Award-winning event welcomed 20,000 across the August Bank Holiday Weekend
Around 20,000 people attended Parklife Weekend in Vale Park on 27-28 August.
The event won ‘Best Family Friendly Event’ in the Little Ankle Biters Bucks awards earlier this year and proved to be as popular as the previous year.
The weekend comprised of two main events. Live in the Park took place on Saturday 27 August and hosted 14 local bands and artists and saw 9.5 hours of continuous music performed across two stages.
Artists which performed were Just Can’t Get Enough, RajD, Chloe Green, Damo And The Dynamites, Bitterroot, Next Stage Choir, Clark Rainbow, Heidi Browne, LJPheonix, TBaze, Micoran, Codename Colin, The Band With No Name and concluded with a headline performance from rock band ZARAK.
The day was compered by Stoke Mandeville Hospital Radio’s Dez Kay.
Local food caterers and market stalls were on site for punters to enjoy and support. The Kids Ent Tent provided entertainment for the whole family and the Community Involvement Area was a chance for local groups, charities and businesses to engage with the community.
A Battle of the Bands event took place for the first time. The winning band, Crimson 97, won a recording session courtesy of XYZ Music Academy as well as a stage slot at next year’s Live in the Park. Runners up, Faces Fall, will also feature on next year’s line-up.
The weekend ended on Sunday evening with a captivating performance from Aylesbury Concert Band and soprano soloist Eleanor Sanderson Nash at Proms in the Park. Compered by Erika Sanderson, the crowd were treated to a selection of songs with a myths and legend theme with music from Disney’s Enchanto and Frozen, The Legend of Zorro and How To Train Your Dragon.
The I Have A Voice Too theatre group choir opened the evening with a special performance of a song they co-wrote to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
A special interval performance was presented by Saveliy and Zlatoslava who both fled Ukraine when the war started with their mother Inna. The siblings studied at the Khmelnytskyi Children’s Musical School of Arts and performed Ukrainian folk songs to the Proms in the Park audience.
Many brought lavish picnics and Union Jack flags to wave for the grand finale which was followed by a spectacular firework display.
The Mayor of Aylesbury, Cllr Tim Dixon, said: “Thank you to all that came and made this event the largest Parklife Weekend I have ever seen. Two days of music, activities and fun for everyone to enjoy.
“Thank you to everyone who made the weekend what it was and supported my two charities of the year – Emmett’s Genies and Aylesbury Foodbank. This free event showcases some of the best local music, charities, organisations, performers and volunteers and businesses.
“We have some other free Town Council events coming up. Sunday Lunch Open Mic takes place on Sunday 4 September outside the Odeon Cinema in Aylesbury from 11am and Heritage Open Days Weekend (10-11 September) is very soon and is a chance to explore hidden gems within Aylesbury Town. Then save the date of 20 November for a brand-new illuminated Santa parade and light switch on.”
Parklife Weekend will return to Vale Park on 26-27 August 2023.