Finnish island music festival Bättre Folk faces logistical challenges, hopes uniqueness will boost sluggish ticket sales
Organizing a music festival for 4,000 visitors on Hailuoto, an island with only 1,000 residents in Northern Ostrobothnia, Finland, is not without its complications. The event, known as the Bättre Folk hipster festival, involves significant risks and logistical challenges, according to Aki Roukala, the festival’s artistic director.
This year, the festival faced the issue of the temporary camping area being unavailable. A replacement site was found, but it was smaller. The island can only be accessed by ferry, adding another layer of complexity. Ferry traffic issues have in the past caused festival-goers to wait in line for hours.
Ticket sales for the two-day Bättre Folk festival have been sluggish this year, Roukala notes, adding that sales have been unstable in the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic. The festival expects a little over 2,000 visitors per day.
Despite the downturn in ticket sales, Roukala is optimistic that the event’s uniqueness will continue to attract audiences in the future. He also mentioned that literature, traditionally part of the festival’s programme, has been temporarily left out this year.
The festival also offers a relaxed environment with saunas and hot tubs freely available for attendees to use. The guests enjoy the festival’s atmosphere, where everyone is free to express themselves, and there’s no need to stress about dressing up.
The Bättre Folk festival is unique and distinctive, which is certainly a major draw for its visitors.