FloFest and GloFest return to Florence Park in Oxford

FloFest and GloFest will take place on Saturday, June 20, bringing together more than 30 local acts alongside community groups, sports sessions, food stalls and family entertainment.

The event is entirely volunteer-led and celebrates the creativity and diversity of East Oxford, with organisers describing it as a festival built ‘by the community, for the community’.

FloFest runs from 11am to 4.30pm and is free to attend.

More than 20 local organisations will host activities and outreach sessions, including a mask-making tent led by Cowley Road Carnival. Visitors can also take part in taster sessions in tennis, rugby, cricket, tai chi and yoga, or enjoy a silent disco.

Family favourites include the festival’s popular dog show, with categories such as ‘waggiest tail’ and ‘most adorable puppy’, as well as fairground rides, a carousel, face painting and a dedicated children’s area.

A wide range of food vendors and market stalls will also be on site throughout the day, offering a variety of local and international cuisine.

Live music will feature across several stages throughout the afternoon. The Starling Sessions will headline the main stage, joined by acts including Puppet Mechanic, The Mighty Redox, Ethioxia and Ben Smith.

The V-Stage will showcase emerging local talent such as Cymbal Shards, alongside a line-up of up-and-coming performers.

Natty Mark’s Reggae Area will also return, offering a dedicated space for roots and dub music.

Around the park, visitors can enjoy performances from the City of Oxford Silver Band and Oxford Ukuleles, as well as roaming entertainment from the Horns of Plenty, who will move through the crowds during the day.

As the day moves into the evening, GloFest will take over, from 6pm to 11.30pm, as a ticketed event. Tickets are available via: wegottickets.com/f/18122

Headliners Mount St Helen are expected to draw large crowds, alongside Mary’s Garden, The HorMones and The Shotovers. DJ sets will keep the atmosphere going between performances, before the event concludes with a large-scale laser finale.

Organisers say the festival, established in 2013, remains rooted in the local community, with volunteers, performers and suppliers largely based within walking distance of the park. They added that the not-for-profit event reinvests any surplus into future festivals, helping sustain a year-round programme of community arts and activities.

Visitors are encouraged to walk, cycle or use public transport to attend, with several bus routes serving the area, helping reduce congestion and support the festival’s environmentally friendly approach.