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After months of excitement and preparation, Youth Beatz 2024 is almost here, with 40,000 young people expected to attend the UK’s largest free youth music festival on Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 June at Park Farm Showfield, Dumfries

The festival continues its offer of music acts, performers and free activities available for young people across a variety of stages and areas of the site. The continued enhancement of Youth Beatz is thanks to the ongoing support of Dumfries and Galloway Council, who value our region’s young people and want to give them a truly memorable experience at what is the UK’s largest free youth music festival.

At this year’s Youth Beatz Festival, there is a massive range of activities for all of the family to get involved in; Inflatables, Ziplining, Kids tent, Glasgow Science Centre, DG Arts Festival, Youth Work tent, 3Sixty stunt display team, Target Wrestling tent, giant inflatables, Circus Sensible and much more! There will also be a Youth Information Area where local and national organisations will be promoting their services for young people. The Council’s Youth Work Service team also have their Youth Work area, where you can find out what youth services you can become involved in, and what is on offer across Dumfries and Galloway.

Four stages will be entertaining crowds for the duration of the weekend on the Dance Stage, Kids tent, Second Stage and Main Stage. Full lineups and timings are available for all stages on the Youth Beatz website, at www.youthbeatz.co.uk/whatson 

Park Farm will play host to well-known performers CASCADA, TALIA MAR, JONAS BLUE, SIGALA, SAINT PHNX and ALICE DEEJAY, as well as a variety of Dumfries and Galloway’s young and upcoming performers.

Youth Beatz 2024 also sees a return of the hard hitting, immersive and interactive youth learning experience – The Toon. The Toon Productions presents an alternative take on common issues that affect young people in their day-to-day lives. Topics addressed will include poverty, alcohol and drugs, knife crime, sectarianism and domestic abuse. Over 50 local young volunteers have been working since Easter to put together this award-winning educational experience. Make sure you book in early at the Toon Box Office on the event days to ensure that you get a place on a tour, as the tickets always go fast.

If you’re looking to escape the hustle and bustle, we also have a dedicated Quiet Area and Sensory Space that can be found in the quietest corner of the site away from the Main Stage. British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters will be available at both event entrances between 12noon and 2.00pm for general queries. There will also be dedicated Toon Tours with BSL interpreters on both event days, on Saturday 4pm to 5pm and Sunday 2:30pm to 3:30pm and 4pm to 5pm. If you would like any further information on BSL interpreters, you can visit the Festival Box Office on event days.

Music performances will be provided throughout the day on the Second Stage, giving festival goers the opportunity to see some of Dumfries and Galloway’s best up and coming young performers including Reece Williamson and Ella Campbell, with the Main Stage also hosting performers from across the region, and Scotland including Ben Walker and Robin Ashcroft. The Second Stage has been programmed in partnership with local organisation DMC (Dumfries Music Collective).

Now in its fourteenth year, the award-winning event is managed through a partnership led by Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Youth Work Service in conjunction with the Oasis Events Team. The event is supported by the National Events Programme Fund, managed by EventScotland, part of VisitScotland’s Events Directorate.  Support for the event also comes from National Lottery Young Start, Alcohol and Drug Partnership, YouthLink Scotland and Awards for All.

Mark Molloy, Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Manager for Young People’s Services said:

“Once again we have seen a strong demand for tickets for this year’s Youth Beatz Festival, with all tickets being allocated within 35 hours of the launch event. There are no further tickets available, so we would advise that those without tickets do not turn up to the event, as no tickets are available on the gate. We recommend that people arrive early, and that there will be no admission into the event after 8:30pm on both event days. Attendees can bring in packed lunches, but there are no liquids permitted into the Festival site and searches will be carried out upon entry. We would also ask that people follow all traffic directions which will be in place across Dumfries, and to respect the parking restrictions that are in place for the event.”

Police Scotland continues to work in partnership with Youth Beatz planners to ensure the focus of Youth Beatz is on young people being able to attend and enjoy the event in an environment that is safe.  This is a strictly no alcohol event and a robust policing plan is in place to ensure that anybody who enters this area in possession of, or under the influence of alcohol will be refused entry.

Superintendent Nicola Robison, Policing Commander for the event said:

“We would like to remind those attending Youth Beatz that it is an alcohol-free event and anybody in possession of or under the influence of alcohol will not gain entry to the event. Youth Beatz is one of the largest events within the region and a huge community effort for all those involved.  It`s success over the past 14 years is linked to the thorough planning that takes place at a local level with a host of partners in Dumfries and Galloway. All partners involved in the planning and delivery of the event want the event to be a success and enjoyable for all.  We would appreciate the ongoing cooperation of those attending to achieve this.”

To get up to date information surrounding this year’s event, visit www.youthbeatz.co.uk or follow us on social media.