FAMILIES are being asked to apply their creative talents to provide distinctive decorations for this year’s Florence Park festivities.

Organisers are in the midst of preparing for the third Flofest event, set to hit the 1930s park on Saturday, June 20.

The team has revealed it will launch a fundraising appeal at the end of the month to raise cash for entertainment at the outdoor fiesta.

As part of the fundraising effort, families will have the chance to decorate a hanging ornament, which will take centre stage at the festival.

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Lead organiser Alan Brown, of Florence Park, said: “This is a way of us being able to give the community an opportunity to support its own festival with much-needed funds. We are going to be able to do something really special. It’s very distinctive in its own local way.

“It’s about the people, the park and the place. It’s locally grown.”

After donating cash to the festival, families will have the chance to decorate figures including a balloon, flower pot and a bird in a nest, which can be bought from Park Stores, in Florence Park Road. Hundreds of hand-decorated items will then hang off cherry trees lining Florence Park on the day of the festival, forming a Community Avenue.

Father-of-one Mr Brown said: “Not everyone has the time to volunteer. They can pop into the local store and give a few quid or whatever they can to support something tangible and local.”

Festivities will take place between 11am and 5pm and will include a music arena, family cabaret stage and outdoor food court.

Visitors can also enjoy the talents of their canine companions during a dog show, as well as indulging in treats on offer at a community market.

And staff from the Pitt Rivers Museum will join the event, with its educational tent.

Music stage curator Dave Nobel, better known as vocalist Natureboy, said that it is important to bring music to Florence Park after noticing its defunct band stand.

The 39-year-old, of Florence Park, said: “I think the idea of bringing music that is available and free and in the open air is just really fantastic and it’s a great opportunity to do that.”

Mr Nobel, who is also a music therapist for autistic youngsters, said acts are yet to be confirmed but would be revealed in the coming months.

Last year about 4,000 residents descended on the park for an afternoon of fun.