Hey presto! Another birthday, another magical weekend in the mountains at the Green Man festival.
It’s so thoughtful of the organisers to schedule the festival to coincide with my birthday again. Thanks, guys! You’re the best!
You see, I love parties, but I don’t love organising them. So Green Man is a dream, a ready-made birthday bash at the jewel in Wales’ cultural crown. All I need to do is invite my friends, rock up, and remember to pack my best fancy dress. Simple.
“It sounds like my worst nightmare,” says a friend who was not to be found in a field in Crickhowell this year (or any year). He loves live music and culture, but his neurodivergence means he finds festivals difficult.
He’s not alone. Many neurodivergent people, such as those with autism or ADHD, are sensitive to sensory stimuli like loud noises, bright lights, and large crowds. This can lead to sensory overload, which can cause severe discomfort or anxiety. That’s precisely why my friend is happier staying at home.
Our conversation got me thinking about my experience of being neurodivergent and going to music festivals. Because the challenges he outlines are ones that I recognise and share. I can feel completely overwhelmed in big crowds, and while I love an amp cranked to eleven, I have limits.
Over the years, I’ve developed an internal warning system that tells me when it’s time to withdraw to the back of the crowd so I can enjoy the music at a lower volume. Until I was diagnosed three years ago, I didn’t even realise that the things I struggled with at big events were related to my neurodivergent brain. I just thought I was a bit weird.
My diagnosis was a watershed; the self-knowledge it brought means I now understand my triggers and have developed coping mechanisms. As a result, I have a much better time.
My festival survival strategy starts with accommodation. When I’m overstimulated, my energy battery drains fast, which can lead to exhaustion. To counter this, I stay in the campervan field, which gives me a warm, rain-proof (and fairy-light-festooned) retreat when my battery runs low.
Unfortunately, too many festivals pack in campervans like sardines to maximise profits, which can feel claustrophobic. One of the many things I love about Green Man is that it’s taken the opposite approach and capped the number of tickets to ensure plenty of space for everyone. Though it might not maximise profits, this decision makes a massive difference to the experience.
This year, from the moment I arrived, I was struck by just how hard the festival team worked to make the event as accessible as possible. I wore my sunflower lanyard for the first time – a symbol neurodivergent people and others with hidden disabilities wear to signal that they may require support, patience or understanding in public spaces. The first steward I met in the live-in vehicle field had clearly been trained to recognise the lanyard and couldn’t have been more helpful. He found me the perfect spot and ensured I had enough space, all with a smile on his face. That’s what I call a croeso.
I was also impressed by the Respite Tent, a calm and quiet space for anybody needing a break from the festival. Similarly, the Nature-Nurture area – dedicated to self-care and restoration – remains a perennial favourite. You can find anything from a sound bath to yoga classes, reflexology, and Reiki here. It’s the ideal escape if things get too much or you fancy a pampering session. For me, a cheeky birthday massage was the perfect recharge.
Other elements that significantly enhanced my weekend include the clear signage (other event organisers, please take note!), the dedicated accessibility information point, and the brilliant British Sign Language interpreters for the main acts, who blew my mind with their energy and moves. I was also impressed that all performances across the site are now ‘relaxed performances’ – with lower sound levels and softer lighting – to help those with sensory challenges.
Usually, I carry my Loops earplugs everywhere. These help me avoid sensory overload by reducing sound levels while allowing me to stay connected to my surroundings. It speaks volumes (excuse the pun) that I didn’t need to use them once.
It’s no surprise that Green Man recently became the first Welsh festival to secure the Gold Charter from Attitude is Everything, a charity that champions accessibility in the live event industry. The award recognises the festival’s commitment to improving access to music for those with learning needs and disabilities.
As Fiona Stewart, Managing Director and owner of the Green Man festival, puts it:
“Green Man is a celebration of inclusivity, and making it accessible and welcoming to everyone who wants to attend is something our team is invested in.
“Our motivation for creating Green Man is the joy people get from the experience, and if we can do this in the Black Mountains and fields of the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park, then I hope this will encourage others across the country.”
She added that in addition to a dedicated Accessibility Manager, the festival employs 45 people to accommodate accessibility requirements. Many team members have lived experiences of neurodivergence and other disabilities, which helps them understand what different audiences might need.
And boy, does it show. In a world where people are quick to gripe, I want to thank every member of the Green Man team who went above and beyond to make the festival an utterly joyful experience.
What it meant for me—and many others I spoke to—is that we could enjoy being in nature, spending time with friends, and listening to live music in a way that works for our “neuro spicy” brains.
Who knows? With Green Man’s thoughtful approach to accessibility, maybe next year, even my festival-averse friend will find that these events can be for everyone.
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