Ashlyns Festival Returns this July
Bring out your bucket hats and grab your glow sticks as the Ashlyns Festival returns for a feast of family fun this July.
Local businesses are urged to join the party with a range of sponsorship options.
By day it’s a busy secondary school, but for two days this summer the beautiful grade II listed buildings and leafy grounds of Ashlyns School are being transformed into a magical, fairy-light strewn festival playground for the Ashlyns Festival, which returns for an extravaganza of family-friendly fun in July.
Run by the Ashlyns School Association (ASA), with profits going directly back to the school, this much-awaited event promises to be even bigger and better than before with comedians fresh from the professional circuit, live music, an activity-filled Fun Zone, a fully licensed bar, a sizzling array of local food and the ever-popular ‘Glow Up Tent’.
With event partners Acorn Plumbing and home improvement experts Bergson & Eaton already signed up, other local business owners are being urged to join the party either through a range of sponsorship and advertising options or by renting a food pitch at this hugely popular event, which attracts 2,500 visitors, supports Berkhamsted’s local senior school and its students and brings together the whole community.
The event gets off to a spicy start on Friday 14 July with a Comedy and Curry Night (for adults only) which sees a rib-tickling line-up of established professional comedians step up to take the mic (and the mick), led by Paul Sinha, The Sinnerman, as headline act. Fragrant, freshly-cooked curries will be available from the team from Berkhamsted’s acclaimed Fat Buddha restaurant and a full range of drinks (supported by Tring Brewery) will be available at the Copse Bar.
Music takes centre stage on Saturday 15 July with electric live performances all day and into the night from the Cedar Stage. There will be a range of games and activities on offer for youngsters – and the young at heart – in the exciting new Fun Zone and festival-goers will be encouraged to get their glitter on in the Glow Up Tent.
Meanwhile, local hospitality providers will be firing up their grills to provide a mouth-watering range of food to tickle every type of taste bud.
‘We can’t wait to see Ashlyns School get a glow up for a third time for this truly magical Festival,’ says ASA chair Gary Illingworth. ‘This joyful family event is not only an opportunity for the community to get together and have fun but it also helps us fund some really important school resources – from transportation for sporting fixtures to specialist equipment for children with special educational needs. It also allows us to support our local charity partners who will be running activities for their own important causes.’
He added: ‘The Festival Committee will also be working closely with Transition Town Berkhamsted to ensure the event will be as ‘green’ as possible. With around two to three thousand visitors expected to come through Ashlyns’ gates, they will be supporting us on the day as litter pickers and advising us in the run-up to the event on sustainability issues such as waste and recycling.’
The Ashlyns Festival will kick off on 14 July, 6.30-10.30pm (Comedy and Curry Night) and 15 July, 12noon-11pm (The Festival) at Ashlyns School, Chesham Road, Berkhamsted HP4 3AH. Onsite parking is available.
Early Bird Tickets are now available for a limited time on the festival website at ashlynsfestival.co.uk priced as below:
Comedy Night Friday 14 July (over 18s only) – £15 (normally £18) limited availability and entry by advance tickets only, no tickets on the doors.
The Festival Saturday 15 July (at a reduced price for a limited time only) Adults £15 (normally £18, £22 on the door), Under 18s £12 (normally £15, £18 on the door), Under 12s £8 (normally £12, £15 on the door), Under 7s go free (will require a ticket for entry).