Organisers of the unique free family festival, BunkFest are “positive and hopeful” that the annual event will be able to make a comeback in 2021.

The Wallingford festival usually takes place every year on the Kinecroft. Since it first started in 2002, people from across South Oxfordshire have come for a weekend of music, beer, and dance. However, Covid prevented the fun from going ahead in 2020 and now all hopes are on this year.

Colin Dolton is the artistic director of BunkFest and a Wallingford councillor. He is a founding member of the festival; he books the bands, chairs meetings and oversees health and safety.

He said: “We are planning as though it is going ahead, but it is uncertain because we do not know what restrictions may be in pace. We are keeping a positive view and talking to all the traders and all the artists, but we will not be able to say 100 per cent until we know what the situation is nearer to the time.”

Oxford Mail:

It is hoped the festival will go ahead on Friday 3 to Sunday 5 September 2021, with a similar line-up to what was planned for 2020.

The line-up is set to include Geno Washington, True Strays and Rusty Shackle.

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Mr Dolton said: “We are quite lucky that we do not rely on ticket sales because we are a free access festival so therefore, we just hope that if it goes ahead then people will turn up and spend their money and help it pay for itself.

“We have got the reserves to make sure it happens. We are very confident we can put it on as long as the government will let us.”

He added: “The key time for us is probably May time, when we will have to commit ourselves more financially which is why we called it off so early last year, which was the right move.”

The Government announcement on Monday evening revealed that life in England could return to normal as early as June 21.

With the first data on the UK Covid vaccine rollout showing a positive impact on stopping serious illness, it is bringing hope to summer festivals.

Under the terms of a roadmap out of lockdown unveiled by Boris Johnson nightclubs, restrictions on summer festivals and mass-attendance events such as football matches could be lifted on June 21.

Mr Dolton said: “We are really hopeful now the vaccine seems to be doing its job. We could put up with still wearing masks and other restrictions, but it would be difficult for us to do half a festival.”

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