A COMMUNITY festival will keep the party going after dark this year with the introduction of a nighttime open-air concert.

FloFest, which is run entirely by local residents, takes place each year in East Oxford’s Florence Park and has always been completely free.

The new evening event, however, will be charged in a bid to ensure the festival, which was created in 2013, remains ‘financially sustainable’.

Called GloFest, it will feature performances by local bands Flights of Helios, Ran Kan Kan and AudacityLive, with more acts to be announced.

The event will be ticketed at £5 with under 12s free.

Explaining the need for a ticket cost, co-founder Sara Reevel said: “This is intended to help make FloFest itself more financially sustainable for future years but also hopefully act as a beacon for what communities can achieve when they collaborate around celebration.

“More importantly though, FloFest/GloFest is for everyone; as such it needs to be financially accessible to everyone - hence the exceptional value for money with the, otherwise necessary, evening entry fee.”

The annual festival features live music, performers, food, arts and workshops from groups across Oxford and beyond.

On the bill for this year’s June 16 event is a stage running all day with local bands, a climbing wall, variety tent, performances from The Story Museum, as well as a literary tent featuring readings by local authors.

There will also a dog show and competition, pony rides and vintage swing boats.

As well as the various performances there will also be an open air food court including food stands from Taste Tibet and OMG Burgers among others, with Florence Park Road pub The Jolly Postboys supplying the liquid refreshment.​

Groups involved in putting on the event include Friends of Florence Park, The Florence Park Community Centre, the Florence Park Players - even the Florence Park Woofers are moderating the dog show.

Alan Brown, who helps organise the festival, said: “FloFest’s undisputed local connectivity has run fast and deep into the local Florence Park identity; and rightly so reflecting, as it does, the wonderful diversity and variety that the park, the people and the place of Florence Park exhibit - a true exemplar for the wider Oxford community.

“From it’s small beginnings five years ago, FloFest will this year be up there with the likes of Charlbury’s Riverside Festival as one of the largest free entry community driven live music festivals in Oxfordshire.

“Even more exciting is that in 2018 we will build on last year’s sun-drenched, hugely successful edition to offer an evening programme.”

To buy tickets or for more information visit flofest.uk