Paléo Switzerland Says ‘Bye-Bye Cash’

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Festival goers watch a set by US musician Gary Clark Jr. (unseen) during the 40th Paleo Festival in Nyon on July 23, 2015. Paléo Festival is the biggest open-air festival in Switzerland, selling some 210,000 day-tickets. (Picture by FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images)

Paléo Switzerland announced a total of 12 novelties at this year’s festival, July 19-24, which included becoming a completely cashless event.

“Bye-bye cash! Payments will be made by credit or debit card at all festival outlets,” promoters write in a statement. Guests who cannot pay via card or app can deposit cash on a prepaid card available onsite.

The cashless system is provided by WeezEvent. Unlike other events, Paléo’s system is not about charging money onto a wristband. Promoters wanted to keep transactions on site as simple as paying for something in any shop. So, festivalgoers can use a debit card, credit card, or app, just no cash.

Since this year, the Paléo tickets application runs on a blockchain-based system by Secutix. Promoters hope to curb the secondary market while keeping tickets transferable.

See: Paléo Festival Founder Daniel Rossellat Honored At Euro Festival Awards

The festival also moves towards reducing the volume of waste and single-use items by setting up a system of washable and returnable dishes. Numerous return points will be set up on site, and the tableware will be washed on site.

Paléo 2022 will also feature a few new stages, all adding up to what marks “the biggest change in the Festival’s layout since 1990, when Paléo moved from the lakefront [of Lake Geneva] to the Plaine de l’Asse,” where it takes place to this day.

Paléo Festival is the biggest open-air festival in Switzerland, selling some 210,000 day-tickets. This year’s lineup is led by Kiss, Sting, DJ Snake, Stromae, and PNL. The newly added stage at the Village du Monde will focus exclusively on music from West Africa this year.

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