Festival lovers, are you ready? The Roskilde Festival has started. Located in Zealand’s city of Roskilde, this non-profit event is the largest music festival in Northern Europe and one of the largest on the continent. Its history dates to 1971, when two Woodstock-inspired high school students partnered with a promoter to bring rock music to the province. That year, the tickets were sold for 30 DKK (or 244 DKK today, adjusted for inflation). During the first editions, the festival had 1 stage and between 10,000 – 30,000 participants. In the 90s, it peaked.
The festival is held every year in late June and early July at Roskilde Dyrskueplads. Nowadays, it lasts 8 days and has +130,000 participants, of which 30,000 are volunteers who get free access and a place in the Volunteer Camping. For those who pay, a ticket costs 2,400 DKK for full access to 8 days of camping and concerts. A one-day ticket costs 1,200 DKK and is valid from 8:00 to 8:00 the following day.
Funnily enough, during this week, Roskilde Festival ranks as Denmark’s fourth largest city in population — and it really is a city. The festival has its own newspaper, radio station, skate area, and even a nude race. There is also Dream City, a small town inside the premises where passionate campers are given 100 days to build. Each year, you might find things such as a town hall, a post office, a church, a salon, a library, art installations, and even a pirate ship.
With headliners such as Foo Fighters, Tyla, Skrillex, or Doja Cat, this year’s theme is Utopia. Aside from attending concerts, Roskilde Festival is an opportunity for everyone — but especially the youth — to live a parallel life. During the first four days of the festival, there aren’t any shows but just joyful partying, eating, and suntanning (or playing in the rain). With holiday vibes, games, swimming in the lake, and a copious amount of beer, campers are not necessarily the cleanest, but definitely the happiest.
