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Free Exeter festival to offer jam-packed bank holiday weekend
The gates of Northernhay Gardens in Exeter will be swinging open later this week as a free family festival makes its debut in the city centre. Visitors can expect a jam-packed day out from crafting, sport and music to market and food stalls.
Brand new festival Exeter Fest will be welcoming people of all ages into the city centre park this bank holiday weekend. The event is being put on by EXETER BAR CO who also ran the Exeter Cathedral Christmas Market Bar in 2022, the funds of which have been used to fund the activities at Exeter Fest.
A range of free activities will be on offer, run by local organisations, including Exeter City Community Trust who will host a ‘kick around village’, offering aspiring football players taster sessions on an inflatable pitch.
Scott Walker, head of participation at Exeter City Community Trust, said: “We’re really looking forward to being part of this exciting community event. We’ll have lots of fun and inclusive sports and football activities for youngsters to join in, with something for everyone, from a chance to practice football skills on our inflatable pitch, or show us your skills when you take a shot in our inflatable goal. As a charity working in the heart of Exeter, it’s fantastic for us to be involved with Exeter Festival.”
Among other activities will be free drop-in crafting sessions by children’s art school Meraki on the Sunday and Monday and free drop-in drumming sessions on an American-style ‘Drum Bus’ on the Saturday and Sunday.
The Exeter Self Defence Academy will be running a stall and a demonstration area and domestic abuse charity FearLess, the event’s chosen charity, will have a wall where people can write their own messages about what healthy relationships are.
Jessica Gay, Head of fundraising said: “We are thrilled to be chosen as Exeter Fest’s charity this year. FearLess supports adults and children who have experienced domestic abuse across Exeter and the Southwest.
“Every year we see more and more people and families needing our support. Last year, our referral numbers increased by more than 20% – reaching 6,000 across Exeter and Devon alone. With costs rising at an incomprehensible rate, we know people are being forced to stay with their abuser through having no other option.
“Every penny counts in helping us to get adults and children out of harm’s way, help them work through unimaginable traumas and support them in their recovery to rebuild a life free from fear and abuse. Thank you to Exeter Fest and all festival goers for helping us to raise awareness around abuse and vital funds to help support thousands of families who desperately need us!”
There will be plenty of opportunities to refuel with stalls offering all kinds of refreshments, including coffee, ice cream, hotdogs, burgers, baked goods, falafels, Greek food and Mexican food, just to name a few. A number of local traders will also have market stalls, selling clothing, candles, art, portraits and jewellery.
There is set to be a packed music line-up, including a number of local artists. Local DJs will also be stopping by, promising to create a family-friendly atmosphere, accompanied by an industrial bubble machine.
Oliver Bainbridge- Event Director said: “We have delivered an event in Exmouth for years and we are so excited to bring a free, family event to Exeter. Northernhay is a lovely location, and it has been used by some great events in the past which are not running so it felt right to take the chance this year and see if we could make Exeter Fest an annual event.
“We feel it is our responsibility to create spaces and events like this for our communities and being able to offer it with free entry is a huge part of it. People who would like to support this event financially can do so by buying a drink at the bar, we have great alcohol- or alcohol-free options, showcasing the best of the South West”.
The event will take place from 11am to 9pm on Saturday, May 27 and Sunday, May 28. It will be open from 11am to 5pm on Monday, May 29.
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