music, arts and
unexpected delights
St Neots Festival is an award-winning new performing arts festival in the beautiful setting of Priory Park in St Neots.
Organised by arts collective Neotists and an amazing team of volunteers, last year we had over 140 bands, artists, dance and theatre groups, creative workshops, kids’ entertainers, wellbeing activities, community stalls and food and drink stalls lined up. There were over 1,000 people actively taking part in the festival – including the long-awaited return of the St Neots Festival Parade. With musical genres covering pop, rock, soul, jazz, Latin, blues and classical, we really do have something for everyone.
A CELEBRATION OF CULTURE AND COMMUNITY IN ST NEOTS
We live in an amazing town that’s brimming with creative and community groups. The festival provides a platform for them to reach new audiences, and serves as a celebration of the diversity of talent in St Neots. We have kids’ theatre and dance groups, our folk and jazz clubs, local bands and dozens of community groups taking part this year.
BRINGING NEW EXPERIENCES TO OUR TOWN
We want St Neots to be known across Cambridgeshire and beyond as a destination for cultural experiences. Our proximity to London, Cambridge, Peterborough and Bedford mean some people choose to leave town when they’re looking for entertainment. We know that the appetite is there for culture to come to us, and so we’re making it happen.
Last year the festival included some amazing artists from across the country who we have invited to perform for us. We also had some fantastic creative workshops and kids’ entertainment lined up. We’re doing it all again this year on 6-7 July 2024.
MINIMISING OUR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
Music festivals often generate a lot of landfill and carbon emissions. We are working hard to minimise both. This year we are:
- Running all of our stages, zones and food trucks using a combination of mains power, battery packs and biodiesel generators.
- Working with our bar providers to ensure that drinking vessels are either reusable or recyclable. We will encourage visitors to put things in the correct bins!
- Working with our food traders to ensure waste is minimised and either compostable or recyclable.
- Encouraging visitors to leave their cars at home by providing a free shuttle bus service for St Neots residents, plus extra bicycle racks.
- Hiring reusable flags, bunting and signage rather than buying new.
- Offering urinals to reduce the use of chemical toilets.
There’s more to do to minimise our environmental impact, but we’re proud of what we’ve achieved to date.
Thank you
None of this would have been possible without the tireless work of our volunteers and partner organisations who have given their time for free last year, plus the generous financial backing of our funders and sponsors. This funding means we were are able to make St Neots Festival free to attend and accessible to all. We plan to do the same this year.