Frequently Asked Questions

The Chelmsford Summer Series is a premier open-air weekend series hosted in the heart of Essex across 35 acres of stunning parkland.

Friday 28th August 2026: Sugababes

• Event Times: 15:00 - 22:00
• Last Entry: 19:00
• Lineup: Sugababes, Annie Mac, Melanie C (DJ Set), Jodie Harsh, Arthi. Stage 2 hosted by Love Sensation
• Note: Live music starts from 4pm.

Saturday 29th August 2026: McFly

• Event Times: 13:00 - 22:00
• Last Entry: 18:00
• Lineup: McFly, Twin Atlantic, The Ordinary Boys, Rianne Downey, Olivia Rogers.

Sunday 30th August 2026: New World Fest, Craig David Presents TS5

• Event Times: 13:00 - 22:00
• Last Entry: 18:00
• Lineup: Craig David presents TS5, plus a major electronic / crossover billing across multiple stages.

Location: Central Park, Chelmsford, CM2 0RW. Open in Google Maps. Entry point: ///region.rents.risk

Last Entry: Strictly 19:00 on Friday, 18:00 on Saturday, and 18:00 on Sunday.

Early Entry Tickets: If you purchased a "Pre 2pm", "Pre 3pm", "Pre 4pm", or "Pre 5pm" ticket, you must arrive before the specified time on your ticket. Late fees will be applied at the gate if you arrive after your slot.

There is no re-entry into the event site if you leave early. Once you are in, you are in for the day.

Age policies vary by event day. Please ensure you have purchased the correct tier:

• Friday & Saturday (Live Music Days): Strictly 16+. Anyone aged 16 or 17 must be accompanied by a responsible adult (18+). You must purchase the specific, clearly labelled "16-17" ticket tier.
• Sunday (New World Fest): Strictly 18+ only. No under-18s are permitted on site.

We only accept the following forms of ID

• Valid Photo Driving Licence
• Valid Provisional Photo Driving Licence
• Valid Passport
• Valid PASS Card from the National Proof of Age Standards Scheme (this is the best form of ID to bring if you don't want to bring a valuable document). More information on how to obtain your PASS Card.

ID must be original. No copies or photos will be accepted. We reserve the right to refuse admission if, in our opinion (including that of any third parties instructed by us), there is any doubt that the ticket holder is under the applicable entry age requirement. In such an instance, you will not be entitled to a refund and your ticket will be invalidated.

• General Entry: Standard access to the open-air festival site and all active music stages.
• Early Entry Tiers: Discounted general admission tickets requiring arrival before designated cut-off times (Pre-2pm / 3pm / 4pm / 5pm depending on the show day).
• VIP Experience: Includes priority entry via a dedicated VIP fast-track lane, luxury private VIP toilets, an exclusive premium bar, independent food vendors, a chill-out tent, and a dedicated viewing area of the main stage.
• Group Offers: You & a Friend ticket bundle deals are available for select days while allocations last.

All tickets are strictly non-refundable once purchased, except in instances of complete event cancellation or material alteration (date / venue shift).

Pricing runs on a tier-allocated structure. Ticket costs escalate automatically as lower tiers sell out.

Official Primary Ticket Outlets: Skiddle and See Tickets. Do not buy from unverified secondary platforms; fake or tampered tickets will be rejected at the gate without compensation.

If tickets are sold out, join the official Skiddle ticket waiting list.

Only purchase resale tickets from Skiddle or See Tickets. Avoid other resale platforms as these may be subject to fraudulent tickets.

The series takes place at Central Park, Chelmsford, Essex.

• Postcode: CM2 0RW
• Entrance to the festival is: ///region.rents.risk

Chelmsford Railway Station is located right near Central Park, making it a mere 8-minute walk directly to the festival site gates. Frequent Greater Anglia services connect Chelmsford to London Liverpool Street, Colchester, and Ipswich. Check nationalrail.co.uk for any late-night timetable updates.

Central Park is exceptionally well-served by regional bus transit networks dropping off across the city center. Go to firstbus.co.uk/essex or local transit links to see schedules running over the bank holiday weekend.

Parking: There is no dedicated event parking inside Central Park for ticket holders. Attendees are strongly urged to utilise local city-center multi-story public car parks or rely on the excellent train and bus links.

Taxis & Drop-offs: Official designated pick-up and drop-off zones will be signposted near the park perimeters. Do not stop or drop off passengers on major main access roads as this threatens pedestrian safety.

Accessible parking (closest car park)

///finishing.sling.rival : The High Chelmer Multi-Storey Car Park is located at Bellmead, Chelmsford, CM1 1LE.

Accessible drop-off

///diary.finger.member : Central Park, Parkway, Chelmsford, Essex, CM2 0RW.

• Hand sanitiser, your fully charged smartphone, and a portable battery bank.
• A downloaded digital copy or a clear printed print-out of your Skiddle or See Tickets E-ticket.
• Valid physical Photo ID (Passport, Driving Licence, or PASS card).
• A valid payment card or mobile wallet (this is a 100% cashless event, bars and food trucks accept card only).
• Comfortable, practical footwear suited for walking across outdoor parkland surfaces, grass fields, and park paths.
• A reusable, empty, non-glass, non-metal water bottle to utilise the free hydration stations.

Bags larger than a standard piece of A4 paper are not permitted inside the event grounds. There are absolutely no locker, cloakroom, or storage facilities available on-site. Keep baggage minimal.

The following items are completely banned from entry:

• Outside alcohol, food, or non-alcoholic drinks
• Aerosols, perfumes, and pressurised spray cans
• Air horns, independent sound systems, or radio devices
• Animals (except registered, working assistance dogs)
• Bicycles, skateboards, scooters, or motorised vehicles
• Camping chairs, folding chairs, gazebos, or bulky seating (unless pre-approved by management for medical conditions)
• Chinese lanterns, fireworks, flares, or laser pens
• Drones or unauthorised aerial recording devices
• Flags, banners, poles, or any political / protest / promotional items
• Full-face masks or full helmets
• Glass containers, bottles, or jars of any description
• High-visibility clothing items
• Illegal substances, psychoactive materials, nitrous oxide canisters, and related paraphernalia
• Tampered or unlabelled medication (essential medicine must be clearly marked and in its original packaging)
• Tools, knives, or weapons of any shape or kind
• Unauthorised corporate merchandise or marketing flyers

• Compact bags up to A4 size
• Empty, reusable non-glass, non-metal water bottles
• Personal-use compact cameras (no detachable professional lenses or commercial rigs)
• Cigarettes, tobacco, and vapes (for personal consumption only)
• Small, pocket-sized folding umbrellas
• Suncream (lotion style only, pressurised aerosol cans will be confiscated)

The Chelmsford Summer Series enforces a strict zero-tolerance drug policy. Security search sweeps are standard at all entry points. Anyone found in possession of illegal drugs or psychoactive substances will be denied entry or instantly evicted and handed straight to Essex Police.

Take advantage of the dedicated VIP tier to elevate your weekend. VIP ticket holders unlock entry through a dedicated VIP fast-track gate line, premium private bathrooms, access to an exclusive premium bar and dedicated food vendors, a shaded chill-out tent, and a premium viewing area of the main stage.

Stay hydrated throughout the day. Free tap water refill points are located across the festival footprint and at the bars. Empty plastic, non-metal reusable bottles are fully permitted at entry security checks.

Please be aware that strobe lighting, high-intensity lasers, smoke machines, and loud audio profiles are active across all stages.

A fully operational medical station and a dedicated Welfare Centre are located on site. Our professional safety teams offer non-judgmental medical support, care, and immediate assistance.

We operate a zero-tolerance policy toward harassment, abuse, or violence of any kind. If you feel unsafe or uncomfortable at any stage, head to any bar or speak to a member of staff and "Ask for Angela" for discreet support.

• Please have your ticket barcode and photo ID ready before reaching the front of the queue.
• Amnesty bins will be placed ahead of the security lanes for safe disposal of prohibited items.
• Keep your valuables secure and look out for your belongings. Report any suspicious behavior immediately to a festival steward or security guard.

Lost items found during the event are logged at the central Info Point. Post-event, you can get in touch via email at info@louderuk.com to check on missing items.

The event is staged within open-air grass parklands. The topography features naturally undulating grass terrain, natural park slopes, and dirt pathways. While temporary walkway tracking paths are laid across primary heavy-footwear thoroughfares, certain natural sectors can prove uneven or difficult to cross.

• Dedicated entry support can be pre-coordinated at the main gates for guests with mobility challenges.
• Accessible toilets are available on-site. Misuse or vandalism of these essential units will lead to instant ejection.
• Refrigerated storage for vital medical provisions and power wheelchair charging points are accessible inside our Welfare Centre. Please bring your own charger.
• Accessibility wristbands are supplied at the gate on entry. Please ask for one and provide your proof.

Registered assistance dogs are fully welcome. Please notify the management team ahead of time by emailing info@chelmsford.live.

We run a Free Carer Entry Ticket scheme for eligible attendees to ensure the event is accessible.

How to claim: You must first purchase your standard general admission ticket through the official ticket provider. Once completed, contact Skiddle Customer Support at custcare@skiddle.com (or reach out to See Tickets depending on where you bought your pass).

Provide your full name, your active ticket booking reference number, your account email, and an official piece of supporting documentation (such as the front page of a current PIP or DLA award letter, an Attendance Allowance letter, proof of severe sight impairment, or a valid Access Card showing a +1 requirement).

For any specific accessibility inquiries not covered here, contact info@chelmsford.live at least 72 hours before the gates open. On the day, you must arrive with your access card and your PA together.

We work side-by-side with professional waste management teams to ensure Chelmsford Central Park is thoroughly cleaned during and immediately after the festival.

We emphasise single-use plastic reduction and running dedicated recycling workflows. Litter picking teams will sweep both the inside footprint and the exterior park boundaries.

Most of Central Park will remain open and fully accessible to the general public. Only our fenced-off event perimeter remains restricted to ticket-holders. Secure temporary fencing and clear signage will guide everyday park users and local residents safely around our exterior boundaries.

A strict sound level control plan is pre-agreed in detail with the Chelmsford City Council. Roaming sound monitoring technicians travel around the park boundaries throughout the day to ensure compliance with local guidelines.

If you need any further assistance, get in touch with our support teams. Responses are typically handled within 48 hours:

• General Event Enquiries: info@chelmsford.live
• Ticketing Support: custcare@skiddle.com

Community Hotline: A dedicated local community phone line will go live and be closely monitored during live show run times to address resident concerns directly. This number will be distributed closer to August and is unable to handle ticket sales, marketing, or press inquiries.