The idea
This free festival will once again, be held over the Friday to Sunday August Bank Holiday weekend in 2025. The event will host 9 local bands / music acts, family fun day on the Sunday, with activities for all the family planned. In addition, each sports section (Cricket / Tennis / Bowls / Hockey / Football / Rugby) will be running free taster sessions for children to increase participation into their respective sport streams. Profits from the refreshment sales at the event will be ring-fenced for reinvestment back into the sports facilities on site. In 2023, £5k was provided to the cricket section to reinvest in their practice facilities and another £5k has been earmarked from 2024 profits, to support the bowling / tennis sections on drainage an safety netting projects.
We are keen to grow the festival to a bigger audience for emerging artists, and to increase participation in local sports, as well as providing more volunteer opportunities throughout.
What we'll deliver
- Improved awareness of the Fox Lane Facility and what it can deliver
- A gateway for children into a number of sports they wouldn't normally get access to
- A fantastic experience for the community to enjoy together
- Significant reinvestment into a sporting venue that is at the heart of the South Ribble Community
- A valuable charity donation to Derian House again, like 2024
Why it's a great idea
As above
The festival will give the opportunity for the wider Leyland community to come together in a sporting theatre, to enjoy a weekend of family fun and music.
All sporting sections of club will deliver taster sessions over the weekend for all ages to try new sporting activities. It's a great opportunity for children to try new sports and engage with potential new hobbies.
Local music acts are being encouraged to get involved to provide the weekend entertainment. We are speaking to local educational establishments to sound out potential music acts, who want to be involved.
Similarly, local food vendors will be invited on site, further helping South Ribble businesses.
Ultimately, we will be looking to ring fence and reinvest profits from the event to improve the sites infrastructure, in line with 23 and 24, as already set out.
Finally, our charity partner will again be Derian House, for whom we raised circa £2k in 2024.
Steps to get it done
- Book infrastructure such as Marquee / Toilets
- Agree music schedule for weekend and book entertainment
- Book food vendors
- Engage with and book Security to support the weekend event
- Invite and book entertainment for family fun day on the Sunday
- Clarify what the individual sports sections are arranging to engage with attendees
- Begin social media campaign, advertising FOXFEST 25
- Source sponsors to support the event financially
- Engage with and obtain permission from SRBC and police
This year, we have engaged with Leyland Round Table and 41 Club who have very kindly offered to help with the organising and volunteering over the weekend.
