Friday 13 June, 12:00pm (midday)
Saturday 14 June, 10:00am
Sunday 15 June, 10:00am

The music will start an hour after doors open and end at approximately 22:30 each day.

Standard Campsite Opens: Wednesday 11th June, 12:00pm (midday)
Closes: Monday 16th June, 12:00pm (midday)

RIP Park Farm Campsite Opens: Wednesday 11th June, 12:00pm (midday)
Closes: Monday 16th June, 12:00pm (midday)

Box Office
Wednesday 11th June 10am - midnight
Thursday 12th June 8am - midnight
Friday 13th June 8am – midnight
Saturday 14th June 8am – midnight
Sunday 15th June 8am – 9pm

Children under the age of 8 will not be admitted. Children under 16 years old must be accompanied by a parent of guardian over 21. Don't take any chances - bring proof of age.
N.B. These restrictions include the RIP Park Farm Campsite
If you live outside the UK, then bring your booking confirmation with you to the festival. Your tickets will be available for collection at the Box Office on-site at Donington Park. Box Office opening times are detailed above ("Opening Times - Download 2008")

No-one will be allowed onto the campsite without proof that they also have a ticket for the festival. This will be policed across the festival weekend.

CAMPSITES OPEN AT MIDDAY on WEDNESDAY 11th JUNE.

We will NOT accept campers prior to this time.
Do not get here before then!!

NO ROGUE CAMPING
You will not be allowed to camp without a camping ticket! A camping ticket lasts for the whole weekend or just one night, it’s the same price. No rogue camping will be tolerated.

Large tents/gazebos must be used by the number of people for which they are intended  i.e. no 6 berth tents with just 2 people sleeping in it!

A hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, rainwear, woolly jumper / fleece,– your ticket ! 

Bring enough cash for the weekend, and/or a cash card (keep it safe!) We have many cash machines onsite accepting all major UK debit cards. We also have trained engineers onsite to manage these machines - please ask them for assistance if required.

Plus, tell your friends of any allergies you have.

Check out the latest weather update before you leave for Donington.

Offensive weapons or anything that may be considered offensive, even if you're planning to use it for camping ( it won't be allowed in )

This includes: ANY glass containers, Prams or pushchairs ( the festival site is not suitable for them or their occupants!) ANY pets, Laser pens ( they are dangerous and may result in eviction without refund )

Standard compact cameras will be permitted, though you will not be able to take in a professional camera e.g. One with interchangeable lenses.

This year we have teamed up with Lockerhouse to make sure you can keep your gear safe at Download. 

You will get to keep a souvenir branded padlock after the event too! Book now, and be sure to keep your stuff safe all weekend.

NEW FEATURE - All lockers in the campsite area now come equipped with an inbuilt 12V charging facility. You will need to use a 12V car plug (the one that goes in the cigarette lighter socket!)

CAMPING LOCKERS
N.B. Customers who are camping will only have access to the lockers situated in the campsite area.  Your ticket will not be transferrable to the lockers in the arena as these are exclusively for day and weekend arena ticketholders, though we will have these on sale on the day for £5.00 to all customers should you wish to buy one, subject to availability.

ARENA LOCKERS
Day ticketholders and Weekend Arena ticketholders will have access to lockers in the arena. Again with a souvenir branded padlock - please note, the ARENA locker do NOT have 12V charging facilities.

Customers who have booked a locker will not be issued a ticket.  Simply take with you your booking reference number (Shown on your booking confirmation and on your tickets) and you will be issued with a locker.

IMPORTANT! - PLEASE NOTE: ALL LOCKERS ARE SMALL: 25cm wide x 15.5cm deep x 10cm high - so they are the right size for small valuables (mobiles, wallets, cameras).

Locker tickets will only be available online until 21:00 on Monday 09 June 2008. Should you wish to make a purchase after this time, there will be limited availability onsite.

Food from around the world, from fish‘n’chips to stir-fried chicken to tofu-burgers – there will be plenty on stalls on site, catering to a wide variety of tastes! Soft Drinks and Beer will be available all day and the bars in the campsite entertainment zone will be open until well after the main show finishes.

You can bring your own alcohol with you if you are camping, though it will not be permitted in the music arena. Remember, no glass bottles are allowed anywhere on site, but cans of drink are fine in the campsite only. You will only be permitted to take in soft drinks in to the arena and these must be in plastic bottles no bigger than 500ml (n.b. the lids will be removed for safety reasons).

Disposable BBQ’s and small camping stoves are allowed in the campsite only, however, the organiser reserves the right to confiscate any disposable BBQ’s used irresponsibly.

There will be full festival markets dotted all over the site providing all kinds of things that you will need to survive the three or four days you intend to stay with us. Market stalls include clothes, jewellery, massages, piercing & tattoos, organic foods, souvenirs, merchandise, chairs, and loads of other stuff.

Check out The Village section for more information.

Once on site it is important to plan your day. Obviously the priority is making sure you get to see the acts that mean the most to you – come back to the festival website a few days before the show and all band times will be listed so you can plan in advance.

Don’t forget some other basics though – If you are with friends & are camping together or travelling home together - arrange a place & time to meet up at the end of the night.

Large crowds, a long day & hot weather in combination will tire you out. Make sure you pace yourself, drink plenty of water, eat some food that will give you some energy & minimize sun exposure.

If you're keen on getting autographs from bands featuring at Download then check out the times below and head along to the Kerrang! siging tent:

KERRANG! SIGNING TENT – FRIDAY

BAND                                        SIGNING @…
DISTURBED                            14.00 – 14.40
ZEBRAHEAD                           14.45 - 15.15
DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN 15.15 - 15.50
RISE AGAINST                        15.50 – 16.30
COMEBACK KID                     16.30 - 17.00
KILL HANNAH                         17.00 – 17.45
BLACK DAHLIA MURDER     17.45 - 18.20
BLACK TIDE                            18.30 – 19.10
SIMPLE PLAN                         19.10 – 19.40

KERRANG! SIGNING TENT  - SATURDAY

BAND                                        SIGNING @…
MADINA LAKE                         12.00 – 12.50
AMON AMARTH                      12.55 - 13.40
BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE 13.45 – 14.20
BIFFY CLYRO                        14.20 – 15.00
A DAY TO REMEMBER         15.00 - 15.40
JOB FOR A COWBOY           15.45 – 16.15
36 CRAZYFISTS                    16.15 – 17.00
THROWDOWN                      17.10 – 17.45
ALTER BRIDGE                     17.50 - 18.30
BLEEDING THROUGH        18.45 – 19.30
TESTAMENT                          19.30 - 20.00

KERRANG! SIGNING TENT  - SUNDAY

BAND                                       SIGNING @…
WILDHEARTS                        12.00 – 12.45
AIRBOURNE                           12.45 – 13.15
ELLIOT MINOR                       13.15 – 13.45
BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME 13.45 – 14.15
KIDS IN GLASS HOUSES    14.20 – 15.00
JIMMY EAT WORLD               15.00 – 15.30
FIGHTSTAR                             15.40 – 16.20
APOCALYPTICA                     16.25 – 16.55
CHILDREN OF BODOM        17.00 – 17.45
WITHIN TEMPTATION           17.50 – 18.30
MUNICIPAL WASTE               18.30 - 19.10
TARJA                                       19.10 – 19.45

Live Nation have no positions available at Download, mainly because the vast majority of roles around the site are managed by third party companies contracted in for the festival.

We have very welcoming neighbours at Donington, amongst some beautiful farmland; however, we are in the countryside, be careful and keep noise to a minimum when leaving the festival area.

We want to come back next year, so, anyone found on private property, pitching their tent or making what seems like a crafty shortcut, will be dealt with by the authorities ­ and you won't get any sympathy from us! Use our campsite and our car parks ­ that way, you won't have your car impounded or tent removed!

It takes us a whole week to clear the Donington of all the litter left. Litter bins and skips will be provided for your use around the site, try and make your weekend environment better and use them!

Lost property counters are located in the main arena and campsite, along with other welfare services. If you should lose or find any articles during the event, the staff here will be able to help. After the event, please contact Loughborough Police Station - 01162 222222 - to see whether your belongings have turned up or been handed in.

If you do drink, don't do drunk! Excessive drinking is bad for your health and your memory - surely you want to remember Download for the right reasons. Pace yourself, and have a great weekend.

IF YOU DRINK, DON'T DRIVE. DON'T RISK IT. 

There will be large police presence at Download Festival don't risk ruining everything. If you want to drink, take the shuttle bus or camp over the whole weekend, and remember don't drive until you're in the clear.

Drugs, hard or soft, are no more legal at festivals than they are anywhere else ­ the same penalties and risks apply. Festivals and large crowds can be disorientating experiences ­ this is definitely not the place to start experimenting. And remember, there are film crews, security staff and police throughout the site and surrounding area ­ its not exactly secluded!

After all this however, don't be afraid to tell medical staff or stewards if something is going wrong. - There will also be team of Drug and Alcohol Advice workers on site to provide specialist advice on substance misuse and harm reduction to anyone who requires support during the event.

The police and the Leicestershire Drug and Alcohol Action Team (DAAT) are using cutting edge technology to get crime prevention and sensible drinking messages through to people at this year’s Download music festival.

Workers from the Drug Intervention Programme will be walking around Donington Park using four portable Bluetooth boxes, each with the capability of sending quick-fire messages to mobile phones within a 25m radius. They will be working in a shift pattern from 10am until 2am on each day of the festival.

People with Bluetooth enabled mobiles will receive a note asking them if they want to receive a message. 

If they accept, they will be sent the animated message, which will contain information on a range of topics, including crime prevention and advice on alcohol and drug use.  As the messages are sent using Bluetooth technology and not SMS, they will cost nothing for phone uses to receive.

Nick Jones, an Alcohol Strategy Officer with Leicestershire Drug and Alcohol Action Team, said; "All partners involved believe the use of Bluetooth technology is a really exciting opportunity to get key personal safety, as well as drug and alcohol harm reduction messages, to the revellers throughout the duration of the festival. The messages will be quirky; they will raise a laugh in the spirit of the festival, but will also contain some useful tips to ensure that festival goers have a perfect Download."

There will also be team of Drug and Alcohol Advice workers on site to provide specialist advice on substance misuse and harm reduction to anyone who requires support during the event.

Security will have discretionary powers to restrict crowd numbers plus people who are too small or young, intoxicated, aggressive or possibly drug affected, incapacitated, in a wheelchair or on crutches.

Crowd surfing and moshing are dangerous to yourself and others and may result in eviction without a refund, so don’t do it.

Please consider others as well as your own safety, especially in front of stages. If someone falls down or is in distress please help them if you can or let the Stewards or Medical team know so we can help. It's meant to be a fun day, let's make sure it is.

The police in Leicestershire want visitors to this year’s Download Music Festival to have a safe, happy and crime free time.

Following its success last year, the police have re launched their text messaging and email service aimed at gathering information before, during and after the event.  If you have any information that might help prevent crime during the Festival then please use the text or email service.

You can text ‘police’ followed by your message to 86688 or email downloadfestival.intel@leicestershire.pnn.police.uk 


Steps to a safe and happy Download

• Use the on-site lockers for your personal belongings; don’t leave anything in your tent when you are not in it.  You can either book a locker in advance through your ticket provider or buy one when you arrive for £5. 

• If you can’t take your valuables with you when you leave the tent, leave them at home.

• Put money, tickets, credit cards and mobile phones in a zipped pocket or use a money belt.

• Do not bring large sums of cash. Only bring what you need and keep it on you at all times.

• Postcode the property you do bring to Download so that it is identifiable.  

• If you arrive by car, don’t leave anything on display in your vehicle including sat navs, car stereos, CDs or mobile phones.  Don’t put items in your glove box or the boot, this is the first place a thief will look.  Take everything with you or leave it at home.


Security staff and police officers will be patrolling both the camp sites and the car parks and each campsite will have a ‘hub’ with a ‘hub’ manager where people can go to report problems.  The mobile police station will be on the site which will be used as a reporting centre if anyone needs to report a crime.  Community volunteers will also be working on the site giving out crime prevention leaflets and post coding your property if visitors have forgotten to do it before they arrive.

ALWAYS...
• Know where your nearest emergency exits are
• Follow the instructions of Security Personnel, Police or other officials
• Move away promptly from any danger
• Notify a Steward, Police or Official if you see any any antisocial behaviour
• Move to where there is more space, should a crowd surge occur
• Ask for help if you need it and help others, especially if someone falls
• Stay calm (if you are distressed, ask to be taken to the Welfare Tent)

We are no longer accepting band submissions for this event.

For all print and online press enquiries, please email:
alex.darling@ldcommunications.co.uk

For all Radio & TV enquiries, please email:
natalie.jennings@screampromotions.co.uk
TICKET INFORMATION

Tickets should always be bought from a reliable source, below are some options for you.

Online: From the official website you're currently on obviously - http://www.downloadfestival.co.uk/tickets/index.aspx

By phone: Call the Live Nation ticket hotline: 08704000688

In person: From a Ticketmaster ticket centre: http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/etc/?tm_link=tm_retail_header

We cannot be held responsible for any purchases made through unreliable sources.

Tickets will be sold on the day from the on-site box office, subject to availability. Where possible, please bring cash with you to pay as card payments can take a long time to process, causing delays for everyone in the queue.

If you are collecting your tickets, please ensure you familiarise yourself with the site map and ensure you know which box office you need to attend to collect your tickets.

There are two box offices on-site:

Campsite Entrance: This is the main box office where you will collect or buy any ticket with a camping supplement.

Paddock Entrance: This box office will hold all day tickets and weekend arena tickets (no camping)

To collect your tickets, you will need to take with you the booking confirmation email and the credit or debit card used to make the purchase.

Kids tickets will be sold at both box offices. Please ensure you take appropriate ID for the child the ticket is for. A photocopy of their passport is recommended.

If you are collecting tickets that were paid for by someone else, please ensure you bring with you a letter of authority:

Letters of Authorisation must include the following information as standard:

Full name and address of customer booking tickets
Customer’s telephone number
Booking reference number
Event name
Event date
Venue
Number of tickets purchased
Name of person collecting tickets
Details of type of ID that the person collecting the tickets will provide when they are collecting
Last 4 digits of the payment card used to make the booking

Tickets will be sold on the day from the on-site box office, subject to availability. Where possible, please bring cash with you to pay as card payments can take a long time to process, causing delays for everyone in the queue.
Kids aged 12 or under will be eligible for concession rate tickets for Download 2008. These will ONLY be available on the day from the on-site Box Office and there will be unlimited availability. 

Kids Weekend Arena Ticket - £75.00
Camping/Family Camping Ticket - £10.00
Day Ticket (KISS) - £45
Day Ticket (THE OFFSPRING/LOSTPROPHETS) - £40

This offer does NOT apply to "RIP" packages. Parents must provide ID with proof of age at the Box Office (Birth Certificate /Passport).
Kids under the age of 8 will NOT BE ADMITTED, and children under 16 years old must be accompanied by a parent or guardian who is over 21 years old. Don’t take any chances - bring proof of age.
Booking Fees apply to all standard tickets and to the Campervan supplement. There are no Booking Fees on Lockers or Car parking. 

(NB: Booking Fees and VAT are included on all RIP tickets.)

Please allow up to 7 days before the event date to receive your tickets. Should you not receive them by then, please contact Ticketmaster on 08701535353

Live Nation have now brought all disabled customer ticket sales in-house. We now have a Disabled Customers hotline number that patrons can call when booking tickets to reserve a place on the platform. It is 0121 767 9729

Disabled customers will be provided with one free ticket for their helper, where required. Should additional helper tickets be required, please call the disabled access ticket line on 0121 767 9729 or email access@downloadfestival.co.uk

For "RIP" Experience packages, please call 020 7009 3484 to discuss your requirements.

"Rest in Peace" with a better class of camping, or stay in a hotel. All "RIP" packages come with a weekend ticket and a guest area access pass. Buy the whole package - or, if you have already bought a standard weekend arena ticket, you can simply upgrade by using the "without ticket" option.

RIP – NEW FOR 2008

  • We're closing the gates on reduced numbers this year to preserve RIP as it should be, Rock by day rest by night!
  • Look out for big shiny water containers on Park Farm this year. To combat the water pressure problem throughout Castle Donington,  we will have our very own water wells so that we have water as and when you need it. 
  • If you prefer to use the mains showers supplied (the purpose built shower blocks) we'll be providing you with a bundle of tokens when you arrive. Of course the lovely shower trailers don't require tokens and these will be taking up their place on the campsite as normal. 
  • There'll be a quiz night as per last year and we're working up some other ideas to help while away those days before the festival begins... See you in June!!

Overseas customers will have the choice of either collecting their tickets at the on-site box office or having tickets delivered to the registered billing address.

Overseas delivery is by FedEx, prices are as below:

European Union (plus Switzerland) and U.S.A                 £13.50
Rest of the World                                                                    £18.50

RIP Park Farm packages: Tickets must be collected from the RIP registration tent, which is located at Park Farm - (follow the signs to RIP on arrival at the festival).

RIP Platinum Hotel packages: your packages including tickets will be waiting for you at the reception of your chosen hotel.

For both RIP Park Farm & RIP Platinum Hotel packages: We will send an email to you two weeks before the festival with details on how to get to get to your destination, the email will also include all RIP information that you will require for your Download Festival experience.
Both Standard and RIP Campsites open on Wednesday 11th June and close on Monday 16th June. See Event Information for more details.

No-one will be allowed onto the campsite without proof that they also have a festival ticket. This will be policed across the festival weekend.

You will not be allowed to camp without a camping ticket! A camping ticket lasts for the whole weekend or just one night, it’s the same price. No rogue camping will be tolerated. Check back to this website before the festival for full details about camping, parking, safety and security.

Check out the full ticket terms and conditions, as printed on the reverse of the tickets for 2008, right here.
DISABLED ACCESS INFORMATION
All disabled customers are welcomed at Download, but as it is a greenfield site there are steep stony hilly sections of the site, meaning that sometimes access is not that easy. Stewards however, will be around to assist.

Live Nation have now brought all disabled customer ticket sales in-house.

We now have a Disabled Customers hotline number that patrons can call to book tickets -  It is 0121 767 9729

For overseas bookings, please call +44 121 767 9729

NB: Disabled customers will be provided with one free ticket for their helper, where required. Should additional helper tickets be required, please call the disabled access ticket line on 0121 767 9729 or email access@downloadfestival.co.uk

For "RIP” Experience packages, please call 020 7009 3484 to discuss your requirements.

If arriving by public transport you should go to the main entrance and make yourselves known to security personnel where you will be directed to the accessible viewing platform. If arriving by car, follow the signs or to the disabled car parking area or ask a steward to direct you.
There will be a disabled parking area located next to the campsite and arena entrance. The disabled car parking is free and cars must display an official disability badge where appropriate. You can also park your car next to your tent should you need to do so.
Viewing platforms are located at every stage, though access is restricted to the disabled customer plus one carer due to space restrictions. Non-disabled customers may be asked to leave the platform when it is busy to avoid overcrowding and we ask all customers to be considerate of others needs.
There are accessible toilets located in most toilet blocks on the site, and specifically by the disabled viewing platform in the main arena. When the site layout is confirmed, we shall post the exact locations of all disabled toilets here.

Camping facilities and toilets are provided for disabled customers. Please ensure you purchase a disabled access camping ticket. Please contact us at access@downloadfestival.co.uk if you wish to camp with your friends, though I’m afraid we must limit this to 4 friends per disabled customer due to restrictions on space.

Motorhomes may also be taken in to the disabled campsite and at no extra charge.

Can all disabled persons that are camping please bring with them a copy of your blue badge or DLA form. This is for your own safety so we have no unwanted guests into your camping area.

If you know that you will need to charge your electric wheelchair at the festival, please get in touch with us beforehand to make arrangements. Email us at access@downloadfestival.co.uk
TRAVEL INFORMATION
Donington Park, right next to East Midlands Airport Donington Park lies where the three counties of Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire and Derbyshire meet. - The ley-lines of ROCK!!

In virtually the middle of the country it has excellent connections being only 3 miles from the major trunk routes of the M1/M42 and A50. 

East Midlands International Airport is only two and a half miles away and has comprehensive domestic and European flight schedules. 

The mainline Intercity railway stations of Derby, Nottingham and Loughborough are approximately a twenty minute drive away and Donington Park is well served by public transport and taxi services. Click here to see Donington on a MAP

For all you Sat Nav users, the postcode for Donington Park is DE74 2RP
Save money and save the planet! Once again we have teamed up with liftshare.com to make sharing transport to Download a lot easier. 

Save money by sharing the travelling costs, reduce CO2 emissions and cut congestion resulting in you arriving to Download much earlier!

Not only that, but those that turn up with a vehicle of four or more will be given the chance to win a VIP upgrade for the weekend!!  Full vehicles will be given a form to fill in by the car park stewards on arrival.  Once completed, just hand them in at your nearest campsite Hub.  The draw closes at 5pm on Friday and one lucky car-load will see their tickets upgraded to VIP status, allowing them access to the EXCLUSIVE back stage bar!

The winner will be announced on the main stage on Friday evening, plus we will contact you on the number you give us (remember to bring ID when you collect your prize).

SAVE THE PLANET - REGISTER NOW!

Trying to get to the festival in an environmentally friendly way, but still want to do more?  Donate a few pence to offset the carbon emitted by travelling to the festival:

Climate change is a pressing global issue. Nevertheless, there are things that we can all do.

We are committed to encouraging and providing more sustainable transport options to Download Festival where possible, and would also like to offer customers the opportunity to offset their unavoidable carbon emissions associated with travelling to this event.

If you would like to participate in this scheme, there is an option to add 50p to your order on the shipping page. The figure of 50p represents the average per person CO2 emissions associated with audience travel to and from the concert. It was deduced using results of transport surveys and transport modelling along with approved DEFRA conversion figures. The funds will purchase Gold Standard Voluntary Emissions Reductions (VER's) from Emission:Statement who also support UK based environmental organisations to promote the solutions to climate change 'locally' as well as 'globally'.

Emission:Statement was established following repeated requests for high quality and transparent carbon offset from clients across the music industry.  Music artists and organisations who had carried out considerable carbon reduction, wanted to offset their remaining unavoidable business, travel and event emissions.

The Gold Standard is an independent, transparent, internationally recognized benchmark for ‘high quality’ energy efficiency or renewable energy projects. Our offset meets strict sustainable development criteria as validated by independent UN accredited bodies. Gold Standard is also the only offset supported by Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace and WWF.

For more information on the offset scheme go to www.emissionstatement.co.uk

Hassle free transport direct to Donington Park from across the UK National Express are back, bringing the most important people to Donington Park – YOU! 

Direct Services to Download 2008 will be available from all the major cities, including Birmingham, London, Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield, Bristol, Cardiff and Glasgow and many smaller towns, including Dudley, Blackpool, Gloucester and Exeter. 

GO GREEN ! 
Coach travel is the most environmentally friendly form of public transport and in 2006 an estimated 285,000 tCO2e were saved from using coach instead of car (data ECCM).  - This is equivalent to over 5 billion kettles boiling or 6.5 billion televisions powered for an hour. 

So by choosing to use National Express coach instead of a car to get to Download you really are reducing your carbon footprint.
To book your travel to Download call: 08717 81 81 81 (£1 booking fee applies) or simply visit any National Express outlet Website: www.nationalexpress.com/download

TRAIN INFO
For info on trains from your nearest station to Loughborough or Derby, call National Rail on: 08457 484 950. 

There will be official festival shuttle buses running to and from both of these stations: 

Loughborough Station - www.midlandmainline.com 
Derby Station - www.virgintrains.co.uk


RAILWAY STATION SHUTTLE BUSESOfficial shuttles from Derby and Loughborough stations to take you to the festival direct. 

Shuttle bus tickets will cost £7.00 return and are ONLY available from the bus operators on the day. Tickets cannot be prebooked.

Derby Station To Donington First Bus Last Bus Minimum Service Level
Wednesday 11 June 09:00 21:30 Every 20 Mins
Thursday 12 June 09:00 23:30 Every 20 Mins
Friday 13 June 09:00 22:00 Every 20 Mins
Saturday 14 June 08:30 23:00 Every 30 Mins
Sunday 15 June 08:30 19:00 Every 30 Mins
       
Loughborough Station To Donington      
Wednesday 11 June 09:30 19:00 Every Hour
Thursday 12 June 09:30 19:00 Every Hour
Friday 13 June 08:30 22:00 Every Hour
Saturday 14 June 09:00 15:00 Every Hour
Sunday 15 June 10:30 15:30 Every Hour
       
Donington To Derby Station      
Wednesday 11 June 09:30 21:00 Every 20 Mins
Thursday 12 June 09:30 23:00 Every 20 Mins
Friday 13 June 09:30 30 Mins after last band Every 20 Mins
Saturday 14 June 09:00 23:30 Every 30 Mins
Sunday 15 June 09:00 Midnight Every 30 Mins
Monday 16 June Midnight 15:00 Plenty provided
       
Donington To Loughborough Station      
Wednesday 11 June 10:00 19:00 Every Hour
Thursday 12 June 10:00 19:00 Every Hour
Friday 13 June 09:00 30 Mins after last band Every Hour
Saturday 14 June 08:30 30 Mins after last band Every Hour
Sunday 15 June 10:00 30 Mins after last band Plenty provided
Monday 16 June 07:00 14:00 Plenty Provided


N.B. All above times are approximate and are subject to change.

Tickets for our Car Park cost £10 in advance or £15 on arrival. 

The extra car traffic is one of the greatest impacts on the local area, one way to reduce the traffic is to share any spare spaces in your car. Check out the dedicated Download liftshare page: http://download.liftshare.org

If you are bringing a motorbike, you will need a car park ticket to park your bike on the hard standing area.

If you plan to make your way home by taxi there will be a designated hackney carriage rank and pre-booked pick up point. 

This designated area is located by the main entrance on the left off the A453.

If any taxi approaches you and touts for business then they are likely to be private hire vehicles or not licensed DON’T USE THESE. 

Your safety is paramount and these vehicles unless you have pre-booked, will not be insured to take you home safely and are likely to charge you inflated prices to do so.  

If you haven’t pre-booked a taxi you can get a hackney carriage from the designated rank.  These taxis are licensed and have set fares agreed by the Local Authority. 

Official marshals will direct you to waiting authorised licensed hackney carriages.

Example fares are:
    

Derby Station £25.00
Derby City Centre £28.00
Castle Donington Village £10.00
East Midlands Airport £15.00
Kegworth £20.00
Loughborough Railway Station £30.00
Melbourne £20.00
Nottingham City Centre £35.00
Leicester City Centre £45.00
Birmingham Airport £85.00
Birmingham City Centre £90.00
London Heathrow £180.00
London City Centre £180.00
London Gatwick £220.00
Long Eaton £25.00

COMPLAINTS
If you wish to make a complaint about the service you receive or have any questions regarding taxis prior to the event please contact the Licensing Section at North West Leicestershire District Council on 01530 454528/596/838

IF YOU DRINK, DON'T DRIVE. DON'T RISK IT. 

There will be large police presence at Download Festival don't risk ruining everything. If you want to drink, take the shuttle bus or camp over the whole weekend, and remember don't drive until you're in the clear.
As part of your package you will have the option to use the hotel shuttle bus service that will pick you up and drop you off at your hotel at selected points during the day & evening. 

Further information on this service will be sent to you with the rest of your RIP information.
Leicestershire Police: www.leics.police.uk
Donington Park: www.donington-park.co.uk
East Midlands Tourism: www.visitheartofengland.com
Derby Tourist Information: www.derby.gov.uk/Tourism
Loughborough Tourist Info: www.touruk.co.uk/leicester/lei_loug.htm
Train Services: www.midlandmainline.com
Train Services: www.virgintrains.co.uk
GREEN INFORMATION

More about DOWNLOAD FESTIVAL’s green initiatives
Download was the dirtiest festival of 2006.  In 2007, we were crowned the ‘Most Improved Festival’ by Agreenerfestival.com and we have built on this heavily to make sure that Download 2008 is the best and greenest Download ever!

Our Mission:  We know that Download Festival creates environmental impacts through the transport of goods and people, the use of resources and the generation of large volumes of waste that contribute to global environmental problems such as climate change. We are committed to delivering an event that continually improves its environmental performance.
We are promoting a major drive on raising environmental awareness across the festival: artists will receive briefing packs detailing what we are doing across the site and providing them information on how they can reduce their environmental footprint both at Download and elsewhere.

The major initiative of 2008 is that we are focusing on reducing the emissions from our audiences transport to and from the event.

"Come on then," we hear you ask, "what are you doing about it??
Well, on transport, we're promoting Liftshare; championing the use of public transport and providing reliable shuttle buses; festival staff will be using bikes to get around the site from build to break, and they will be living on site to reduce local journeys to accommodation.

We realise that Donington Park is a pretty tricky place to get to, but we hope that by car-sharing, or using a dedicated Download bus services from around the country, or taking the train or coach and using our shuttle buses from Derby and Loughborough stations, you can do your bit to help save the planet when you come to Download 2008. Visit the TRAVEL INFO section for some green options to consider when making your travel plans.

We remain dedicated to promoting public transport and investigating alternatives and this year we have teamed up with Emission:Statement to offer a simply way for you to offset the unavoidable CO2 emissions associated with travelling to the festival. When purchasing tickets customers have the option of adding 50p, cost deduced through transport modelling, onto their ticket price to offset their transport emissions by purchasing Gold Standard Voluntary Emissions Reductions (VER’s). All the funds will go directly into purchasing the Gold Standard offsets from Emission:Statement who will also support UK based environmental organizations to promote the solutions to climate change ‘locally’ as well as ‘globally’.
For more information on the offset scheme go to www.emissionstatement.co.uk

Energy use
All site lighting will use energy efficient bulbs; there will be a site-wide energy efficiency program to turn off unused equipment; light sensitive switches will make sure that lights aren’t left on unnecessarily and high efficiency generators will be used across site.

Recycling
The hugely successful cup deposit scheme from last year will still be in place which last year resulted in all the beer cups on site, over 17 tonnes, being recycled. This year the deposit scheme will be extended to plastic bottles bought on site as well, this will not only ensure that they are recycled but will help keep the site clean. All vendors will be using biodegradable food containers and utensils across the site. 
The campsites Hubs will have recycling facilities for cans, plastics, paper and card and festival goers will be incentivised to recycle their waste. These initiatives will build on last year’s success where we recycled over 60 tonnes of waste from the campsite and reduced our waste to landfill by over 27%.

All unwanted tents and camping equipment will be collected during and after the festival and donated to local Scout groups and Give Me Shelter, www.globalhand.org.

We have brought on specific environmental groups / charities to give advice to festival goers about improving their environmental impacts away from the event. And to top it all off, "Comfy Crappers" will be onsite to compost human waste from the toilets!

Recycle before/after you come to the festival
In the run up to the festival, sign up to www.Freecycle.org to get FREE stuff!  It's essentially ebay with no money, people list stuff they don’t want anymore and you just take it from them for FREE!!! It’s a grassroots and entirely nonprofit movement of people who are giving (& getting) stuff for free in their own towns. The Network provides individuals and non-profits an electronic forum to "recycle" unwanted items. If you need a tent or camping equipment, or if you don’t need yours anymore, register with Freecycle.  One person's trash can truly be another's treasure! 

The future…
We are already planning for 2009 and intend to add extra initiatives in place by then covering the extensive use of renewable energy, intensive energy efficiency programs, composting of all food waste, increased use of recycled materials and improved transport solutions.



Thanks to boardies Tony Taylor and Stuart Fisher for the photograph of AFTER the festival, Download 2007.
 
Yes, if you look closely (click the image to enlarge), this is a pic of the aftermath and all the RUBBISH that was left behind.  We are aiming to recycle as much as possible of your rubbish this year - who’s with us??!

** Recycling - Download Dirtbag Scheme - Win Weekend VIP Tickets and beer!!
Get a Download Dirtbag from your campsite Hub Green Warrior – follow the instructions on the bag, fill it and take it to the Download Dirtbag recycling and rubbish collection point at your nearest campsite Hub for a chance to win a pair of VIP weekend tickets for Download 2009, and get a free can of cold beer!  There will be a pair of 2009 VIP weekend tickets to be won EACH day (Friday, Saturday, Sunday).
Help us to keep the site clean and clear of rubbish, plus make sure your emptys go to a better place.


** Use the Campsite Hubs
Extended this year. Following the success of last year’s campsite Hubs, they return with a vengeance in 2008. There will be the same 5 Hubs spread across the campsites, but they will be bigger and better, with increased recycling facilities and volunteers on hand to assist you.

Along with the Hub Manager and Security point, each Hub will have a Green Warrior or two to assist with the recycling points for cardboard, plastic, glass bottles and cans.

Tents and any other useful outdoor gear (wellies, camping stoves, leftover unopened food tins etc) can also be donated to your local campsite Hub throughout the weekend.

The Hubs will be marked clearly on the official map.


** Rubbish Skips
Keep your weekend environment litter free - there will be other rubbish skips all around the site for your use.

We’re delighted to announce that this year, Comfy Crappers green toilets are coming back to Download, and this time you can buy your visits in advance!   You can purchase a limited number of wristbands, pre-event, over the internet at a reduced rate:

It’s the only way to go!
Go on, treat yourself this year, to a Limited Edition Comfy Crappers Wristband, your ticket to festival toileting heaven! They charge £13 per wristband. This entitles you to infinite use of their facilities over the weekend. For your cash they promise green clean toilets and more. Check out their website, read visitors comments and download the wristband form at www.comfycrappers.com and relax knowing that all your toilet worries are over. Until then… Stay regular!

Maintaining a high standard of hygiene and cleanliness, they boldly take the festival toilet experience to places it has never gone before.

Comfy Crappers aim to bring clean, fresh, hygienic and environmentally friendly toilets to the public. Comfy Crappers employ green working practises - the company take their tanks full of poo away with them after the festival and take care of it for 2 years, by which time, it magically turns into compost. Hurrah!

The white box in the photo is full of sawdust, to cover your poo after you've done it. The pipe takes bad smells away. The Poo Village requires no piping, direct water supply, and does not alter the land in any way whatsoever.

As well as a fresh, comfortable toilet experience Comfy Crappers also provide hot towels, preening parlour and sell basic medicines, ladies sanitary products, and festival essentials. Check out the preening parlour:

Staff go about their duties in costume and character providing entertainment and a warm welcome. The highlight of the day is the morning session of duff prize bingo. No money is exchanged - this is purely a little fun to entertain the morning queue.

We asked Comfy Crappers to come to Download when we heard what their satisfied customers had said:

"I appreciated the 7 Taiwanese Virgins blowing up my bottom!"
"Best £2 spent all weekend"
"We love your poo village"
"Fantastic idea all festivals should have these loos"
"Excellent, clean, fresh, keep up the good work"
"Excellent toilets, excellent service, great staff"
"Shit hot shit in a shit hot shitter many thanks"
"No more taking immodium or going home with belly ache, many thanks"

Save money and save the planet! Once again we have teamed up with liftshare.com to make sharing transport to Download a lot easier. 

Save money by sharing the travelling costs, reduce CO2 emissions and cut congestion resulting in you arriving to Download much earlier!

Not only that, but those that turn up with a vehicle of four or more will be given the chance to win a VIP upgrade for the weekend!!  
Full vehicles will be given a form to fill in by the car park stewards on arrival.  Once completed, just hand them in at your nearest campsite Hub.  The draw closes at 5pm on Friday and one lucky car-load will see their tickets upgraded to VIP status, allowing them access to the EXCLUSIVE back stage bar!

The winner will be announced on the main stage on Friday evening, plus we will contact you on the number you give us (remember to bring ID when you collect your prize).

SAVE THE PLANET - REGISTER NOW!

Trying to get to the festival in an environmentally friendly way, but still want to do more?  
Donate a few pence to offset the carbon emitted by travelling to the festival:

Climate change is a pressing global issue. Nevertheless, there are things that we can all do.

We are committed to encouraging and providing more sustainable transport options to Download Festival where possible, and would also like to offer customers the opportunity to offset their unavoidable carbon emissions associated with travelling to this event.

If you would like to participate in this scheme, there is an option to add 50p to your order on the shipping page. The figure of 50p represents the average per person CO2 emissions associated with audience travel to and from the concert. It was deduced using results of transport surveys and transport modelling along with approved DEFRA conversion figures. The funds will purchase Gold Standard Voluntary Emissions Reductions (VER's) from Emission:Statement who also support UK based environmental organisations to promote the solutions to climate change 'locally' as well as 'globally'.

Emission:Statement was established following repeated requests for high quality and transparent carbon offset from clients across the music industry.  Music artists and organisations who had carried out considerable carbon reduction, wanted to offset their remaining unavoidable business, travel and event emissions.

The Gold Standard is an independent, transparent, internationally recognized benchmark for ‘high quality’ energy efficiency or renewable energy projects. Our offset meets strict sustainable development criteria as validated by independent UN accredited bodies. Gold Standard is also the only offset supported by Friends of the Earth, Greenpeace and WWF.

For more information on the offset scheme go to www.emissionstatement.co.uk

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