History | bodfest

A Brief History of The Bodicote Village Festival

The history of the Bodicote Festival goes back to 1998 when a group of enthusiasts in the village decided that Bodicote should have a big event for the Millenium.
Two years of planning ensured the event was a big success and the result was that there was a call for the event to be repeated on an annual basis.

Renamed Bodfest, the weekend of activities was expanded to cater for all age groups in the village. Over the years, events have included a barn dance and pig roast, pop concerts, children’s sports, a family quiz and bingo, brass band concerts, arts and crafts and produce shows, a church service and, for the first time in 2012, a jazz supper.

Bodfest chairman John Washburn and a number of other members of the committee decided to step down after more than a decade of service, and fellow long-serving committee members Ben Phillips and Anna Allott, had left the village.

In November 2012, a new executive committee was elected, chaired by Chris Oakes, who was joined by Kate Oliveri, Chris Watts, John Morgan. A great team with new ideas started to plan BodFest'13. The radical decision to bring the festival into the heart of the village and run the whole thing over just one day was taken and planning commenced.

The outgoing committee and the Parish Council donated some money towards the ruinning costs and a series of fundraising events were planned to ensure that main event would allowed free entry to all festival goers. A quiz & chip night, curry night, Aunt Sally tournament and the famous annual duck race were among the events that brought in significant funds to make this a reality.

Saturday 13th July soon arrived and so did the sun (in force). The day was opened by the Tower Bell Ringers performing a special peal. 23 bands played across 2 stages, the Church hosted an open mic session, Church Street was closed for a festival stle street market, Church House car park became the BodFest'13 Food Court and Town Furlong was the focal point for family-based activities throughout the day.

Several thousand people joined us throughout the day, the food sellers sold out of food, the bpubs ran out of beer....

Next up: BodFest'14