Ubbi Dubbi Festival in Texas has announced it will take place next month as planned and will use health passes to verify ticket holders’ COVID status.
The two-day event, promoted by Disco Donnie Presents, has teamed up with secure identity company Clear, which recently announced the implementation of health data into its app.
Clear’s Health Pass, which is an app that connects members’ identity to COVID-19-related information, including vaccination risks, is currently used by more than 35 organisations including the NHL ice hockey league – with whom Clear has signed a league-wide partnership – and nine NBA basketball teams.
Other partners include the Seattle Seahawks, Seattle Sounders, Los Angeles Football Club, New York Mets and Little Caesars Arena.
Ubbi Dubbi said in a statement: “We are partnering with Clear, experts in reducing COVID risks, the local government, and health community, and we will partner with you. Together with grins and masks up, we are working tirelessly to create an amazing and safe space for us all to rave together.
“Our success as one of the first festivals in the world to return safely depends on your help and compliance with new guidelines.”
Ticket holders will be required to wear face masks per the festivals own rules, despite Texas Governor Greg Abbott this week announcing the lifting of the state-wide mask mandate, as well as allowing events and businesses to operate at full capacity from March 10.
The new order states that Texas counties can implement some mitigation strategies if coronavirus-related hospitalisations rise above 15 per cent of bed capacity for seven straight days. Counties would be able to limit business capacity in such cases.
The music and camping festival, which is scheduled to take place on April 24-25, will feature artists like Kaskade, Green Velvet and Illenium.
Last month, Clear completed a strategic funding round of $100m (£73m/€83m), with 32 Equity, the investment arm of the NFL, among its latest backers.
Other investors include Danny Meyer’s Enlightened Hospitality Investments and the Partnership Fund for New York City. The investment is designed to accelerate Clear’s growth as a platform for safe physical and digital experiences.
Image: Eva Rinaldi / CC BY-SA 2.0 / Edited for size