Thank you for joining us!
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
We can't wait to celebrate our 75th birthday with you at The WBUR Festival!
Important information about how to get the most out of your festival experience is below.
Have additional questions? Email festival@wbur.org
Frequently Asked Questions
All venues at The WBUR Festival are ADA accessible. ALD's (Assisted Listening Devices) and ASL (American Sign Language) interpreters will be available in our keynote venue (FitRec Gym).
The WBUR Festival takes place over a half-mile footprint on the Boston University campus. Shuttle busses will be available for attendees who have mobility issues.
We highly recommend downloading the free WBUR Festival app, which allows you to make your own schedule and view all events and activities in one place.
All festival guests are required to check in and receive a badge before admission to any festival activities. Your badge is your ticket to entry for all sessions and events.
WHEN
Thursday, May 29: 3 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Friday, May 30: 8:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Saturday, May 31: 8:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.
WHERE
Howard Thurman Center
There are many local restaurants and businesses surrounding The WBUR Festival that we recommend visiting for food and drink options.
Local food options
Life Alive* (offers 20% discount with your festival badge)
Food trucks
Food trucks will be available from 12:00 PM - 6:00 PM on Saturday, May 31.
Water
There are multiple water filling stations around the Boston University campus.
Water will also be available in the Festival Hub throughout the day.
The WBUR Festival takes place across 7+ venues at Boston University, spanning about a half mile footprint.
The Festival HUB, located at 808 Commonwealth Ave, is the heart of the festival and where you will check in and receive your badge.
Members receive access to the Members Lounge.
The Members Lounge is located in the College of Fine Arts and includes complimentary snacks and beverages throughout the day on Friday and Saturday.
ADDRESS
855 Commonwealth Ave.
Boston, MA 02215
The WBUR Festival will have both still photography and video taking place throughout the weekend. By attending the festival you agree to be photographed, video and/or audio recorded by the producers of this event.
Flash photography is prohibited.
The WBUR Festival's highest priority is the safety of our guests, staff and speakers. To that end, we have implemented safety precautions to ensure everyone has a fun and safe experience.
Below is a partial list of prohibited items not allowed at The WBUR Festival. The WBUR Festival reserves the right to prohibit other items as deemed necessary.
The WBUR Festival reserves the right to remove any guests, without a refund, who do not abide by these safety precautions.
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS:
All guests will be required to go through metal detector and bag checks in order to access festival venues.
Backpacks and bags larger than 16 1/2" W x 15" H are not permitted at the festival. Bag checks will be available at the FitRec and Tsai Auditorium.
PROHIBITED ITEMS:
Weapons and dangerous items of any kind (firearms, pepper spray, knives, bats, club, tasers, etc...)
Signs, flags or banners of any kind
Signs, posters or garments with offensive language, phrasing or symbols
Unapproved pamphlets, handouts, etc...
Alcohol, cannabis products, drugs, drug paraphernalia
Laser pointers
Drones or unmanned aerial vehicles
Professional camera equipment
Audio/video recording devices
Fireworks, missile-like objects and any other form of projectiles
Noisemakers, air horns, bells, bull horns, whistles, etc...
Pets, other than service animals
Any other items if prohibited by the production.
The schedule for The WBUR Festival is now available! Click here to see all sessions and activities.
We highly recommend downloading the free WBUR Festival app where you can make your own schedule, view venue maps and see the full schedule for each day.
The MBTA Green Line – B Train – brings you right to the festival and is a fast and easy alternative to driving. The Amory stop will bring you closest to the Festival Registration Hub to check in and pick up your badge.
If you drive to the festival (see note below about construction), we recommend parking in Boston University’s Agganis Arena parking garage, located at 925 Commonwealth Ave. The garage is open from 7 a.m. - 11 p.m. Daily rates apply.
Coming from MetroWest? MassDOT reports that Mass Pike construction between exits 123 and 125 and east of the I-90/I-95 interchange will likely cause hours-long traffic delays starting the evening of Friday, May 30 through Saturday, May 31. Please plan ahead and seek an alternative route.
The Mass Pike (I-90) between exits 123 in Weston and 125 in Newton will be reduced to one lane in each direction starting at 9 p.m. on Friday, May 30 and all day on Saturday, May 3. Worcester Commuter Rail service between Framingham and South Station will be replaced by shuttle buses with stops at Boston Landing and Kenmore. Major traffic delays are expected. Please plan ahead, use real-time
Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! is taking place at the Boch Center - Wang Theatre, located at 270 Tremont St. Boston, MA 02216. Doors will open at 6:30 PM and the show will begin at 7:30 PM.
Additional information about your Wait Wait tickets, including seating, will be sent from the Wang Theatre via email in May.
Your ticket allows you access to all events at The WBUR Festival. There are many different stages with various programming throughout the day and you decide what you’d like to go to.
All events and sessions are first come, first served. We recommend getting in line early if there’s something you just can’t miss!
Have a VIP ticket? You will receive priority entry to all venues, allowing you to skip the line.
The festival will take place across seven venues at Boston University, over a .6 mile long footprint.
VIP ticket holders receive a number of benefits at The WBUR Festival.
BENEFITS INCLUDE:
Fast-pass badge
Access to The VIP Lounge
VIP-only swag bag
The VIP Lounge is located on the second floor of the Festival Hub and includes complimentary food, beverages and a smoothie bar throughout the day on Friday and Saturday.
ADDRESS:
Second Floor
808 Commonwealth Ave.
Boston, MA 02215