Ashford's CREATE Festival returns this weekend
Published: 12:54, 15 July 2019
Updated: 07:41, 16 July 2019
Thousands of music lovers will head to Ashford this weekend when the town's biggest festival returns for its 24th year.
The Create Festival, to be held in Victoria Park on Saturday, will be headlined by The Lightning Seeds - most famous for football anthem 'Three Lions'.
The group has starred at some of the UK's biggest festivals, including a stint on Glastonbury’s Pyramid Stage in 2010.
It will perform on the main stage in Victoria Park from 7.50pm to 9pm.
The Lightning Seeds' England song became a number one hit on three separate occasions, including during last year's World Cup.
Three other stages - Revelation Ashford, community and DJ - will be set up to host other artists, who come from stage, screen and schools.
Highlights are expected to include Cooper Stout, The Fontanas and Kennington-based musician Fennie Mukuze, who supported Jason Derulo when the American singer and songwriter packed the Gallery Nightclub in Maidstone.
The children of the Ashford Oaks school choir will be performing on the community stage, while the Blossom Dance School will put on a cheerleading display.
Organisers say festival-goers will be able to enjoy street food, children’s rides and entertainment, interactive theatre and refreshments from Curious Brewery, which opened in Victoria Road earlier this year.
An Ashford Borough Council spokeswoman says recycling will form a key part of this year's festival.
"Sustainability will form a big part of this year’s festival, with an interactive ‘eco zone’ in place, allowing residents and visitors to learn more about what and how to recycle," she said.
"People will be able to take part in a series of cycle challenges, using pedal power to open recycling bins to find out more about what goes inside.
"The eco zone will also be home to six giant letters, spelling out the word CREATE, which will provide the perfect selfie backdrop throughout the day.
"Each letter, which is made out of a cage and filled and decorated with single-use plastic items, has been worked on individually by six schools across the borough."
The Create Festival will run from 11.45am to 9pm on Saturday.
Last year's event was the biggest to date, drawing more than 12,000 revellers.
Following Create, a family fun day will be held in the park on Sunday to honour George Harper, who gave the site's Hubert Fountain to the town.
It will run from 10am to 3pm, featuring games, arts, workshops and music, as well as a birthday cake race.
For more information, visit www.createfestival.co.uk
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Charlie Harman