We Care A Lot

Festivals Continue Joint Initiative on Health and Safety.

Summer is approaching. Festivals are on the horizon. For many, it’s the most wonderful time of the year. Experiencing (live) music together brings people closer. For a few days, a festival becomes a close-knit and truly unique community. Ensuring that every visitor, staff member, artist, or any other participant feels safe and can enjoy the festival under the best possible circumstances is the top priority for every organizer.

Under the umbrella of We Care A Lot, Extrema Outdoor, Graspop Metal Meeting, Rock Werchter, Tomorrowland, Festival Dranouter, and Pukkelpop joined forces in 2023 with a clear commitment: to make festivals as healthy and safe as possible. In 2025, Lokerse Feesten and Rock Herk will also join this initiative. Representatives of the festivals meet regularly to discuss topics such as alcohol and other drugs, transgressive behavior, diversity, and inclusion. Expertise and experiences are shared. The group is supported by field experts and care professionals to gain knowledge and develop concrete action points. The result is a toolbox that enables each festival to develop its own health & safety policy. The broad framework of We Care A Lot is embraced by all participating festivals. Its implementation is not uniform, as each festival is different, faces unique challenges, and places emphasis on different areas.

The various festivals are actively engaged in raising awareness and providing information on topics such as alcohol, drugs, sexuality, hearing protection, mental well-being, and traffic safety. They are taking steps to improve accessibility for visitors with disabilities and are launching initiatives focused on diversity and the prevention of all forms of harassment. Festivals do not exist outside of society. Applicable laws are respected. Visitors are expected to behave responsibly. If something does go wrong, festivals provide a solid safety net. During the festivals, trained staff and emergency services are always nearby. Some festivals offer a We Care A Lot hotline that is available around the clock. Every festival also hosts a We Care A Lot booth where, in collaboration with welfare partners, several key themes are highlighted.

In 2025, special attention will be given to responsible alcohol consumption. Free breath tests provided by Catch Your Breath make responsible partying visible, measurable, and discussable. Catch Your Breath is an awareness campaign focused on preventing drunk driving and raising awareness around alcohol consumption. The campaign is an initiative of the collective formed by Fline, Vinum Et Spiritus, the Emilie Leus Fund, and Flow in collaboration with We Care A Lot.

For more information about We Care A Lot and the initiatives rolled out by the festivals, visit wecarealot.be.