PLANS are being made to re-establish a festival for the community of Stratton this summer.

It comes off the back of last year’s popular It’s a Knockout day and the Christmas Extravaganza, which attracted more than 1,400 people.

The Stratton Festival is scheduled to take place this summer with the main event being held from July 18 until 21.

Attractions will include a beer festival, with Arkell’s brewing a special Stratton festival ale.

There will be fun and entertainment for all the family, plus a barn dance, a parade and a food festival.

Upper Stratton Baptist Church held an event at Meadowcroft recreation ground in June as part of the church’s 150th anniversary celebrations, which attracted around 750 people, The church is in the process of helping Stratton St Margaret parish council to organise this year’s event, which could be spread over a couple of weeks and is designed to bring the community together.

Coun John Foley, chairman of Stratton St Margaret Parish Council, said he was excited about the festival and that it was long overdue.

He said: “The festival is a celebration of the festival of St Margaret, who is the patron saint of the parish.

“We are planning to do something for the whole of the parish which will help to bring the whole community together.

“It is bringing back something that we used to have known as the Stratton Carnival and I think it is long overdue.

“Last year was a good year with the It’s a Knockout day and the extravaganza, which attracted more than 1,400 people, and we hope to build on that.

“Speaking to people at those events, they were asking why it had not happened before.

“I am excited for the festival and it will be a highlight of what is looking like being a very busy year for the parish.

“We also hope the festival will be self-funded with the fair and other bits we are planning all bringing money in for it.”

The parish council is still looking for musicians, food traders, local businesses and performers to take part in the festivities.

If you would like to get involved, call the council on 01793 823761 or email planning@strattonst margaret.gov.uk.