FESTIVAL season is well and truly here, with Oxfordshire residents spoilt for choice for their August entertainment.

Folk festivals, food festivals, and fundraisers all take place throughout the month and today the Oxford Mail looks at what’s in store.

More than 15,000 music fans are set to descend on the tiny village of Cropredy from today for the annual Fairport’s Cropredy Convention.

New-wave legends Squeeze will kick off the three-day celebration. Other acts include Richard Thompson and Joan Armatrading tomorrow and Fairport Convention on Saturday.

Festival director Gareth Williams said: “If I could bottle it I could make a fortune – the people create the festival. “It wasn’t somebody’s grand plan to have a festival for 20,000 people, it grew at its own pace. “The weather has damaged public confidence but we have a local following. For some, it is the first thing on their calendar.” The festival has been held in the village since 1980 and folk legends Fairport celebrate 45 years together this year.

 Tickets still available at the gate, £110 for all three days and £35 for camping, or £100 for Friday and Saturday and £30 for two days’ camping.

  • Up to 10,000 people are expected at the Wilderness festival at Cornbury Park, Charlbury, from tomorrow until Sunday. Performers on stage will include Rodrigo y Gabriela, Spiritualized and Wilco. Tickets priced from £129 are available from wildernessfestival.com
  • Rewind festival takes place in Henley-on-Thames from August 17-19. It touts itself as “the 80s festival”, with acts including Adam Ant, pictured, The Bangles, Kool and the Gang and Grandmaster Flash. The festival’s website advertises luxury loos, attended by uniformed staff all weekend, as well as “posh nosh” and “glamping”, glorified camping in yurts. Tickets have now all sold out.
  • Oxfordshire mental health charity Restore celebrates its 35th anniversary this August , a coral anniversary, so it has given the annual music festival on August 18 a seaside theme. Elder Stubbs Festival, which is organised by and raises money for Restore, is held on allotments behind Cowley Road. It features pony rides, bellydancers, jugglers, African dance, and a wide variety of music. Tickets cost £1.50 at the gate, under-16s go free.
  • The village of Towersey near Thame will be inundated with fans of folk over four days, from August 23 to 27. Towersey festival of music, dance, spoken word, street theatre, visual art, film and song is this year headlined by folk troubadours Bellowhead. Tickets range from £25 to £139, under-fives go free. Visit towerseyfestival.com or call 023 8071 1818.
  • Those wanting to treat their taste buds can enjoy Oxford’s Foodies Festival featuring a host of culinary delights in South Park from August 25 to 27. Tickets cost from £18 to £38. Free entry for children 16 and under with an adult. Call 0844 995 1111 or visit foodiesfestival.com
  • Round things off by heading to Alex James’ farm near Kingham, for Jamie Oliver’s Big Feastival, running from August 31 to September 2. For tickets go to jamieoliver.com or call 0844 995 967.