Frequently Asked Questions

Main Entrance is located at 65 N. Harvard St., Allston, MA and we recommend taking the T (Red Line) to the Harvard Square station. There is no parking available on site.

Check out our transportation page for more info.

Boston Calling is a rain or shine event. In the event of anticipated severe weather the festival will communicate any schedule adjustments via all social media channels and our official festival app.

Boston Calling Music Festival is a multi-day, multi-stage, outdoor festival featuring the biggest and best acts in live music, DJs, visual arts, and more. It is held at Harvard’s Athletic Complex in Allston, MA on Memorial Day weekend. The event will provide easy access to all performance areas, incredible concessions, indoor performances and many surprises to be announced. All ages are welcome and children under 10 are free.

• ALL bags will be searched before entry.
• Bags are restricted to small clutch purses and fanny packs that are 6″ x  9″ or smaller  and do not need to be clear, but can have no more than one pocket.
• All other bags must be fully CLEAR and made up of clear plastic, vinyl, or pvc, and be no larger than 12″ x 6″ x 12″ ONLY.  Backpacks and bags with multiple pockets are prohibited.
• Hydration packs are allowed and do not need to be clear, but must be emptied of all liquid and have no more than one pocket in addition to the one holding the water reservoir.

• Sunscreen (non aerosol)
• Hats
• Sunglasses
• Non-professional film and digital cameras
• (1) Factory-sealed bottle of water (non-glass container, up to 1 gallon in size) or empty hydration pack*
  • * CamelBak-style water bladder systems with no more than one additional pocket are allowed empty into the Event Site, however the water bladders themselves must be capable of being removed from the carrier and must be transparent enough to allow security to visually inspect the empty bladder.
• Factory-sealed snacks
• Bags smaller than 6×9 (fanny packs, small purses, etc)
• Valid Driver’s License for will-call and/or to purchase alcohol
• Comfortable footwear (shoes or sandals must be worn to enter festival grounds)

All patrons are subject to search upon entry every time you enter the festival grounds.  Please note all items that are confiscated or voluntarily surrendered WILL NOT be held or returned.

• Drugs, drug paraphernalia or illegal substances of any kind
• Cigarettes, Cigars, Lighters or Tobacco of any kind – Boston Calling is a No Smoking Festival. Due to the composition of some of the fields, cigarettes will not be permitted on site and will be confiscated.  This includes Juul’s & Vape pens
• Outside food with exception of personal sized, factory-sealed snacks
• Large bags/ large backpacks (bags can be no larger than 6″x 9″)
• Weapons of any kind (or anything deemed a weapon by security)
• Professional cameras & recording devices (no SLR/DSLR or cameras with detachable lenses)
• Illegal substances
• Squirt guns, misters, spray bottles, etc
• Laser pens and similar focused-light devices
• Chairs / Strollers / Wagons
• Cans,  flasks, glass bottles (EMPTY plastic or aluminum bottles/hydration backpacks will be allowed)
• Pets (only approved service animals)
• Bicycles, scooters, personal motorized vehicles
• Musical instruments
• Sleeping bags, tarps, or blankets (no overnight camping)
• Umbrellas
• Any container of liquid other than 1 factory sealed bottle of water (plastic only)
• Totem poles or flag sticks
• Walkie Talkies
• Fake IDs – they will be confiscated and your wristband will be cut without refund.

We suggest preparing for the event as follows:

• Dress in cool, lightweight clothing
• Sunglasses
• Lather up in sunscreen, the shade is limited to smaller parts of the festival grounds
• Bring a hat
• Wear comfy shoes

Stay hydrated! Drink water before you get to the event and enjoy the beverage offerings of the many vendors at the festival. You are welcome to bring a factory sealed water bottle or an empty (non-glass) beverage container / hydration backpack to use at our free water refill station.

Check out our our 2023 Food & Beverage Lineup

Festival t-shirts, hooded sweatshirts, hats, limited edition festival posters and many other items will be sold at the main merchandise stand. Artist merchandise will also be available there.

Yes! Lockers will be available as a safe & secure place to store your belongings while at the festival.  For your convenience, we will have lockers available both inside and outside of the festival. Advance reservations are now closed but we will still have some available on site, first come, first served.

The festival grounds is easily accessible from any of Boston’s many hotels.  For closest proximity, we recommend staying in the Cambridge / Allston areas.

Have a media inquiry? Email us with your question and we’ll get back to you ASAP.

At this time, we are no longer accepting new press applications for 2023 festival.

If your company is interested in supporting or participating at the festival, please email us with as much info as possible on your company, as well as your contact info, and one of our partnership representatives will be in touch shortly.

In the event a single day or multiple days of the festival are cancelled, ticket holders will be notified of cancellation and refund policy. Artist lineup is subject to change including in the event of weather.

Join our street team – Apply here

Work at the festival – Coming soon!

Please find full details about all ticket types on our tickets page.

No tickets will be issued for this event. All attendees will receive RFID wristbands mailed to the address provided on your Front Gate Ticketing order or picked up onsite at our Box office (for international orders only). Wristbands ship in early May.

Please bring a photo ID (license, passport) for pickup at the Box Office.

Yes, “2-Pack” ticket types will get you 2 admission wristbands to the festival.

No, three day passes are shipped as ONE wristband and are only valid for one attendee, all three days.

Only wristbands purchased through Boston Calling ticketing website are guaranteed to be authentic.  Each festival, dozens of attendees are turned away at entry due to an invalid pass.  In almost all cases it was counterfeit or already used and purchased from a third party.  Our box office can’t provide assistance to anyone but the original purchaser and they must have a valid photo ID that matches the order name.  If you want to be sure of no issues, always buy your tickets from bostoncalling.com/tickets

For the speediest festival experience, we HIGHLY recommend linking a credit or debit card with your wristband before the event. You will be able to purchase food, beer, wine, water, soda and merchandise just by tapping the wristband at the payment point.  Learn more about CASHLESS.

All wristbands begin shipping in late April. You will receive your wristbands in your mailbox within 1-3 weeks before the festival. You will receive an email from Front Gate Tickets with your tracking number once your package ships. If you do not receive your wristbands in the mail before the event you will be able to pick them up at the Box Office. Please be sure to bring a government issued ID with you to pick up your wristband at the Box Office.

You can update your shipping address on the Tickets page until the cutoff date when shipping begins. If you aren’t available at the shipping address you provided and don’t have a different address, you can cancel the shipment by calling 1-888- 512-SHOW and pick up your replacement wristband at the event in Will Call. If you can’t receive the package after it’s been shipped to the provided address, please proceed to Will Call with a copy of your original order confirmation email and a photo ID. We’ll get you set up. In all cases, shipping fees are non-refundable.

Click here for instructions.

The entire site is ADA accessible. ADA restrooms are also available. ASL interpreters are only available upon request. Feel free to reach out with any questions and someone from our ADA services team will get back to you soon: ada@bostoncalling.com

The safety and well-being of our fans, artists, guests and staff is paramount. Organizers work closely with local officials to ensure the safest possible experience. You’ll notice uniformed and plain-clothed security throughout the festival grounds. They are there to keep you safe, so don’t hesitate to ask them for help if you need immediate assistance.

REMEMBER: You’re the eyes and ears of the festival. If you see something suspicious, say something. 

Additional Safety Resources

We strive to continually update and evolve our safety and security protocols, which includes education and preventative measures to keep people safe.  With this in mind, we are partnering with This Must Be the Place, an overdose prevention nonprofit, who will educate music fans about the dangers of Fentanyl and supply them with the life-saving opioid reversal medicine, Naloxone, commonly known as Narcan.  We encourage fans to stop by their booth at the festival and learn more.

If you have any specific questions regarding safety, security, medical, and any others can be directed to info@bostoncalling.com

COVID PROTOCOLS

Based on current government guidelines, guests are not required to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination, or wear a mask, in order to attend Boston Calling. Government mandates, venue protocols and event requirements are subject to change, so be sure to continue to check back here for the latest information prior to the festival.

Please be aware of your surroundings and if you see something, say something. Lock up all valuables in a locker and stay close to friends. Keep yourself hydrated all weekend long and take advantage of our water refill stations.

Boston Calling has a zero tolerance policy for harassment of any kind. It is our philosophy that our guests should be able to enjoy our event in a safe and non-threatening environment.

Boston Calling has a policy requiring that action be taken should anyone appear to be in an unsafe situation and to investigate and resolve all reports of harassment that occur at our event. Employees, vendors, artists and guests are encouraged to report any interaction that makes them uncomfortable in any way.

Guests should report any allegations of harassment to the nearest event staff.