COSTUMES PERFORMANCES CONCERTS RAVE

The address for your smartphones and navigation apps is: Reiherstieg / Hauptdeich, 21107 Hamburg.

The VOGELBALL opens its doors for you at 6:00 PM. The spectacle ends at 6:00 AM.

Children and teenagers aged 12 to 15 may only enter when accompanied by a person with parental authority or a designated guardian. A designated guardian is any person over the age of 18 who assumes temporary or permanent educational responsibilities based on an agreement with the person holding parental authority or who supervises a child or teenager as part of their training or youth services (§ 1 Abs. 1 Nr. 4 JuSchG).

Teenagers aged 16 and older may enter VOGELBALL without accompaniment until midnight.

Designated guardians must carry a written authorization and, upon request, provide a copy of the ID of the person holding parental authority.

The downloadable form is available below.

If you feel uncomfortable, have experienced discrimination or boundary violations, or need support in any way, you can contact our Awareness Team. The team is reachable via call, SMS, WhatsApp, or Telegram at 0157 36407217. Additionally, anyone wearing a pink disco ball (as a vest, button, or in another form) is approachable and ready to support you as needed.

To ensure we can all celebrate VOGELBALL in a safe and comfortable environment, we’ve implemented an Awareness Concept again this year. Here are the key points:

• We do not tolerate sexism, racism, or any other forms of discrimination at our events. Symbols and signs of fascist structures or organizations are strictly prohibited on our grounds.
• Verbal or physical violence is not tolerated—this includes staring, catcalling (e.g., sexually inappropriate comments, whistling, or shouting).
• Certain substances can alter perceptions of boundaries. Please consume responsibly and act considerately.
• Respect the boundaries of others: No means no, and only an explicit yes means yes.
• Only the affected person decides what they perceive as violence or discrimination. We do not question their experience and fully believe them.
• Keep your shirt on: Being topless is not welcome.
• Do not photograph others without their explicit permission.
• Respect the cultural significance of certain elements and avoid wearing them as costumes, especially if they belong to a culture that is discriminated against for them.
• You cannot determine someone’s gender identity by appearance. Please ask others for their pronouns or avoid gender-specific addresses.
• We practice allyship: If you notice someone feeling uncomfortable or being harassed, don’t hesitate to involve our Awareness or Security Team on-site.

These guidelines aim to create a space where everyone feels safe and can enjoy a wonderful festival experience. Please follow them and look out for one another.

We always welcome feedback. Feel free to send us an email at awareness@kopfundsteine.de

As a vibrant masquerade ball featuring many queer artists, we understand that style is always political. That’s why we don’t want to adorn ourselves with borrowed plumes.

We’ve received feedback about costumes appearing at our events in the past that resembled Indigenous headdresses. This prompted us to reflect further on the issue of cultural appropriation, which we’d like to share with you:

What is Cultural Appropriation?

Cultural appropriation refers to using elements of cultural groups for personal gain—especially those of groups that are historically and structurally marginalized.

These elements can include clothing, gestures, musical and dance styles, or hairstyles.

When members of a majority group strip cultural elements of a minority group of their meaning and adopt them in a derogatory or stereotypical manner, this constitutes cultural appropriation.

Why shouldn’t I wear an Indigenous headdress if I don’t have Indigenous roots?

There are approximately 5,000 Indigenous groups, making up about 6% of the global population. These are real, existing communities—not costumes.

For them, their headdresses are an integral part of their identity (which in some cases is endangered) and carry spiritual and cultural significance. For instance, a feathered headdress is reserved for a select few individuals with high prestige who have earned the right to wear it over the course of their lives as a symbol of honor.

If we wear these sacred artifacts from another cultural heritage, we strip them of their significance and degrade them by using them as a costume.

The problem with cultural appropriation also lies in using a culture’s individuality to stand out, while the people whose culture is being appropriated have historically been discriminated against and persecuted for it.

For example, Indigenous Americans were nearly wiped out during colonization. They were denied the right to vote until the 1960s and prohibited from publicly wearing their traditional headdresses for centuries. Forced relocations, land theft, massacres, and cultural erasure drastically reduced their population.

We must acknowledge and respect this history and culture. So, let’s continue embracing feathers—but not someone else’s sacred feathered headdresses!

—

DOs:
– Loose individual feathers tucked into hair
– Bird masks with feathers and beaks (without headbands)
– Feather earrings
– Feathers on the face or body, wings!
– Headbands, hairpieces, masks, and crowns that feature feathers alongside other decorative elements such as flowers, rhinestones, etc.
– Glitter in any form

DON’Ts:
Feather headdresses attached to a headband or similar:
– Worn on the head
– Including single feathers affixed to bands or similar
– Neither crowns nor Mohawk/Iroquois styles
– Regardless of whether feathers stand upright or hang down
– No fur and/or horns attached to a band or similar either

Take the S-Bahn heading south to S-Bahnhof Wilhelmsburg. From there, it’s just a few minutes to the venue – the walking route is signposted.

Attention: After 6:00 PM, there may be long waiting times at the elevators in the Old Elbe Tunnel, as the large freight elevators are no longer in operation. For later arrivals and your return trip, please use an alternative route, such as through Hafencity and over the Freihafen Elbe Bridge.

At the venue, you can park your bicycles in our designated, paid bicycle parking areas (*Bike Hotel*) – please use these and avoid locking your bikes to construction fences.

If you’re arriving by taxi, please provide the following address: “Schluisgrove/Schlengendeich” – Hamburg-Wilhelmsburg. From there, walk towards the Alte Schleuse, cross the white bridge, and you’ll reach the entrance.

We strongly advise against driving to the festival site by car. There will be very limited parking available near the venue. Using public transport or a bicycle is a more eco-friendly and convenient option.

From S-Bahnhof Wilhelmsburg, at the bus stop “BSU/Neuenfelder Str.,” a free shuttle service will run from 4:00 PM to midnight, taking you close to the venue. From there, it’s a short, signposted walk to the festival site.

For the return journey, a shuttle will operate from 10:30 PM to 7:00 AM. The path to the shuttle departure point is signposted—just follow the signs or ask our staff for assistance.

All bars and food trucks accept both card and cash payments.

Alcohol is not allowed on the festival grounds. However, you can bring non-alcoholic beverages up to 1.5 liters in unopened bottles (no glass). Tetra Paks are not permitted. Snacks are welcome, but full meals are available at the venue, including options for vegetarians and vegans.

If you have specific food intolerances that require you to bring your own food, that’s no problem. You may bring a “festival-appropriate” quantity with you.

In general, if you have a doctor’s note or similar documentation for your intolerance, it will make entry hassle-free—just present it at the entrance. If you don’t have such documentation but still urgently need to bring your own food, please email us at info@kopfundsteine.de.

At VOGELBALL, you’ll find a wide variety of drinks as well as vegetarian and vegan food options. Payments at the stands can be made with either cash or card.

The VOGELBALL offers diverse products at the Freihandelszone.

Small bags, gym bags, and tote bags in A4 size are allowed on the festival grounds. The less stuff you bring, the quicker the entry process will be!

Lockers are available to rent on our festival grounds. You can securely store your belongings and access them whenever needed. To be on the safe side, you can book your locker in advance.

A cloakroom will be available on the festival grounds where you can safely store jackets and other items. Please note that space may be limited, so arrive early if you plan to use this service! 

Professional Recording Equipment:
Professional audio and video recordings are strictly prohibited on the festival grounds, and violations will be prosecuted. Any recordings made without the explicit consent of the organizers or artists are forbidden. Legal action will be taken against unauthorized publication.

Tagging/Bombing:
Please respect the art installations and rented equipment on the grounds. Cleaning toilets, containers, and stage equipment generates significant costs after the event, which ultimately impacts ticket prices for the following year.

Drones:
Within the scope of our house rules, launching, flying, and landing unmanned aerial systems (drones) is prohibited.

Weapons:
Weapons of any kind have no place at our events.

Fireworks, Flares, Laser Pointers, Pressurized Containers:
Pyrotechnics and laser pointers are not allowed on the festival grounds. Leave the thrilling shows to the artists.

Pressurized containers

(e.g., deodorants, hairspray, and spray sunscreen) are also not permitted and should be left at home.

There are plenty of drinking water stations on the festival grounds. Make sure to bring an empty water bottle (no glass!) to refill.

We want all visitors to feel free to move around the festival grounds. The site is a former industrial area, now overgrown and repurposed, which we’ve done our best to make accessible for everyone.

If you have a “B” on your ID, you can bring a companion free of charge. Simply purchase your ticket and show your ID at the entrance.

Accessible areas are available at the stages, and there is an accessible restroom in the backstage area, which can be reached via Gate 16. Additionally, the festival grounds feature accessible portable toilets secured with a combination lock. You can get the code from the security team, Awareness Team, or at the Info Point.

If you lose something during the event, you can check at the Info Points (open from 4:00 PM to midnight) to see if it has been turned in. If you find any items, please hand them in at the Info Points or at the bars.

After the event, you’ll have one week to collect your belongings from us (pickup dates will be announced). After that, all unclaimed items will be sent to the Central Lost and Found Office in Altona.

We are committed to creating a safe space for everyone at VOGELBALL. That’s why we want to raise awareness about GHB (also known as Liquid Ecstasy) and clearly state our policy: no GHB at VOGELBALL.

Your safety and health are our top priorities. No matter if or what you’ve consumed, our Awareness Team, Psycare Team, security staff, and medics are always here for you. They’ll support you discreetly and ensure you’re taken care of. If you ever feel uncomfortable or unsure, don’t hesitate to reach out to them.

You can also contact us afterward via awareness@kopfundsteine.de.

About GHB:

GHB is a significant issue in the club and party scene. While some people consume it recreationally, it is easy to overdose on and is frequently misused for drugging (“knockout drops”). Especially when combined with alcohol, its use becomes extremely risky.

We consider GHB and its derivatives like GBL and BD to be very dangerous. Therefore, their use is prohibited at VOGELBALL and on our grounds.

Anyone found with GHB will be asked to leave the event immediately.

Look out for yourself and others:

• If you suddenly feel dizzy or unwell, don’t go to the restroom or head home alone—inform your friends and staff.
• Keep an eye on your drinks.
• If you choose to use substances, do so consciously and remember that they can alter not only your own boundaries but also your perception of others’.
• Look out for each other.

By working together to create a safe rave space at VOGELBALL, we can ensure everyone has a fantastic time.