Summer is finally here, and it’s the perfect chance to get out into the great outdoors. Fortunately there are plenty of events to choose from, and many of them rely on trucks to transport the stages, props and music equipment that make them a success.
We’ve put together a list focused on event trucking, with special occasions that need some heavy-duty transport to carry off.
Llangollen 2018
Tuesday 3 – Sunday 8 July
Celebrating its 70th anniversary this year is the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod. This day and night festival is known as one of the world’s most inspirational cultural festivals.
Each year the team of 4,000 performers greets around 50,000 visitors to celebrate international peace through music and dance events. This year the evening concert line-ups includes big names like The Kaiser Chiefs, The Hoosiers and Toploader (who are all pretty busy this summer festival-wise) as well as West End star Alfie Boe and the Belfast Cowboy himself Van Morrison.
There are also daily competitions at the Royal International Pavilion. This is where the famous message of peace and friendship from the children of Llangdollen is sent out to the children of the world.
The 70th anniversary festival promises to be a grand occasion and a must-see. Find out more on the official festival website here.
Ramfest 2018
Sunday 15 July
Don’t forget you can also look forward to Ramfest 2018 on the 15th July! It’s an annual event at Southowram Cricket Club that is packed with live music. The line-up this year includes The McCarrons, In Echoes and David Barnes from The Voice to name a few.
The event raises money for different charities every year. The supported charities this year are Heartbeat of Sport and the Andy Man Club, who have a deputing band performing. Several people from Stagefreight will also be there, so why not swing by to chat about event trucking with us all?
Find out more including how to get tickets here.
Keep On Truckin’ at Truck Festival
Friday 20 – Sunday 22 July
Known as the godfather of small music festivals, the annual Truck Festival at Hill Farm in Oxfordshire once again promises to be an event to remember. Truck Festival has been going strong since 1998, and now includes some charming glamping accommodation.
Due to popular demand Truck Festival is also trialing a new Thursday entry (19th July) for which there are only limited tickets. The Thursday line-up includes Peace, Jaws, Kanadia and Little Brother Eli.
With six stages and over 100 bands playing, there’s plenty to see including George Ezra, Jake Bugg, Drenge, Courteneers, The Big Moon and We Are Scientists.
Not sure what to expect? Have a look at last year’s highlights reel:
Y Not Festival
Thursday 26 – Sunday 29 July
As the name implies, why not go to this exciting festival in Pikehall, Derbyshire? Y Not Festival has a wide variety of music genres, and even encourages local and unsigned music talent to get up on stage via the ‘apply to play’ feature.
This year’s line-up on the main stage includes The Libertines, Manic Street Preachers, Catfish and the Bottlemen, Kaiser Chiefs, Jamiroquai and The Wombats. There’s plenty more though as The Quarry Stage, The Giant Squid, Flamingo Jack’s and The Allotment all have their own line-up schedule.
That’s not all at Y Not Festival though. You can also enjoy some family favourite movies like Moana and Inside Out or some suspense filled classics like The Martian and Jurassic Park.
There’s something for everyone at Y Not Festival, so why not have a closer look at the event website here.
The Big Cheese Festival
Friday 27– Sunday 29 July
Caerphilly is home to one of Europe’s largest castles. For the last 21 years the people of Caerphilly have celebrated their heritage with a party called The Big Cheese Festival. It’s a free event that attracts over 80,000 visitors and offers businesses of all shapes and sizes an opportunity to exhibit. There’s also some live music, reenactments and plenty of fun at the fair.
Unsurprisingly–but certainly worth adding to the visiting agenda–there’s a splendid cheese market for you to visit. But if you don’t fancy any cheese, don’t worry; there are over 60 food stalls to choose from too.
Find out more about The Big Cheese Festival here.
Edinburgh Foodies Festival
Friday 3–Sunday 5 August
If you’ve got a sweet tooth (or a savoury one) then you need to get to Edinburgh this summer! Foodies Festival is a three-day celebration of food from around the world.
The festival is divided into several distinct areas, each one focusing on a different food type. Head to the Street Food Avenue where you can sample treats from over 30 food stalls. If you’re looking for a more hands-on approach, hit the Drinks Theatre for Prosecco and Parmesan master classes, or go to the Kombucha workshops for chocolate making and cake decorating. If you’re feeling a little more adventurous, you can also enjoy cream pie throwing, cheese stretching and chilli eating competitions as part of the event.
Children are very welcome at the festival; they can learn to cook in the Kids Cookery Theatre, get stuck into a craft area or jump around on the bouncy castle. If you’ve got an Earlybird ticket, children can join you for free. Add headline bands The Hoosiers and Toploader into the mix, and Foodies Festival is a guaranteed gastronomic marvel!
For further details, visit the official website.
Rock at the Castle
Sunday 5 August
Past and present collide at this exciting free music event! Rock at the Castle takes place at Hertford Castle Gatehouse, a Grade I listed building that dates back to the 15th century. Boasting four music stages around the castle itself, there’s something here for everyone to enjoy.
Visitors to Rock at the Castle can enjoy live bands, acoustic acts and musicians in a variety of genres including folk, rock, indie and pop. Children are welcome too and can enjoy face painting, a bouncy castle and other activities. If you find yourself getting hungry, there will be food stalls and a pop-up bar onsite.
For more details on this event, click here.
Broadstairs Folk Week
Friday 10–Friday 17 August
Broadstairs Folk Week is an exploration of folk music and dance by the sea. Taking place in the Kent coastal town of Broadstairs, the festival has been running for more than fifty years, and offers a glimpse at a great swathe of music heritage.
Visit the main concert area in Pierremont Park to see headline acts such as Tim Edey, The Longest Johns and The Jim Causley Trio. You can also enjoy a variety of pub gigs; last year’s festival covered a diverse range of genres including celtic, country, Spanish jazz and- of course- traditional folk music from England, Scotland and Ireland.
If you fancy yourself the next Fred Astaire, there are several dance events to attend. Try 17th-century English country-dances, American square dancing or modern dances in old styles to really spice things up. With over 70 events running each day, there really is something for everyone.
Broadstairs Folk Week offers a mix of free and ticketed events, though you can buy an all-in-one ticket that covers all venues and events. For a full list of events, visit the Broadstairs Folk Week website.
Reading Festival
Friday 24 –Sunday 26 August
Nothing’s better in summer than a good old festival. One of the biggest is the Reading Festival, running over the August bank holiday weekend in both Reading and Leeds. It’s a must-see for all UK music fans.
This year’s lineup includes some legendary artists such as Fall Out Boy, Kendrick Lamar, Kings of Leon and Panic! At the Disco. If you’re looking to mix things up a bit, head on over to the alternative stage to see the likes of Harry Hill, Chris Ramsey and Lee Nelson.
Festivalgoers also have many different camping options to choose from. Keep it simple with Pink Moon tents, or go upmarket with Podpad housing instead. You can even bring a caravan or campervan with you if you want a few more home comforts.
Get a breakdown of acts by stage here, and read more about the festival as a whole here.
Chatsworth Country Fair
Friday 31 August – Sunday 2 September
The Chatsworth Country Fair is known to be one of the most spectacular outdoor events of the UK.
It takes place in Chatsworth Park in Derbyshire and promises a fun-filled event for the family. You can try your hand at heritage country sports or rural country crafts. There’s also grand entertainment at the Grand Ring, where you can watch some JCB diggers dance or enjoy performance by The Household Cavalry Musical Ride.
But there’s more! At the Stoves Cookery Demonstration Theatre you can get some cooking tips and tricks from Great British Bake Off legends Paul Hollywood, Mary Berry and Nadiya Hussain. Once these guys have whetted your appetite, you can then explore the fine food village and treat yourself to something tasty.
All information and tickets info is on the Chatsworth House website here.
These are just some of the fantastic events that you can enjoy this summer. They’re also the kind of events we can help you make a reality, thanks to our vast experience in event trucking and transportation.
Don’t forget that Stagefreight can help with your entire event trucking needs. We have experience in many different aspects of event transport, from one-off shows and music festivals to massive trade exhibitions. Our experience lets us handle massive logistical operations with minimum stress, ensuring everything arrives on time, in perfect condition and along the most efficient route.
If you’d like to learn more about what we do, visit our services page or give us a call on 0113 797 898.