Yarndale

Yarndale is always a wonderful event to attend, and overall I had a great time. However, accessibility is an area that could use some improvement. The main issue is that the event is held in a cattle shed, which has a very uneven floor with drainage channels and rough, bumpy surfaces. This year I attended in a wheelchair, and it was quite challenging for both myself and my carer who was pushing me. The previous year I attended using crutches, which was slightly easier, but the drainage channels still created sudden drops that were difficult to navigate. There are plenty of seating areas available, with seating roughly every couple of rows of stalls, additional seating in the food area, some outside, and more in the auction area. However, the auction area is upstairs, which makes it less accessible for some visitors. The accessible toilets are a little hidden away, and there is only one male and one female accessible toilet. Given the number of visitors, this can make access difficult at busy times. Unfortunately, I also found the security guard stationed there to be somewhat judgemental towards those with invisible disabilities. Some stalls were not laid out with enough space for wheelchair users to enter comfortably. As a result, I wasn't able to access every stall and missed out on some parts of the event. As with many busy events, there were also occasions where people weren't paying attention to where they were going, leading to people walking into or suddenly stopping in front of wheelchair users. Despite these issues, Yarndale itself is a fantastic event with a great atmosphere, wonderful exhibitors, and lots to see and do. I would love to attend again in the future, but I do feel that accessibility could be improved to make the experience more enjoyable for everyone.