A summer festival of fun and music run by military veterans for everyone.
Our Festival (Vetsfest) will be held in Lanescot, Cornwall from the 5 to 7 July 2019. It aims to create a community that thrives on comradeship and shows what veterans can achieve.
The festival will have food, music and dancing so there is fun for all the family. Campers are most welcome. The festival has wonderful views of the south Cornish coastline and 15 local Cornish bands will play at the event: headlined on Saturday by David Craig, a finalist on BBCs ‘the Voice’. There will also be stalls run by veterans and local businesses.
Charlotte Olford, one of the organisers of Vetsfest said:
We started with a celebration of the anniversary of the Armed Forces Breakfast Club, and the idea just blossomed from a Vets Festival, to a festival run by veterans. It seemed right at the time, and it still does, fingers crossed.
The message in the past has arguably, and understandably concentrated on those veterans in need, however this festival would like to balance this and celebrate all veterans; but highlighting that most of ‘us’ are healthy, happy, successful, and very capable in our post Service lives.
Gates open on 5 July at midday with music starting at 3pm going on until 11pm and then from then onwards throughout the weekend.
The profits from the festival will be split between 3 different forces charities; SSFA, Royal British Legion and Combat Stress. These charities are tri-service and represent veterans and their families, so fully endorse the aims of the festival.
For veterans to thrive, they must be positively perceived and not pitied.
Jeff Spencer, a South West Veterans Advisory & Pensions Committee (VAPC) member said:
This may not be seen by some as traditional VAPC work, but I was keen to shine a light on our existence, too few even know we exist. I hope our event can be repeated annually, and nationally. Watch this space.
For more information on the festival please visit the Veterans Festival website.
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