The 2011 Bradley Stoke Community Festival gets underway at 9:30am today (Friday) with a coffee morning, stalls and children’s entertainment at the Jubilee Centre in Savages Wood Road.
The annual pre-school Picnic in the Park runs alongside the coffee morning – with entertainment from Professor Panic’s Circus and the Bubbleman.
Saturday (11th June) sees a packed programme of music and dance events at the Jubilee Centre playing fields, with the action starting at 11:30am and running through to 6pm.
The band line up is headed by the Counterfeit Bee Gees, with support from a number of local bands that include Cassette, winners of the 2010 Bradley Stoke Battle of the Bands competition.
Dance groups performing in between the bands this year include the South Gloucestershire Chinese Association demonstrating Tai Chi routines along with the Bollywood dancers, the popular Egyptian Nights and the superb Annette’s Academy Dancers.
A special children’s zone will be created on the Jubilee Green, with Professor Panic’s Big Top providing the centre piece along with fairground rides, inflatables and the Spiderman bungee trampoline.
Bristol Zoo is bringing along some interesting animals and insects for people to see and for the children to interact with in their Zoo to You facility.
Around 55 community, local business, information and food stalls will form the annual Community Fair in the Jubilee Centre Arena and on Jubilee Green, while a schools football tournament for Year 1 boys / Year 3-4 girls, will take place on the upper pitch from 10:30am.
Also taking place on Saturday is a free guided walk in the Three Brooks Local Nature Reserve, starting from outside the Leisure Centre at 10am.
Sunday (12th June) kicks off with the Bradley Stoke 10k Run at 9:30am (from the Jubilee Centre), followed by a series of events at Baileys Court Activity Centre – starting with an open-air church service at 11am.
The 10k organisers Sole Sisters report that entries now stand at 480 but say they will continue to take entries beyond the 500 runner limit, in anticipation of a 15% drop-out rate. Help from the local Guides and Bowsland Green Gym Club means the club now has a full compliment of race marshals, which had been a concern in recent weeks.
The Baileys Court church service will be followed at 12 noon by competitions and entertainment for all the whole family.
A six-a-side cricket tournament, organised by Bradley Stoke Cricket Club, will run throughout the afternoon.
The cricket club will be running a lunchtime BBQ and providing evening entertainment from 6pm.
Also on Sunday is the annual Skate Park Competition, organised by the youth workers of Southern Brooks Community Partnership. The event takes place alongside Bradley Stoke Leisure Centre from 12 noon to 4pm.
Contests for BMX, skateboard, micro-scooters and roller blades will be held across three age categories (under-13, 13-16 and 16+). Entry costs £2 and helmets must be worn by all competitors (a number will be available for loan).
More Community Festival information:
