THE COUNTDOWN is on to Poole’s popular community festival Grooves on the Green.
Organisers of Dorset’s longest running community festival say the event will be “one of the best ever”.
The event returns to Ashley Cross on Saturday, July 15 and Sunday, July 16 from 11am with bars closing each day at 7pm when the park will be opened to the public again.
Grooves on the Green was started in 2000 by Jan Crump who wanted to provide a summer focal point for Ashley Cross.
She said: "Everyone's in the mood already and Grooves is such a fantastic day out, people have been booking tickets and building a whole weekend around coming to Grooves - it's going to be one of the best ever.
"Grooves is a real community event with everyone pulling together to make it happen, so when we reopen the Green to the public at 7pm, all the bars and restaurants are open for after parties - it's the atmosphere that makes Ashley Cross so special."
On-stage the grass roots music line up is introduced by Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalist Allan Turner-Ward with appearances from festival stalwarts Pronghorn, Water County, plus a rare outing for Volatile Agents.
Later in the day, festival favourites The Mother Ukers can be found at the Grooves after party in The Bricklayers pub.
This year’s event will see more food stalls and bars to ensure there is plenty of locally produced food and drink for revellers.
Visitors will be able to enjoy cuisine from around the world including Mauritius, Greece, Mexico, India, China, Germany and the USA, as well as home grown dishes and not forgetting festival favourites ice cream, candy floss, cakes, sweets and treats.
Drinkers will find a Pimms and cocktail bar, Purbeck Cider Bar, 3 Amigos Tequila Cocktail Bar, Conker Gin Bar and the Salcombe Gin and rum bar.
The entertainment stage will be home to a variety of special shows suitable for all ages from Mr Merlin and Okey Dokey Dragon, to 'bubbleologist' Richard Welsh.
Fundraising at the festival in recent years has seen more than £35,000 raised for Diverse Abilities Plus to continue its amazing work supporting children and adults with physical and learning disabilities.
Tickets are priced £8 for adults and £6 for youngsters on the door.
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