Practical info
Volunteers
Would you like to contribute to the organization of Balhalla Festival? We would very much like to hear that. Because without volunteers, there is no festival.
You can subscribe to be a volunteer via this form:
What kind of help do we need?
Festival setup
Help with the festival setup, including assembling stages, hanging decorations, and preparing other facilities.
Festival teardown.
Once everyone goes home the work is just starting, tearing everything down, cleaning up & help making it seem like we were never there.
Photography/videography
Do you have a camera & do you like to take pictures as a hobby? You can join our photographer team. Or you don't have a camera but know your way with one? Join our videographer team that makes sure we capture as much of the magic of BalhallaFestival as possible.
First Aid
Are you in the medical field by profession? Or do you have first aid experience. Be ready to provide first aid for minor incidents and ensure the first aid station is well-equipped.
Stand-by
Unexpected circumstances always happen, we like to plan for this. We can count on you 100% and you don't mind not knowing which shifts you'll have to do untill right before the festival? Indicate that you want to be a stand-by volunteer, these hyper flexible volunteers are our true hero's.
Bar
Prepare drinks, handle transactions using a token system, and serve them to the guests. Keep the bar clean and restock the refrigerators when needed.
Entrance/checkout
Welcome visitors at the entrance/ticket desk, sell tickets, t-shirts, sweaters and drink tokens and manage the cash register.
Permanence / checking festival bracelets
Keep an eye on the entrance/location to ensure no unauthorized guests enter the premises.
Shuttle
Do you have your own car and do you want to help driving volunteers, guests & artists to and from our accomodations? We can use your help, indicate to us what kind of car you have in your volunteer application. Km's will be reimbursed.
Artist care
Welcome the artists, provide them with information about what they can find and where, and take care of them backstage. Ensure they are ready and on time for their performance so the event schedule is respected.
Cleaning
Help keeping the toilets fresh and clean for everyone. This includes cleaning the toilets and sinks, refilling toilet paper and soap, and mopping the floors. We understand this isn’t the most glamorous shift, but all the more gratitude to the people willing to take on this task.h
Food preparation
Help prepare and set up meals for volunteers, staff & quests, do the dishes, and keep the kitchen and dining room clean.
Would you like to be a bit more involved then a regular volunteer?
Volunteer coordinator
Sign up to be a volunteer coordinator, get involved in advance briefings and take up some responsability during the festival. Tackle problems as they come so everything runs smoothly & make sure all volunteers have a wonderfull time volunteering.
Accommodation Coordinator
Would you like to be the main point of contact for participants with accommodation-related questions? Whether it’s a broken boiler or a clogged toilet, you’ll handle communication with the accommodations to ensure issues are resolved quickly.
We’re looking for someone from the Ghent area with their own car. Additionally, you’ll be responsible for checking and ensuring the quality of the accommodations in advance.
Social media team member.
We're looking for someone who'd like to take our promotion to a next level, we have tons of video & foto material from our first edition. Help us take this and transform this into a full social media campaign. Especially feeling with instagram medium is appreciated.
Logistics team member.
Do you have a B + E or C drivers licence? And you do want to help us with the logistical challenge before & afther the festival. We can use your help in making the buildup & tear down go as smoothly as possible.
Video editor
Want to make the job of our social media team easier but not nessecarily good with words? We are looking for help creating reels from our vast amount of video's that our volunteers took. Create the perfect material for social media team.
Deco team member
Were you enchanted by our festival decorations and want to help create an even more immersive experience? Join our deco team and bring the magic to life! We're specifically looking for people from the Ghent area.
IT Helper
Our code is written in PHP, specifically using Laravel. Would you like to help improve Balhalla’s website? Or are you interested in supporting the Belgian folk scene with your IT skills in general? Get in touch – your help is more than welcome!
Venue
The festival is located at 2 locations that are 150m apart.
The live performances and balls take place in the large parquet hall of Danspunt at Dok Noord. The main entrance, workshops, jams, open stage, food and rest area take place in the Dokata school.
Adress Danspunt parquet hall, Dok Noord:
Sint-Salvatorstraat 18a, 9000 Ghent
Adress Ticket counter, Dokata school:
Sint-Salvatorstraat 14 bus A, 9000 Ghent
Transport
The location of the festival is in Ghent's Dok Noord, an old and industrial site that is very easily accessible by both public transport and by car.
On foot / bike
Dok Noord is a 20-minute walk (1,6 km) from Gent-Dampoort train station.
For those who want to save their feet for dancing, there are also bicycles for rent in Ghent, both via a subscription formula and on a one-off basis. You can find an overview here: https://stad.gent/nl/mobiliteit-openbare-werken/mobiliteit/fiets-huren-deelfiets-nodig
Public transport
Dok Noord is directly connected by several, frequent bus lines to Gent-Dampoort station and Gent-Sint-Pieters station, with Gent-Dampoort being the nearest station (1,6 km).
Car
The entrance to the car park at Dok Noord is very easily accessible and is located just outside the Low Emission Zone (LEZ) of the City of Ghent. More information about what the LEZ entails can be found here: https://stad.gent/en/mobility-ghent/low-emission-zone-ghent
The car park is a 5-minute walk from the festival location. However, the festival location is in the Low Emission Zone. So if you come with a car that is not allowed into the LEZ, drive directly to the Dok Noord parking lot and not to the festival location to avoid fines.
Accomodation
Since the festival is located close to the city centre of Ghent, there are plenty accommodations available near the festival.
In addition, we offer some group accommodations:
Scout room 1
Sold out for participants, places still available for volunteers.
Festival distance: 2,2 km
Public transport: 26 min, in the evening we provide a shuttle.
Service: provide your own air mattress / mat and sleeping bag. Toilets and showers are available.
Address: Serafijnstraat 61, 9000 Gent. Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/7JjYnMBBcjomaPUD6
Scout room 2
Festival distance: 3,8 km
Public transport: 35 min, in the evening we provide a shuttle.
Service: provide your own air mattress / mat and sleeping bag. Toilets and showers are available.
Address: Simone Duboisstraat 100, 9041 Gent. Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Nip5zho563TNy17y8
Sports accommodation
Festival distance: 3,6 km
Public transport: 32 min, in the evening we provide a shuttle.
Service: bed with mattress available, bed linen must be rented. Toilets and showers are available.
Address: Yachtdreef 1a, 9000 Gent. Google Maps: https://maps.app.goo.gl/1JKLfPwTGi29cmRp9
Food and Drinks
At BalhallaFestival, we make sure no one has to dance on an empty stomach!
🥗 Friday – Our amazing volunteers will provide a delicious pasta meal to kick off the festival. (6 PM - 9 PM)
🚚 Saturday – Two fantastic food trucks will be serving a variety of flavorful dishes.
🥐 Saturday morning (9 AM - 2 PM) & Sunday morning (9 AM - 1 PM) – Start your day right with our brunch buffet, perfect to recharge for more dancing!
Enjoy, eat, and dance!
El Cariño 🌮 Mexican Flavors at BalhallaFestival! 🌮
New Food Truck at the Festival Grounds!
Great news for all food lovers! Although our originally planned food truck had to cancel, we’ve found a delicious replacement. This Saturday, from 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM, you can enjoy artisan, homemade pasta!
Close your eyes and imagine yourself on a sunny piazza in Rome, where the aroma of fresh pasta and rich sauces fills the air. Our chef is inspired by his passion for Italian cuisine and prepares the most flavorful dishes with love.
🍝 What can you expect?
✔️ Freshly made pasta, crafted with pure and honest ingredients
✔️ Authentic Italian sauces full of flavor
✔️ A culinary experience that transports you to Italy
Our mindset? "Delicious and honest!" Stop by, soak in the atmosphere, and enjoy a flavorful break between dancing. Buon appetito! 🍷✨
🌱 Loving Hut at the First Edition of BalhallaFestival! 🌱
We are proud to welcome Loving Hut to the very first edition of BalhallaFestival! This well-known and beloved food truck, a familiar sight at folk festivals, will be located near the open stage on the festival grounds.
🕔 Available from 17:00 to 22:00 – perfect for a hearty meal between dances!
What’s on the menu?
✅ Delicious wraps in Middle Eastern, Mexican, and Italian style
✅ Gyros pita or wrap for those who love bold flavors
✅ Comfort food like spaghetti, Thai curry, and vegan burgers
✅ Sweet treats such as muffins, tiramisu, and waffles
All dishes are paid for with tokens. Stop by and enjoy a delicious plant-based meal while soaking in the festival vibes!
End the Festival with Flavor! 🌱✨
On Sunday from 1:00 PM to 8:00 PM, we’re bringing in a new culinary star to the festival grounds: Hashtag Falafel! 🥙💚
This food truck serves the best and most famous falafels in Ghent, freshly made with love and craftsmanship. Crispy on the outside, perfectly spiced on the inside, and served with delicious toppings and homemade sauces. Whether you go for a classic pita or a colorful falafel bowl, every bite takes you on a journey to Middle Eastern flavors.
🌯 Why you don’t want to miss this?
✔️ Freshly made, crispy falafels
✔️ Soft, fluffy pita bread
✔️ Vegan-friendly and packed with taste
Wrap up your festival weekend with a culinary delight and enjoy the best falafel in town. Come by and taste for yourself! 🎶✨
Confidants at BalhallaFestival – A Safe & Welcoming Space for Everyone
At BalhallaFestival, we want everyone to feel safe, welcome, and supported—both on and off the dance floor. That’s why we have confidants available throughout the festival.
💡 What is a confidant?
A confidant is someone you can turn to if something is bothering you, if you need help, or if you simply want to talk. They are here to ensure that everyone can experience the festival in a respectful and inclusive environment.
👀 How can you recognize them?
Our confidants wear special armbands. Need someone to talk to? Feel free to approach them. Prefer to stay anonymous? Their contact details can be found on the Code of Conduct posters displayed around the festival site.
🌿 Let’s make BalhallaFestival a place where everyone feels at home.
Respect, kindness, and care for one another are at the heart of the balfolk community. Let’s dance, connect, and create an unforgettable festival together!
Balfolk Code of Conduct
Balfolk is all about connection, joy, and respect, and that is exactly what we stand for at BalhallaFestival. That’s why we proudly share the Balfolk Guidelines, developed by BalfolkFabriek (NL) and beautifully designed by Maartje de Goede. This poster, which you’ll find around the festival site, summarizes the values we hold dear:
✨ Everyone is welcome! We strive to create a festival where everyone feels safe and respected. Discrimination or boundary-crossing behavior will not be tolerated.
💃 Dance with whomever you want, however you want. Everyone is free to lead, follow, or both, and you can always say ‘no’ to a dance—no explanation needed.
🤝 Be mindful of each other. Pay attention to your dance partner, respect personal boundaries, and always check non-verbally if and where you can join a group dance.
🎶 Respect the music and the atmosphere. Enjoy the live music, but if you want to talk, keep your voice lower than the music.
🛑 Personal boundaries matter. Feel free to express what does and doesn’t feel comfortable, and don’t assume that someone wants to dance closely without consent.
💧 Take care of yourself and others. Stay hydrated, respect the space, and maintain personal hygiene to ensure a pleasant dance environment for everyone.
📸 Photography Policy at BalhallaFestival 📸
We want to capture the magic of BalhallaFestival while respecting your privacy. If you prefer not to appear prominently on our social media channels, you can sign up for our opt-out list.
How does it work?
Send a clear and recent photo of yourself to foto@balhallafestival.be. Our photographers will make sure to remove any close-up images of you during the editing process. This applies only to photos where you are clearly recognizable, not to general group or atmosphere shots. The same applies to video recordings.
🔹 Why this approach?
To capture spontaneous and authentic moments, our photographers cannot ask for permission before taking every photo. This allows them to do their work without interrupting the dancing experience.
🔹 Leave your email address as well
If a stunning photo of you is taken, the photographer might want to send it to you personally. It also provides us with a way to contact you if needed.
🔹 Sign up at the entrance
You can also register at the entrance. In that case, we will take a quick identification photo of you, so our photographers know who not to capture. With multiple photographers at the event, we don’t know everyone by name.