Frequently Asked Questions
You can download the Ride the Wave Festival 2026 Program by clicking here on this link.
Car parks are for parking your car… but not on the festival weekend! Alban Place is closed off to all traffic, as well as the main car park near the Breakwall. The car park at the Salty Crew Kiosk end is open but only to be used for disabled access/drop off. You can park in the car park opposite the Port City Bowling Club and around Oxley Oval, and enjoy the walk to the festival – it’s looking to be a beautiful sunny weekend!
The Festival is located a short and easy bike ride from both Port Macquarie town centre and surrounding suburbs. Whether you are staying on site or offsite in Port Macquarie, bikes are going to be the best way to get around. There’s no waiting around and you’ll be right on site! BYO bike lock.
Upon arrival, your tickets will be scanned and you will be given a wristband to wear for the duration of the festival. Your tickets can only be scanned once and your wristband(s) becomes your ticket. Your wristband is your pass-out.
You can purchase tickets for the Ride the Wave Music: Live and Local 2026 via our ticketing page. Or by following this link. Tickets are on sale NOW until sold out.
Present your ticket/s via your smartphone ready for scanning on arrival. Tip: zoom in on the barcode.
Alternatively, you may print your tickets.
Tickets are non-refundable. Please visit the eventbrite link for more information.
Yes! Everyone wants an epic Ride the Wave festival experience and if your behaviour affects this experience, we will ask you to leave. Here are some of the things likely to get you kicked out for the sake of others:
- Doing anything illegal
- Putting yourself or others are serious risk of injury
- Threatening behaviour
- Unsupervised U18s without a parent or guardian at all times
- Failing to supervise U18s in your care
- Drinking alcohol as an U18
- Enabling an U18 to drink alcohol
- Losing or tampering with your wristband in anyway – you must look after this, it is your ticket and proof of valid entry.
- Helping anyone to gain entry to the festival without their own valid festival ticket or wristband
- Damaging or taking property of the festival, the venues or other campers
There is a ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY for TRESPASS and comprehensive measures will be implemented to prevent and prosecute TRESPASS.
TRESPASS includes any attempt to gain entry to the festival site or campgrounds without a valid ticket or wristband and wearing an invalid or forged wristband. Wristbands will be continually checked for validity and proper application by festival staff throughout the event. Trespassers will be detained, handed to police and charged with one or more of the following: Falsification of a Document, Obtaining Financial Advantage by Deception and Trespass. The maximum penalty for these dishonesty crimes is 10 years’ imprisonment. Trespassers will receive a criminal conviction and/or a substantial fine.
Trespassers and anyone assisting trespassers will be refused entry or ejected, and banned from future events at the site. If a vehicle is found to be carrying or assisting even one trespasser, all occupants of the vehicle will be refused entry, ejected, and banned from future events.
Folding camp chairs are permitted for use in allocated spaces within the venue (ticketed area).
If you’re camping, please leave your tent in the campground.
Due to strict liquor licensing conditions that apply to all festivals in NSW, BYO alcohol is not permitted. There is a bar within the venue offering a range of alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks for you to purchase and enjoy. Food is also available for purchase inside the venue provided by two local food vendors. Glass is NOT permitted to be brought into the venue.
The following items are banned from the festival site:
* Alcohol (there will be drinks on sale within the Barrel Room).
* Glass
* Generators
* Anything illegal
* Fire: including fire twirling, flares, sparklers, candles or other naked flames
* Gazebos
* Single-use plastic
* Laser Lights (LED light are okay)
* Drones
* Anything you don’t plan to take home!
Guide dogs and Companion dogs are allowed in all areas of the festival.
Pet dogs are allowed in the main Ride the Soundwave festival area, as long as they are on a lead and do not interfere with Guide or Companion dogs. Please exercise caution in crowded areas.
You will be asked to leave with your dog if your dog causes any issues for Companion dogs, Guide dogs or other festival goers.
We accept Companion Cards at this event. The person with the disability is required to buy a ticket as normal. Their Companion is not required to buy a ticket but should show a valid companion card on arrival at the venue where they will be let in free of charge.
It sure is! The best wheelchair access point is through the carpark near Salty Crew. You won’t be able to park there, but you are able to drive through the carpark and drop off. There is wheelchair access to the festival area next to the main entrance.
Yes. If the safety of patrons, performers and volunteers is put at risk because of weather. A notice will be posted on the Make a Difference PMQ and Ride the Wave social media pages in the event of cancellation or altered line up.
Yes. Festival organisers aim to ensure safety and respect for all families and insist on zero-tolerance for disruptive and aggressive behaviour. We do require adult supervision for children under 14–15 at all times and ALL children under 18 are to be accompanied by an adult.
Yes. Ride the Wave Festival is a major fundraiser for Make a Difference PMQ. A local charity run by volunteers with the goal of providing meals and friendly conversation to marginalised and disadvantaged members of the greater Port Macquarie community. Additional donations can be made at the event.
