A POPULAR free music and arts festival returns to Cirencester this month.

The Phoenix Festival takes place in the town’s Abbey Grounds on Saturday, August 24 and Sunday, August 25.

This year, the event will feature over 20 local acts across two stages, along with Guns N' Roses tribute band Guns or Roses on the Saturday night and Take That tribute band Rule The World on the Sunday night.

There will also be a creative and wellbeing area with free activities for all ages, including circus skills, arts and crafts, The Churn Project and sensory messy play from Roots.Shoots.Muddy Boots.

A community arena will showcase the talents of local groups, from gymnastics to martial arts demonstrations.

In addition, attendees should keep an eye out on the Saturday for some special guests from mascot and children’s entertainment company Superson’s Family Entertainment.

A quiet space will also be available at the event for those needing time away from the hustle and bustle of festival life.

Created in 2013, The Phoenix Festival began life as an idea from the Ozone Youth Partnership in Cirencester and last year attracted over 18,000 people.

It is managed by a volunteer subcommittee of the Cirencester Community Development Trust, with volunteers coming from a diverse range of backgrounds.

Volunteers work alongside industry professionals and receive hands-on tuition in the tasks involved in holding an outdoor festival, such as customer service, risk management and emergency services liaison.

Opportunities for those wishing to get involved in the event are open to all.

The Phoenix Festival is set to cost around £76,000 to host in 2024.

The festival has just finished a crowdfunding campaign which raised just under half of the total amount required.

The event is holding its first-ever prize draw this year, with tickets able to be secured from any of the festival’s committee members.

Collection buckets and donation stations will also form part of the weekend itself.

“There are approximately 22,000 people in Cirencester,” a spokesperson for the event said.

“If every person donated just £3.50 per year (which is less than the cost of a coffee in town), then this festival would be guaranteed to go ahead annually.”

If you would like to volunteer and become involved with any part of The Phoenix Festival, or if you wish to become a sponsor or partner as a local business, contact info@phoenix-festival.co.uk

To donate to the festival via JustGiving, visit justgiving.com/campaign/phoenixfestival2024