Health, Safety & Harm Reduction
Health & Safety Services
ShambhaCares
The driving force behind Shambhala Music Festival’s extensive Harm Reduction is simple: "It’s all about the people on the dancefloor." Over the past 27 years, Shambhala has established itself as a leader in health and safety standards in the North American festival industry, and we plan to continue to lead this conversation well into the future. Encompassing all aspects of harm reduction from sexual health, a strong medical team, and various safe spaces, the Shambhala Music Festival Harm Reduction team ensures that all patrons, as well as staff, are educated on how to ensure the festival is an accepting and safe environment.
Accessibility Zone
Our Accessibility Zone is located near Downtown and specially catered for the members of our Shambhala community with mobility disabilities. For charging motorized wheelchairs, power access is available at Medical Services in the heart of Downtown Shambhala. For further information or inquiries into our Accessibility Program, contact sales@shambhalamusicfestival.com
Fire-Rescue Team
No campfires or open flames are permitted. The Salmo River Ranch is extremely dry during summer, & fire bans are often in effect.
Our professional Fire-Rescue crew is on site. For fires or fire safety concerns, call the SOS Hotline: 1-778-724-1119 or notify the nearest staff member immediately.
Drop Beats, Not Butts:
Dispose of cigarettes & smoking debris responsibly. Never toss them on the ground or in garbage bins, as they can start fires. Use a pocket ashtray from the Green River Collective at Muscle Beach or bring your own butt container.
Preventative Action
Help prevent fires:
- Do not idle vehicles on grass.
- Turn off heat-generating appliances & keep them away from tents & other combustibles.
- No candles, fireworks, fire poi/hoops, fuel (white gas), tiki torches, charcoal or propane BBQs, hibachi stoves, propane heaters, or propane campfires.
- No campsite EV charging. Keep large lithium-ion batteries (e-bikes, power stations) shaded & away from tents.
SOS Number
SOS Number 📞 1-778-724-1119
During the festival, this number will get you any one or all of our highly trained Medical, Fire Response, Security or Harm Reduction Teams.
- Know your location
- Stay on the phone and stay with the person in need
- If you are unable to phone, find a crew member with a radio
- If the situation resolves, please call back or wait on scene for the team to arrive
Green River Collective
The Shambhala Green River Collective is back at Muscle Beach! Their mission? Reduce pollution, protect the river's biodiversity, and keep our favourite waterway thriving. Thanks to their hard work (and your help), littering has decreased significantly over the years.
Here are 3 ways to protect the river during Shambhala:
- No River Bathing: Even "earth-friendly" or biodegradable soaps can harm fish habitats. Please keep the suds in the showers!
- Rinse Before You Swim: Sunscreen is one of the biggest sources of river pollution. Wash it off before diving in.
- Drop Beats, Not Butts: Cigarette butts pollute the water and spark fires. Grab an eco-friendly Pocket Ashtray for a small donation at Muscle Beach or the Info Booth!
Pack it in, pack it out, and keep the river pristine. Stop by Muscle Beach to say hi to the Green River Collective crew!
New for 2026: Review our Floatie Pillars below
Your floatie can have an impact on the environment and the safety of others using the river. When choosing which floatie to pack this year, remember these 3 tips:
- No Glitter-Filled Floaties: If it pops, thousands of microplastics pollute the water. Help us keep the river glitter-free!
- Max 3 Meters: Giant floaties can block the river, create hazards, and can easily pop. Smaller floaties are recommended.
- Pack it Out: Do not leave floaties, chairs, or pop-up tents on the river overnight. If you pack it in, pack it out, every day!
Let’s all do our part to protect the river we love.
Harm Reduction
ANKORS
ANKORS has been serving the Kootenays for over two decades and is always an important presence at Shambhala Music Festival. Learn more about ANKORS here.
Located in the heart of the Artisan Market, ANKORS provides:
- info on drug effects, risks, dosing & mixing
- free drug checking
- free condoms, lubricants, & safer sex information
- safer party info, harm reduction supplies, resources, & support
- training guests with Naloxone & educating them about safer use practices
- providing Fentanyl test strips & education
Look for these amazing harm reduction volunteers, identified by their purple bandanas.
Fentanyl test strips are also available after hours. Please note: ANKORS is in a new location this year, where the General Store was previously located. Refer to the 2025 map on our Plan Your Journey Webpage.
Medical
Located in the heart of Downtown Shambhala, our Medical Services are open 24 hours a day. The Medical Team is available for anything from cuts to medical emergencies.
- Trained medical professionals on duty
- Walk-in visits as needed
- Rapid mobile first-response teams for any medical calls
- Prescription support by the local pharmacy
Our trained Medical Professionals are ready to assist should you need medical attention while on the farm.
Get Home Safe
Prepare for delays and Police Checkpoints as you exit the farm. Bring plenty of water and ensure you’ve gotten enough rest and are sober before driving. You can also choose to stay on-site Monday night and leave Tuesday if you need more time to rest.
- Plan a designated, rested, sober driver
- Schedule a departure time
- Pack lots of water and snacks for your departure journey from the farm
- Always have a conscious co-pilot
- Consider local hotel/motel/camping options if you have a long drive home ahead of you
*Please note: do not use the SOS number outside of the Salmo River Ranch property. If you need emergency assistance once you leave, please call 911.
Consent & Outreach
Roaming crews of professional consent culture advocates, identified by purple shirts & bandanas, patrol the stages, beach, campsites, & gate. They meet people where they are, offering support, resources, education, & referrals when needed. As active bystanders, they look out for our community & aim to foster safer spaces.
Sanctuary
The Sanctuary offers psych crisis & mental health support and is located beside Medical.
Open 24 Hours a Day.
If you or someone you know is experiencing mental health concerns like anxiety, panic attacks, hallucinations, delusions, dissociation, or intense overwhelm, visit the Sanctuary for a safe, quiet place with experienced professionals to support you.
Safe Space
Open 24 Hours a Day.
This space is held for self-identified women & other BIPOC, LGBTQIA2S+ & community members who are feeling vulnerable as a result of historical or present-day concerns & need a supportive safe place. Volunteers are trained in crisis intervention & can offer support & connect folks to resources in their own community.
Security
Look out for the Security Team in the yellow shirts & Stagekeepers in orange shirts. They have your back out on the dancefloor & are here to keep everyone safe.
Vehicle & personal effects search: As per the Terms & Conditions in your ticket, guests must consent to a reasonable examination & searches to ensure compliance with all provincial & federal laws, as well as facility rules & regulations.
To be fully prepared, please check out the banned items list on our website.
Please be kind & courteous to our Security team as they keep our Farmily safe!
Camp Clean Beats
Camp Clean Beats is a sober supportive camping area with 3 daily meetings throughout the festival. Guests can camp here to have a safe & mutually supportive community. Please refer to the festival map for the camp location. Meeting times for 2026 are Thurs-Sun, 10am-11am, 4pm-5pm, & 9pm-10pm.
RSVP your camping spot or ask specific questions by emailing Mandy at campcleanbeats@gmail.com.
Yoga Classes
Let daily yoga classes allow you to find an inner peace that will ground you for a weekend of dancing, friend-making & soul-searching. Stretch out tight muscles & get limbered up for lovely festival adventures at morning Yoga.
Bring your own mat & water.
Classes are held daily at the following locations:
For the yoga schedule at the Culture Canopy, Sunburst Canopy & Riverside Lodging, head to the Activities Schedule in the Mobile App.
For classes at the Secret Garden, refer to the Set Schedule.
Crowd Safety
Keeping our Farmily safe while they are in the crowd is a very important job for both our team & our fellow Farmily members. When entering the crowd, these are some important things to look out for:
- Respect each other's space
- Observe your surroundings & look out for exit points
- Don’t push, ever
- Walk or dance, don’t run
- Inform - if you see something, say something
- Safety plan - spend some time planning your day & routes
- Be mindful of peak crowd times - if a larger crowd isn’t for you, plan your dancing schedule accordingly
River Safety
Please be aware of changing water levels, currents, hazards, & visibility conditions. The Salmo River is unsupervised & swimmers use the river at their own risk.
- Buddy system: Always pair up for river activities; never enter the water alone.
- No night swimming: Do not swim after dusk due to poor visibility & increased risk.
- Know the conditions: River currents, hazards, & obstructions can change quickly.
- No diving: Never enter moving water headfirst.
- No impaired use: Alcohol & drugs reduce judgment, coordination, & swimming ability.
- SOS: If someone is in distress call 1-778-724-1119 immediately.
Be Bear Aware
The forest is home to more than just the magic of Shambhala. It’s also home to wildlife. While bear sightings are rare, they do happen. Our team will be monitoring bear activity throughout the festival to help ensure everyone’s safety. With your help & a little awareness, we can all do our part to keep Shambhala safe.
How to Be Bear Aware:
- Prevent encounters by being aware of your surroundings and making noise.
- Never leave food or scented items in your tent.
- Never approach or feed a bear.
- Keep your campsite clean. Avoid those midnight snack messes - don’t leave out food or garbage.
- If you see a bear: DO NOT RUN! Stay calm, keep your distance, & back away slowly while facing the bear. When you’re able to do so safely, notify a crew member or security right away. Crew members will be wearing pink Shambhala lanyards with ID badges. Security can be identified by their bright yellow shirts.
- Save the SOS Number to your contacts in advance: 1-778-724-1119 📞 This number will get you in touch with Security, as well as Medical, Fire & Harm Reduction teams.
Health, Safety & Harm Reduction
Code of Conduct
Shambhala Music Festival is committed to fostering a safe and inclusive community event. In order to do so, we ask that all participants understand and agree to this Code of Conduct in relation to all activities regarding the festival.
The following actions will result in a warning and/or immediate ejection from the festival:
- Offensive or abusive language
- Obscene or offensive gestures, including the use of offensive imagery and symbolism on banners, signs, and other visual tools
- The participation in an activity that is insulting or harmful to oneself and/or fellow guests
- Violence or engaging in any harmful behaviour to self or others
- Damage, destruction, vandalism or theft of any property
- Disrespecting or damaging the festival grounds, urination or defecation in the river and/or outside of a proper public restroom
- The possession of alcohol
- The possession, or sale of illegal substances
- Accessing restricted areas without adequate credentials
- Creating potential fire risks
Any individual who violates this Code of Conduct may be immediately removed from the festival grounds and have their Festival Wristband and parking/camping privileges revoked, without refund. Law enforcement may be notified.
Please contact security@shambhalamusicfestival.com if you believe you’ve observed or experienced a violation of this Code of Conduct, and Shambhala Music Festival will work to assess the situation and to respond as soon as possible. Please remember that notifying Shambhala Music Festival does not constitute or replace a notification to local law enforcement.
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