Volunteer Resources

Getting here/Parking
FREE SHUTTLE : TBA
PAID SHUTTLE : TBA
First Student Shuttle: TBA
Parking:
Comox Valley Sports and Aquatic centre: Limited free parking is available. Please Note:
Saturday – 6:00 am – 1:00 pm there is NO PARKING at the Sports Centre due to the Farmers Market.
There is a bike lockup on-site if you wish to ride down. Hours of Operation – 8:00am – 1:00am Friday through Sunday.
Parking is available on a first-come, first-parked basis – free parking is available at Comox Valley Sports & Recreation Centre.
VANIER PARKING: TBA
Vancouver Island MusicFest is not responsible for any vehicles that have been towed
Volunteer Check-In & Getting Your Volunteer Credentials
Volunteer Check-in is located at the Curling Club parking lot off of Headquarters Rd at the Comox Valley Exhibition Grounds. Be sure to give yourself time to park and walk.
All volunteers must check-in each day to receive a new wristband – this ensures that their shift hours have been fulfilled. You will be checking in under your Crew Name – be sure you know the name of your crew and your coordinator’s name in case of a problem.
Volunteer Check-In is open:
Wednesday | July 10 | 1:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. |
Thursday | July 11 | 9:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. |
Friday | July 12 | 6:30 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. |
Saturday | July 13 | 6:30 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. |
Sunday | July 14 | 6:30 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. |
Make sure you have everything you need with you, too (ID, shoes, sunscreen, water bottle, medications, etc). We need you onsite during your shift, so if you’ve forgotten things, that really impacts the rest of your crew. There is a lockup on-site for volunteer personal effects
Volunteer Camping
There are 2 campgrounds at VIMF. Volunteer Camping and Public Camping. Public camping is paid only (even for volunteers). You are welcome to camp there but you must pay the same as our public campers. If you camp in Public Camping you must have already checked in as a volunteer and have your volunteer wristband – otherwise you will be asked to purchase a weekend pass before being admitted.
Volunteer Camping is for MusicFest volunteers and your partner/spouse and your dependent children (ONLY if they are too young to volunteer – otherwise they should be volunteering!) Volunteers camping in the volunteer campground will be required to register in advance of the event. Please check with your coordinator for more information.
These non-volunteering guests MUST hold a weekend pass.
To get access to the volunteer campground, you must have your volunteer credentials (so check-in first!) and your guests must check-in at the same time as you. All campers in Volunteer Camping must be registered in advance. Please request the registration form from your coordinator if you have not received one.
Safety and Courtesy:
NO open fires, tiki torches or open flame. Candles or lamps must be in fireproof containers. We are in a dry grassy pasture…use a container for your butts! If you have propane stove (inside RV or outside) you MUST bring a fire extinguisher.
Ensure guidelines and structures do not block fire lanes.
NO drum circles, amplified music or canned music are permitted ANYWHERE at ANY TIME in the campground.
NO pets are permitted anywhere in the campgrounds.
Campers must remove their own garbage and recycling throughout the weekend and take it to central waste stations. Please keep your camping space clean and community-minded.
You are responsible for the safety and security of your belongings at MusicFest. Leave your toys at home, lock up your valuables, and secure your food and beverages.
Campers who do not demonstrate care for self, care for others and care for the festival WILL be asked to leave or removed from the campground and have camping passes revoked. Camping at VIMF is a privilege. Dangerous or obnoxious behaviour will NOT be tolerated.
Because the number of camping volunteers is increasing and the campground is not, we have to give priority to out-of-town volunteers.
Be mindful of your camping footprint – there are a lot of people who camp in volunteer camping and we want there to be adequate space for everyone.
Grey Water holding tanks will be located by the porta potties for campers to dump their dishwashing waste water into.
Volunteer Camping Check in:
Wednesday | July 10th | 3pm –9pm |
Thursday | July 11th | 10am – 5pm |
Friday | July 12th | 10am – 2pm |
“…foot traffic with tent entrance only after 2 pm Friday. Due to safety issues that vehicles may create with high foot traffic, vehicles MAY NOT be permitted after 2 pm Friday”
- If you wish to camp in Volunteer camping you must register in advance of arriving.
- Preregistration does not ensure you a space within volunteer camping. We will do our best to accommodate you however if it reaches capacity, we have to close the gates.
- Priority is going to have to go to out-of-town volunteers in trying to place them as they will have no other option of a place to stay.
- We have very limited RV and trailer space therefore when the allotted space is reached through registration it will be closed down. If it is closed, please do not arrive with a trailer or RV and try to get in.
- Due to space, we must limit the size of camping units to a maximum of 25ft. If you arrive with a camping unit larger than 25 ft you may be denied access to the campground.
- If your spouse or children will be camping with you and are not volunteers, they must hold a valid weekend pass, you must enter the ticket number into the registration form.
- If you do not plan on camping do not complete the form. This gives us false information and some campers may be turned away because we think there isn’t room when there actually is.
- Only RV, tents or sleeper units will be allowed access to the campground. No extra vehicles will be permitted. You will have to haul your gear in with equipment provided by The Volunteer Campground Hosts.
There is a safe lockup trailer run by the campground hosts where valuables can be checked in and locked safely throughout the weekend.
- Volunteers under 19 must have an adult registered and staying with them all weekend.
- You may have non-volunteer guests visit your campsite between the hours of 8:00 am-8:00 pm. You must be with them to sign them in and out at the camping entrance. Non-volunteer guests must have a weekend pass to visit. We cannot allow anyone with a one-day pass access to the campground.
- There can be no vehicles around the perimeter fence.
- If you have a trailer your tow vehicle must be removed from volunteer camping.
The Volunteer Campground opens Wednesday, July 10th at 3:00 pm for check-in. Only volunteers that are working shifts prior to Wednesday may set up prior to check-in.
Any vehicles or camping units set up unauthorized prior to Wednesday at 3:00 pm will be towed or removed.
Please DO NOT attempt to remove Trailers or RVs before Monday morning. When you are in – you are in until Monday.
Showers Comox Valley Sports Centre: TBA
Food & Drink
Our fabulous volunteer kitchen serves up a meal on Friday evening and Lunch & Dinner on Saturday and Sunday. There will be vegetarian/vegan options available. However, if you have other dietary needs (gluten, raw, etc…) please be prepared to look after your own nutritional needs for the weekend. It is almost impossible to meet individual needs when catering for 1400 people! We also have a hospitality tent that offers a nice place to have some quiet time and beverages for in-between meals.
Meal times:
- Friday Dinner: 5pm-7pm
- Saturday Lunch: 11am-1pm
- Saturday Dinner: 5pm-7pm
- Sunday Lunch: 11am-1pm
- Sunday Dinner: 5pm-7pm
Please be sure to bring a water bottle (we will not provide disposable water bottles), warm clothes for the chilly evening, a hat, sunscreen and any medications you might need.
Staying in Touch
If you have other questions, be sure to ask your Crew Coordinator. You should know who they are (their name), the name of your crew and how to get a hold of your crew coordinator (email or phone).
If all the great information above doesn’t answer your question, you can email our Festival Volunteer Coordinator, Deb, at mfestvolunteercoordinator@gmail.com to resolve any confusion. She is a very busy woman so be sure to read before you email please!