Thousands expected to attend Croxfest

With organisers preparing for as many as 8,000 people to come to the popular festival on The Green, they hope the weather will improve after a dismal week of heavy rain.

The popular event, which attracts thousands of people every year, will start at 12pm and finish at 8pm.

While the event is free for people to attend, some of the cash raised at the event will go towards the Croxley Green foodbank.

Stephen Crabtree, chairman of the organising committee, said: “Croxfest always has been a family-orientated, community, festival so we wanted to put something on which everyone can enjoy.

“Seeing people enjoying either the music, or just the atmosphere on the day, is fantastically rewarding.

“Even though entry to Croxfest is free, there is a collection box on the day and not only will this help with the costs on the day, the money will also support the three charities chosen by Croxley Green Parish Council.

“This means we are supporting the foodbank in Croxley Green. People would think that Croxley Green is an affluent area, which it is, but there are some people who are using the foodbank in Croxley Green.

“This was an off-shoot of the foodbank in Rickmansworth, which opened in October, because we were finding that people who needed support could not afford the bus to get emergency supplies.”

Ten bands will play on the main stage next Saturday, but organisers have revealed more than 100 bands applied to play at the huge community event.

“It is about trying to get a mix of different music acts. Not everyone likes rock music, but not everyone likes country music, and hopefully, we have got a good mix and I think we have”, Mr Crabtree added.

He continued: “The band committee play regularly in the Watford area so they will have an idea about the different bands.

“This year, we have 10 new bands and we are quite pleased. I think there is something for everyone.”

The bands playing at the event are: Vinyl Plan, Watford-based The Involved, Polkadots, Meansteed, The NashVillains, Streetcar9, Five Fold Kiss, Valens, Tail-Gator and The Turner Brothers.

There will also be a variety of stalls and activities on The Green throughout the day.

Mr Crabtree did say there will be parking, but that will be “limited” and organisers are encouraging people who live locally to walk or use public transport.