Yate and Chipping Sodbury will host three major festivals in June.
The Big Lunch
THIS year’s Chipping Sodbury Big Lunch has an ABBA and 1970s theme.
The free get-together in Broad Street takes place on the first Sunday of June.
Last year’s event, linked to the King’s Coronation, brought thousands onto the streets.
This time organisers (pictured above getting into the 1970s theme) are promising a “Super Trouper street party”, with hula hooping, glitter face-painting, local dance acts performing to ABBA songs and live performances from singer Rhiannon Williamson and Mamma Mia tribute trio The Dynamos, who will also teach the audience how to re-enact some well-known dance moves.
Organisers Sarah Todd and Alexandra Arnall said: “It’s 50 years since ABBA won Eurovision and here at the Big Lunch, we don’t need any more of an excuse to thank them for the music.
“Once again, thanks to local grants and donations, we have managed to put on a packed line up of amazing entertainment this year.
“And don’t forget, the Big Lunch is and always will be completely free.
“It’s a way of celebrating our local community and bringing people together with a traditional street party and a good sprinkling of fun!
“All we ask is that you support the event by buying a raffle ticket on the day if you can.
“So get your glad rags on, pack a picnic, bring your tables and chairs, and if rain is forecast you can bring a gazebo, and come to Broad Street for a day of free fun.”
The event will take place on Sunday June 2, from noon to 5pm.
Children and adults are invited to dress up in 1970s or ABBA outfits, with a competition judged by Chipping Sodbury mayor Adrian Rush at 3pm.
The event is part of the national Big Lunch initiative and aims to encourage a sense of community spirit and combat loneliness.
For more information visit www.facebook.com/ChippingSodburyBigLunch.
Chipping Sodbury Festival
THIS year’s Chipping Sodbury Festival includes ten days of events from June 14, culminating in three big outdoor events on the weekend of June 22-23.
The all-day Street Fayre, from 10am to 5pm on Saturday June 22 will include the town’s carnival procession, starting at 3pm, and will be followed by the free Music in the Street show in Broad Street from 6.45-11pm, headlined by local band For the Record.
The following day the festival closes with the Picnic in the Park event at Jubilee Park, from 2-5pm, with live music and children’s activities.
Before that there will be dozens of events at the Town Hall, Old Grammar School, Goldney house, St John’s Church and other venues, from concerts, quiz nights, treasure hunts and an arts trail to a cooking demonstration with celebrity chef Romy Gill MBE.
There will be a children’s competition called ‘Count your Chips’ to see how many versions of Chip the dog are in shop windows, replacing the ‘Spot the Error’ competition.
This year the festival has a theme – Movie Magic – which will run through many of the performances and displays, and will also be the theme of the Chipping Sodbury Lions Carnival Day. One change this year is that there will no longer be a festival princess and attendants, with organisers deciding that the role’s time had passed.
For more details visit the website chippingsodburyfestival.com, or the festival Facebook page.
Yate Rocks…in the Park
YATE will not be missing out on the festival action in June.
The 17th Yate Rocks…in the Park Festival takes place on June 22 and 23 in Kingsgate Park, with music from local bands plus dance displays from local clubs and academies.
For the main Yate rocks event on Saturday, from noon to 8pm, bands include Longshots, Rhiannon Paige & Wild Rose and Limited Edition, while dance groups include Yasmins, 5678 Dance and StreetCred.
There will be stalls, a beer tent, children’s rides, an inflatable helter skelter and climbing wall and activities including football skills and junior go-karts.
Sunday’s events, from 10.30am-4.30pm, include choirs from Raysfield Primary School, Fascinating Rhythm juniors and adults, Bristol Show Choir, Frampton Cotterell Male Voice Choir and the Rock Choir.
The event is supported by Yate Town Council – for more information visit yatetowncouncil.gov.uk.