Aylesbury Town Council’s award-winning Parklife Weekend welcomed thousands to its free-to-attend events across the August Bank Holiday weekend.
The heavens opened, hail bombarded the stage, the music had to be paused for half an hour, but nothing could stop faithful local live music fans from partying the day away. As the clouds cleared, the crowds returned to enjoy all the free music and entertainment on offer.
Each year, Parklife Weekend brings the community together in Aylesbury’s Vale Park. 114 local businesses, groups and organisations were part of this year’s community-led event.
On Saturday 26 August, Live in the Park hosted 12 local bands and artists across two stages, a Battle of the Bands Competition, Kids Entertainment Tent and Community Involvement Area.
Performing on the Main Stage and Bucks Radio Second Stage were JP and Betty, Chapter Six, Maria – A Big Voice, Crimson 97, Faces Fall, Jack Manders and his band, Mojo Mules, Matt Edwards Band, The Riffs, Cherry Smoke, Mr Paul Adams and his local band of heroes and concluding the event with a headline performance was covers band Who’s Got The Dog? The day was compered by Stoke Mandeville Hospital Radio’s Dez Kay.
In an effort to make Parklife Weekend 2023 the greenest Town Council event yet, Aylesbury Wombles pledged to pick litter across the whole weekend to help recycle all waste. The team of volunteers sorted through rubbish in an attempt to better the national average for recycling at a festival which stands at 32% of waste being recycled. Waste management company, Grundon, is processing final figures however event organisers are confident they are on track to bettering the national average.
The Wombles ensured 44kg of glass, 90kg of dry mixed recycling and 79kg of cans were recycled, which is a phenomenal amount.
The Town Council thanks Aylesbury Wombles for their outstanding contribution to the weekend.
The Battle of the Bands competition returned for a second year in the Ent Tent giving bands of all ages and experience the chance to be on the main event line up for 2024. Last year’s winners, Crimson 97, performed an outstanding set on the main stage after winning the competition in 2022.
Chiltern Grove were crowned as this year’s winners after they performed original songs as well as a cover of Pink Floyd’s ‘Another Brick in the Wall’. They won a recording session courtesy of XYZ Music Academy and a stage slot at next year’s Live in the Park. SNM, Fused and Kill The Sound Guy also competed and a panel of judges from the Town Council, XYZ Music Academy and Aylesbury Alternative Music Society gave their feedback to all four bands.
Local food caterers and market stalls were on site for punters to enjoy and support local business. 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.
Sunday 27 August welcomed Aylesbury Church Network’s Church in the Park and Banquet in the Park. Resident’s took part in an outdoor church service followed by a vast array of food from all over the world which was served free of charge.
The weekend ended on Sunday evening with Proms in the Park, an evening of spectacular music from Aylesbury Concert Band and soloists Alison Langer and Lawrence Thackery. Compered by Erika Sanderson, the crowd were treated to a selection of songs from Disney films including Moana, Pirate of the Caribbean and Fantasia.
Students from British Sign Language (BSL) group, Hand Talking, treated the crowds with a special interval performance where they signed along to their favourite songs.
Proms classics were performed in the grand finale and Union Jack flags filled Vale Park before a firework display rounded off the weekend.
The Mayor of Aylesbury, Cllr Steven Lambert, said: “Parklife Weekend has been the highlight of my mayoral year so far. Our town’s annual free music festival event was greenest to date thanks to Aylesbury Wombles, Olleco and Grundon.
“Aylesbury has a huge musical heritage and Aylesbury Town Council’s Parklife Weekend gave us a weekend to remember. From rocking at Live in the Park to enjoying traditional Proms music and learning British Sign Language singing at Proms in the Park – we had it covered, and all for free!
“I cannot thank the Town Council Events Team and huge number of volunteers from St John Ambulance to litter pickers and safety marshals enough for all you did to keep everyone safe and entertained. A special thank you also to FBL Broadcasting who hosted all the events for free on YouTube for those who were unable to make the day.
“And thank you finally to everyone who donated to my Mayoral charities of the year, Age UK Bucks and Youth Concern.”
Parklife Weekend will return to Vale Park on 24-25 August 2024. The Town Council’s next free family-friendly event is Christmas on the Cobbles on Sunday 26 November in Aylesbury Town Centre. For more information about Aylesbury Town Council’s events, visit aylesburytowncouncil.gov.uk.