We’re excited to have you join us in pitching up under the stars amongst the beautiful Pakefield Dunes. Our Wild Beach Campsite is a short walk south along the beach from the First Light Festival site.
This page contains important information about your stay – please make sure to read it thoroughly before you head for the beach.
Festival Timings
Saturday
12:00-21:30 First Light Day 1 on the beach
21:30-02:00 The party moves off the beach and into venues around Lowestoft with our ticketed Sundown Events
Sunday
03:30-05:00 Dawn programme of music, performance and food takes place on the beach as the sun rises
10:00-16:00 First Light Day 2 on the beach
Important Information!
The Campsite will be open to Friday & Saturday Campers from 18:00 on Friday 19 June, and from 10:00 on Saturday 20 June for Saturday Campers. But before you set off, have you got everything you need?
- Up to 4-person Tent (Please note we cannot accommodate tents any larger than this).
- Extra-long pegs or weights (more on that below!)
- Sleeping bag, pillows and mats
- Torch
- Warm clothes – it gets chilly at night next to the sea, trust us!
- Drinking water bottle
- Rubbish bags
- Spare toilet roll
Please consider the ground conditions and our unpredictable British weather when deciding what equipment you might need to bring with you. You will need to carry everything to the campsite from the car park so best to go basic. Although there will be security on site at all times belongings are left at your own risk and best to leave valuables at home.
Also – please leave dogs at home! They are not allowed on most of the festival site due to summer season beach rules and it just wouldn’t be fun for them.
When you arrive
Please check in with the Campsite Manager at reception (signposted from the car parks), who will issue campers with wristbands for the camping area. This is camping on the beach festival style – pitches won’t be marked out but please camp within the roped area and be considerate of space and other campers.
Parking
For those who have booked parking, the car parks will be open from 18:00 on Friday 19 June, and then accessible throughout the weekend.
Wild Beach Camping Car Parks:
If you booked Wild Beach Campsite parking, there are two car parks available; Pakefield Street car park (next to Jolly Sailors, what3words plant.resort.excusing) NR33 0HX or Pakefield Road Car park (next to Cefas, what3words blackouts.romance.gross), NR33 0HS. One car parking space per booking.
Football Club Car Park:
For those who have booked a car parking space at Kirkley & Pakefield Football Club, these are located on Walmer Road, NR33 7LE (what3words slouched.slimmer.widely).
Considerations
Camping on the beach is pretty special, but not as straight forward as camping in a field! There are a couple of things to bear in mind: When you booked you will have seen that we have to limit the tent size to a 4 person tent. This is for practical and safety reasons due to the nature of the area so please DO NOT bring anything bigger than this.
Most of the dunes area is grassier and less sandy, however regular tent pegs may not be as effective. Dedicated sand stakes are available that work pretty well in sand or corkscrew type metal dog tie-outs can be bought from B&M. Sand bags will also work, and we’ll have some available to borrow from reception. You will need at least one full bag per pole point, and you can also try bringing carrier bags and a spade so you can fill up from the beach.
A useful article about camping on the beach can be found at https://coolofthewild.com/camping/beach-camping
We have sought advice from Suffolk Wildlife Trust and due to the public nature of the beach they are not concerned in terms of wildlife or grasses being disturbed, however please do be conscious of these.
Campsite rules!
We would like Wild Beach Camping to be an enjoyable experience for everyone, which unfortunately means a few rules…
- No fires, BBQs, fireworks or paper lanterns.
- No smoking please
- No glass please
- If you have a gas stove or lamp please make sure this is used and switched off properly and stored safely away from your and other people’s tents.
Facilities
This is wild beach festival camping – not glamping! There will be toilets and drinking water available, however there will not be showers or washing facilities.
Evacuation
In the unlikely case of an evacuation of the campsite an alarm will sound. Please follow the instructions of the campsite manager and/or security, leave the campsite immediately and head to the field adjacent to Pakefield Road car park.
If you have access requirements please make yourself known to the campsite manager so they can assist you in the event of evacuation.
Packing up
The wild camping code: leave no trace. This is the crucial rule of wild camping and ideally you will create minimum impact on your desired area so it still remains natural and wild. Better still, you should leave the site so no one can tell you’ve even been there.
Litter – this goes without saying, but ensure you collect all your rubbish and take it with you. Walk the site slowly before leaving to check that nothing is missed. Leave the site as you found it – don’t leave holes, fire damage, litter, and take care not to damage vegetation. Empty any sand bags back where you found it.
The campsite must be clear by 18:00 on Sunday afternoon.
Cancellations & Refunds
No refunds are given for camping pitches. However, we may be able to re-sell your pitch if you are unable to attend. Please email info@firstlightlowestoft.com should you need to discuss your booking.
If you have any questions please do get in touch by emailing info@firstlightlowestoft.com.
See you on the beach!
First Light Team