Ahh - flipping gorgeous Valley Fest! ;) It's back in all its' glory this time next week (Friday 3rd to Sunday 5th August) and it's one of the Somerset festivals we look forward to most. There's a very special place in our hearts for the party at Chew Valley Lake!
Remember when Craig Charles funked it up (I said FUNKED) in 2016? :) How about that mini tractor driving around last year, full of ace shouty farmers...
... and DJ Yoda headlining the Saturday night?
We love all the different festival areas, the fantastic range of food and the fact that it's brilliantly family friendly.
And we're definitely ready to get on farmer Luke Hasell's land for a third time - so what can we all expect? Well, we chatted to Luke to get some clues to share with you and here's what he had to say...
1. What's different about this year's Valley Fest and what are you looking forward to the most?
We've got lots of exciting things planned this year. We have a new stage, The Barnstormer... we had to have a barn, as a festival with farming at its' heart!
The Chew Down stage is bigger, to incorporate more demos and workshops, and we have the wonderful Elly Pear doing a demo this year. Aardman Animations are coming to do some free model making workshops (although these got booked up in less than 24 hours!). We also have lots of fun and silliness going on in The Yard, including ball pit karaoke, land-based aquafit and a bigger and better Fabminton - our hobby horse gymkhana which was a smash hit last year.
We've also got a Legend of the Lake fancy dress theme on Friday night, which extends to our banquet... always good fun! And, we're encouraging everyone to tart up their tweed and wear it this year, particularly for the Sunday Picnic.
2. Which bands would you say are unmissable this year and where will we see you dancing the day/night away? ;)
My Baby - I love this band. They played the festival in 2016 and were incredible. I'm so excited to have them back. I also can't wait to see St Paul & The Broken Bones. With a lead singer that Keith Richards compared to Otis Redding when the band supported The Rolling Stones, they're definitely not to be missed. I'll be dancing the day and night away everywhere!
The Barnstormer is packed full of bands and DJs to get your feet moving, as is the main stage - and in between sets on the main stage, there are some incredible DJs hitting the decks in the Yeo Valley ice cream van!
3. There are always lots of really cool areas to spend time in at the festival. If you could spend an hour in just one this year, which would it be and why?
That's a really hard one! Maybe The Yard for the very unique nonsense that the team put on there. The Ring O Bells takeover on Saturday night in The Barnstormer is also going to be off the hook! Their DJ sets in the Ring O Bells tent last year were so packed out that people couldn't get in - we just had to move them to a bigger venue!
4. Tell us a secret about Valley Fest that no-one else knows!
Look out for a very special parade on the Friday night - it might prove the Legend of the Lake is real...
Woweeeee! Now that's raised the excitement levels just a touch! We remember being in the happy Ring O Bells crowd, so can't wait to see how it goes down next Saturday night - and the Friday night banquet with the 'Legend of the Lake' theme sounds like it's not to be missed.
Will we see you there?
Well, if you fancy going to Valley Fest, there are limited tickets still available and you can get your hands on them by clicking right here.
We'll be posting updates on social media all weekend and let's have a dance or ten if you are going? :)
Now... time to raid our tweed cupboard! ;) (We don't really have a cupboard full of tweed, in case you were wondering. If only!!).
Follow us here for updates, check out Valley Fest Twitter & Instagram too & read more about the festival here and here!
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