IN just under a month’s time, 400 sports teams will be warming up for this year’s Bournemouth 7s Festival.

Known as the ‘sporting Glastonbury’, the festival will see 30,000 people head to Bournemouth Sports Club in East Parley for the three-day event from Friday, May 27, until Sunday, May 29.

Now in its ninth year, the sport and music festival is promising its “best ever line up”, with US hip-hop star Fatman Scoop set to perform.

During the day, over 5,000 players will compete in a wide variety of social and competitive tournaments in rugby, netball, dodgeball and hockey. The elite competitions welcome some of the best national touring sides including a few international stars.

Alongside the action-packed sports tournaments, there is a multitude of entertainment offerings including 10 themed festival arenas, a re-invigorated Family Zone, live music acts, a big screen TV showing live sport, and a range of competitions and challenges delivered by some of the UK’s most famous brands.

2016 will also see the launch of a brand new family day, on Sunday, May 29, which will bring together partners including AFC Bournemouth’s Junior Cherries, the RAF and BH Live. To celebrate the launch, Bournemouth 7s is offering exclusive ticket offers just for families.

Roger Woodall, CEO and owner, said: “We’re really excited to announce Fatman Scoop as part of our best ever line up for Bournemouth 7s Festival this year.

“Alongside this, we have the addition of our new family day on the Sunday; it’s great to be working with our official partners at AFC Bournemouth and BH Live in creating something unique which all the family can enjoy.

“As the world’s largest sport and music festival, we are proud to be helping put Bournemouth on the map.”

For returning festival-goers, the popular Tuborg Beer Tent will be pitching up again, while other favourites, such as the Somersby Cider Garden, will aim to build on the success of their festival launch in 2015.

The exclusive V.VIP Lounge, complete with waitress table service, has a new home and a brand new feel, according to organisers, while the VIP Players Arena will host the “funniest party on the festival site all weekend”.

A festival spokesperson added: “There are also exciting new additions with a brand new pitchside Bulmers Summer Arena, a new courtside Viper 10 Players Lounge for the netballers, a UK Garage tent and a cocktail garden with a true street vibe.

“If that’s not enough, then we’re proud to be bringing back the Big Top Dance Tent with a fresh new light show, an even bigger Urban Tent, the legendary German Beer Tent, the Cocoloco Festival Stage and our mind-blowing Karaoke Tent hosted by Fuzzy Ducks.”

Early bird tier tickets for the festival have already sold out, but standard tickets can be bought from bournemouth7s.com.