What to know
- Organizers promised greener, more comfortable turf after last year’s complaints.
- VELD says new grass and maintenance were added, but attendees remain skeptical.
- Many festivalgoers describe the grass as dry, patchy, and “stiff on the butt.”
- A fan suggests moving the festival to a new venue if conditions don’t improve.
For many ravers, sitting on a soft patch of grass to relax or watching the show from the top of the hill is essential to the VELD experience. After last year’s complaints about dull grass, organizers vowed a comeback, insisting this season that the “grass is grassing,” but festivalgoers claim otherwise.
On July 15, VELD addressed the complaints on Instagram, claiming they’ve added new sod and seed and used sprinklers to keep the grass hydrated through the weather.
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In the video, the content creator said, “A few weeks ago, this was looking a little rough,” but that with the new upgrades, “the grass is grassing.”
But when Now Toronto asked VELD festivalgoers about the work that’s been done, they claim the grass is still not the greatest.
Festivalgoer Cira claims it’s dry and “definitely not green enough.”
She said her experience sitting on the hill with her friends the previous night was unpleasant because of it.
“Stiff on the butt. It’s very dry, not very comfortable at all,” Cira told Now Toronto.
But festivalgoer Diego said he didn’t even sit on the grass because “it was dirty.”
“It’s not greener, it’s not full. My shoes are very dusty from yesterday,” Diego shared.
Festivalgoer Waleed answered in frustration, “Look over there. Is that green? Does that look green to you?”
He then explained he sat on the grass the previous day, and it “felt pretty stubborn.”
Waleed suggested organizers switch the venue to Woodbine Park.
Grass conditions have become an increasingly common talking point among VELD attendees, particularly for those who spend hours sitting between sets or watching performances from the hill overlooking the main stage.
While organizers say improvements have been made this year, many festivalgoers hope future editions will deliver a softer, greener experience.
