Fancy a free festival of fun - right here on your doorstep?

Burnley’s 6th Annual Community Festival will be held in Queens Park on 31st August, 12 noon – 6pm.

Come along and find out what brings thousands of people down to Burnley’s award-winning park every year.
As always the event promises a great afternoon of family fun, games, excitement, great music, eye-catching entertainment and have-a-go sports events, along with community groups highlighting the work they do in the borough.

This year’s event is bigger and better than ever with new events and attractions such as guided cycle rides into the surrounding countryside as well as a cycle obstacle course to tackle on the park.

The afternoon’s programme is packed with music, dance, drama, story telling, craft demonstrations, practical advice on healthy living, sports, street artists, cookery demonstrations, a climbing wall, bungee run and much, much more.

It’s free entry, there’s something for everyone and there’s always a great atmosphere - no matter what the weather, so come rain or shine make sure you have Burnley Community Festival in your diary.

Secure cycle stands will be provided at each of the entrances for those who wish to travel to the event on their bikes (please provide your own locks). Extra car parking at the Spirit of Sport Leisure Centre.

No glass bottles, alcohol or dogs will be allowed into the park during the festival for your safety.

Why would you want to miss it?

Veka main stage

Lucy and the Caterpillar

Lucy & the Caterpillars "The hotly tipped Lucy & the Caterpillar has an enchanting style, captivating the audience with her perky reflective musings of alcoholic dreams and matters of the heart" XFM.

Lucy & The Caterpillar, (Born in Burnley) Manchester’s most exciting new solo artist, released her single Lucy’s Opinion on 28th April 2008. The single is available in a limited edition hand stitched felt sleeve, designed and made by Lucy herself, as well via download.

Lucy is an incredibly talented 20year old musician from Manchester who has been making waves in the last year alongside her ‘caterpillar’, the pet name for her trusty acoustic guitar.

A poster girl for the vintage inspired, Lucy is a modern day Mancunian Jean Seberg. Taking inspiration from everyday situations, Lucy writes touching retro pop songs. Live gigs see Lucy taking to the stage equipped with her ‘caterpillar’, her hand knitted lucky mascot Olivia and a bucket load of wit, selected future shows will see her heading out on the road with a full band.

SAY

Say Logo Say are one of the only bands in Britain to be operating successfully OUTSIDE of the music industry and have made a conscious effort to form a whole new ethos in music presentation to the masses.

Say have a global fan base and have recently had an incredible rise in popularity in German, so much so they are currently promoting and selling their new German single ‘Yr Kicks’ with outstanding reviews.

Say operate a fair-trade policy so all money made from sales go directly back into music production. They aim to keep their carbon footprint at next to nothing by using recycled paper and vegetable ink for any promotional material.

Their music is some of the most original, memorable and accessible since The Beatles and The Beach Boys.

Manchester School of Samba

Manchester School of Samba (MSS) formed in March 1995 to foster the appreciation of Brazilian Carnival culture through rhythm, melody, dance and simple costumes. MSS have provided an often life enhancing introduction to percussion and dance for hundreds of people as well as an opportunity for some to build on their knowledge and strengths and be inspired to subsequently form their own bands. We still focus on carnival art forms, and are open to all people. We currently have 70+ fully fledged members including dancers and drummers. For special occasions we also like to include a brass section and puppeteers.

Sketch

Sketch is a three-year arts project commissioned by Burnley Borough Council, BPRCVS, LCC and the Lottery Fund.

It was designed for young people aged 11 – 16 from the three priority areas in Burnley: Stoneyholme with Daneshouse; Stoops with Hagher Clough; Burnley Wood.

The aim of Sketch is to deliver a programme of creative workshops, devised through consultation with young people living in the priority neighbourhoods. The workshops are designed to supports and empower young people through the significant changes happening in Burnley. The project aims to help young people to ‘sketch’ out and inspire their future, provide them with important life skills and a more empathetic view of their present and future environment.

Last year Sketch had a very varied plan of summer workshops with some great results culminating in performances at the Community festival. The young people had the opportunity to show off their new skills on stage whilst having a fantastic time.

Now in it’s final year Sketch will be attempting to deliver an even more daring programme of events to showcase at this years festival.

BYT

Burnley Youth Theatre (BYT) was founded in 1973. Today the organisation is heralded as one of the most advanced youth theatres in the country and is at the forefront of community cohesion activities with young people in Burnley.

BYT works with an average of 450 young people a week age 5 - 25 years. The year round programme encompasses all art forms through a range of training workshops, projects and partnership schemes.

The Community festival is funded and supported by the agencies highlighted at the bottom of this page. Year on year the event has been growing with more activities and performances being provided. To ensue we can continue to build on the work undertaken in the last four years and work towards a more su stainable community event, this year we are asking for donations towards the running costs, which equate to over £30,000. Donation Buckets are clearly marked and are available on all entrance to the park. Thank you for your support