Bradley Stoke Community Festival 10th - 12th June 2011
Friday 10th June - Jubilee Green, Jubilee Centre
For the first time, the first day of the Festival, the Picnic in the Park, all elements of the event were organised by staff from the town council office and the event team, with Mothers and their babies and young children attending to take refreshments, tea and coffee and also view a range of stalls and entertainments.
Local trades and crafts provided the stalls which ranged from cakes and pastries to jewellery and novelties alongside Information stalls.
The entertainment was provided by Professor Panic, who had been on site from the Wednesday, providing his Big Top entertainment of juggling, circus skills and magic for the younger children. On the Thursday, Prof Panic entertained pupils from the local primary schools, who had been pre-booked within an agreed schedule. This was fully booked within 2 weeks of the schools receiving the letters. Friends of Jubilee Green provided a fun treasure trail for the children which had a take up of over 75 youngsters!
Steve Price, the Balloon Man, also provided his individual fun entertainment producing modelled balloons and displays. A bouncy castle was hired in from A1 Hire.
It was estimated that slightly less Mothers and toddlers attended this year possibly due to a heavy mid morning shower but the weather picked up later and everyone enjoyed the event, but stall holders did pack up around 13.00 which was felt to be too early.
This is also the day when some of the major logistical items for the Saturday are delivered to site, including the toilet units, barriers, main generator and the layout of the stalls and supplier units are outlined on the grass areas on both sides of Jubilee Centre, as well as decorating the centre with bunting and the positioning of the car parking barriers.
Saturday 11th June - Jubilee Green
The second day of the Festival enjoyed a really sunny day and started slightly later at 11.45 rather than the scheduled 11.30 with the lorry trailer turning up late at 10.00 due to mechanical problems with the first lorry unit.
55 stalls attended ranging from local community projects and charity groups to craft and novelty stalls, tombolas, coconut shies and fun games to jewellery, local hotel displays. Organised through Southern Brooks Community Partnership the stall numbers were down by 15 on the previous year's attendance. A range of RV's and motor homes were on display provided by Family Travel Centre which provided a very different backdrop to the Festival. The Grange Hotel did very well in selling over £125 worth of balloons for the balloon race and provided the main prize of a weekend for two at the hotel. Mayor, Ben Walker, launched the balloons along with local children towards the end of the day.
14 catering and ice cream units attended with the traditional burger and hot dogs but also several Indian food outlets, a Mexican and Oriental catering operations. Of the 15 entertainments the new attractions included a bungy trampoline and the Bristol Zoo "Zoo to You" operation which provided very popular with the children in handling giant insects, snails and cockroaches from Madagascar. This also attracted more people into the Jubilee Centre itself.
Other attractions included Lennie the Road Train, which transported people around the Festival site along with local operations providing inflatables, quad bikes, carousel, tea-cup rides, dome and slides, as well as vintage side stalls being provided by the local churches and scouts.
The main entertainment were the 5 bands that played in front of what was estimated at a crowd of 1,500 - 2,000 people at one time, the bands were headed up by the Counterfeit Bee Gees tribute band, who were particularly enjoyed along with local bands; Doing Time, Tundra, Trouble on the Green and the local winner of the Battle of the Bands, Cassette.
Dance performances were provided by Annette's Dance Academy, a solo performance from Bollywood dancers, Bowlands Green Gym Club, Arabian Nights Belly Dancers and the South Glos Chinese Association providing traditional dance performance.
On the Jubilee Green side a demonstration area was set up for the Dragon Tang Soo Do and the Taekwon-do Martial Arts clubs. A small P.A. System was used to promote what was taking place on the Jubilee Green side and attracted people into Oak Hall for the Bristol Zoo animals. However this only covered the people in front of the Jubilee centre and half way in to the Jubilee Green site.
Other entertainment for the youth was provided by the Southern Brooks Community Partnership who provided the teenagers with the opportunity to make music and provided a range of entertainments and rides! However, the music played proved to be a bit too loud and a distraction from the main stage music and also being close to the houses, had a negative impact on local residents.
A football tournament took place with over 200 children from Year 3 / 4 taking part with prizes donated by Re-energize and the Council. There was no celebrity Football Ambassador from Mc Donald's this year.
It was estimated that again over 6,000 adults and children attended the Festival throughout the day and enjoyed the range of music and especially the dance groups. Donations topped £2,880 from the suppliers and entertainments attending.
Sunday 12th June - Jubilee Centre & Baileys Court
Unfortunately the Sunday was badly affected by the weather with continuous rain throughout the day. This did not deter the runners in the 10k run which again started at 09.30 from Jubilee Green organised by local charity group, Sole Sisters. It is believed over 500 runners took part and although the Marshalls were soaked, the runners enjoyed the event.
The Cricket Tournament and bowls demonstration were cancelled with the morning church service being relocated to the local Christ the King Church. The Skate Park competition was postponed and has since taken place.