No volunteers, no Roskilde Festival. They are the first to arrive and the last to leave. They work hard and coordinate tirelessly. They are the smiles behind the bar and in front of the stages. And for that, they deserve the biggest thanks in the world!
During RF24, volunteers had the chance to nominate their own volunteer festival heroes. With their help, we have found and selected heroes in five categories, and we now celebrate them for their unparalleled dedication. Meet them here.
Roskilde Festival is brought to life by a strong community of associations. Some handle key service tasks while others run food stalls or bars. As a volunteer for an association, you help create an incredible festival while also raising funds for the association’s own activities.
Roskilde Gymnastikforening is a local, volunteer-run organisation that took part in Roskilde Festival for the first time in 1982 – and has been involved almost every year since.
They are chosen as this year’s association because they ensure everyone can participate – both in their local engagement and at the festival. This is appreciated by one of the many volunteers in their nomination: “Roskilde Gymnastikforening is a place where everyone is welcome. It’s the only place where I can be 100% myself.”
Thank you for making it possible for everyone to take part.
VOLUNTEERS CELEBRATED BY THE COMMUNITY
This year’s RFheroes were honoured on Saturday 14 September, when the festival’s year-round volunteers and members of the Roskilde Festival Charity Society gathered to celebrate RF24.
Next summer, we will engrave the heroes’ names on brass plaques and place them in the ground in front of the Orange Stage. This way, we can always remember that our festival is the culmination of a collective heroic effort.
Merchandise symbolises our love for the festival. It strengthens the bond between individuals and the festival – and it connects us all.
Team Merchandise is this year’s new team because they have enhanced the overall experience of the new merchandise stall in the heart of the festival city.
The team had to build something brand new from scratch, and they took on the task with enthusiasm, fresh ideas, and big smiles. And the result was both stunning and inviting.
A huge congratulations and an even bigger thank you!
Marie Raasthøj has been a part of Roskilde Festival for many years. Several volunteers have journeyed with her from Skate to Rising and now to the Gaia stage, where she currently leads the team. They’ve done so because of her. In their joint nomination, they wrote:
“The reason we return year after year is that Marie has created a team where everyone feels that Gaia is our shared project, and that they have an important role in building a community filled with love, where we look out for each other.”
Marie Raasthøj is a true festival hero who champions inclusion, safety, equality, openness, and honesty. She makes space for both glitter and fun, as well as hard work.
A heartfelt thank you to Marie Raasthøj for creating an environment where people can thrive as they are.
Powering Denmark’s fourth-largest city for a week is an incredible feat. Team El handles this task brilliantly, while also putting extra energy into fostering team cohesion. Their positive attitude and infectious humour inspire others.
One volunteer from the team summed it up perfectly in their nomination: “Team El is like an RF family.”
A big thank you to the entire team for always welcoming new volunteers and everyone you meet along the way. It’s a true heroic act.
Roskilde Festival’s emergency readiness is coordinated from the Emergency Services Office, where Christian Gersløv has volunteered for many years.
In some og of the several nominations of him, he is referred to as “the epitome of Roskilde Festival,” “the greatest firebrand of them all,” “a walking icon for Roskilde Festival,” and “Mr Roskilde Festival.”
This is because he is always ready to help. He gladly shares his knowledge and expertise around the clock, and he always puts others before himself.
As one volunteer wrote in their nomination: “If there is an RFhero, it’s Christian.” We couldn’t agree more. A huge thank you to Christian Gersløv for lending a helping hand when it’s needed the most.
Would you like to help create Roskilde Festival all-year-round? Or are you simply curious about what it means to be a year-round volunteer? Then you can meet some of our year-round volunteers on 22 October from 17.30-19.30 at Ungdommens Demokratihus in Copenhagen.
Everyone is welcome – whether you’re just curious about volunteering or you already know you want to get involved with Roskilde Festival year-round. Feel free to bring a friend!
