ORGANISERS of Oxfordshire’s popular Riverside Festival are expecting a bumper turnout this year as families enjoy the first weekend of the school holidays from Saturday, July 23-Sunday, July 24 in the company of Oxfordshire's musical talent on the banks of the river Evenlode in Charlbury.

This FREE family-friendly festival has grown year on year since it began life 21 years ago, with more than 40 acts playing everything from folk music to blues, rock, ska and hip hop, attracting thousands of music lovers of all ages.

Festival director Andy Pickard is particularly excited by this year’s Main Stage headline acts – five-piece Oxford band Neverlnd (formerly Balloon Ascents), who head the Saturday bill, and Sunday headliners Säedly Dorus and the Hoolie Band whose disco ceilidh sound will be a great festival finale.

Other acts that will be real crowd pleasers on the Main Stage are Riverside favourites, The Epstein and Leader, and newcomers American country rock band Speedbuggy USA.

As in previous years, local independent record stores Rapture in Witney and the Oxford-based Truck Store are running the Second Stage which hosts a special reunion gig for popular Oxford indie band The Black Hats on Saturday.

Two-piece punk act Cherokee top the bill on Saturday, with Liverpool folk band The Hummingbirds headlining Sunday.

Riverside is very much a family event. Young festival goers can try their hand at a range of creative crafts and activities, including free music workshops run by the Salt Box Music Company.

They can fashion their own headgear in the Mad Mini Milliners before posing in the free photo booth run by the New Theatre Oxford. Charlbury’s Little Wild Things are back with their nature adventures and new activities this year include whacky experiments making slime and bath bombs with Einstein’s Entertainers and bushcraft skills training with the Wilderness Pioneers.

In addition to the Riverside bar serving craft beers from Witney’s Wychwood Brewery, the popular Pimm’s and Tins tent returns along with the Riverside Gin and Tonic lounge.

Junior festival goers can get tasty thirst-quenchers from the Punch and Juicy Bar whilst their parents enjoy a really good cuppa at the Pre-School Tea and Cakes tent.

Riverside Festival would not exist, and certainly would not be free, without the huge band of local volunteers who make it happen. Charlbury Primary School and the Beer Festival help with equipment, Charlbury’s Pre-school provides teas, and the local recycling group ensures that 99% of Riverside’s waste doesn't go to landfill.

Riverside has a special relationship with mental health charity Mind and this year more than 100 papier mache dogs will be kennelled for the weekend on the Mill Field as part of a major art installation devised by artist Tom Campbell on behalf of the charity.

The dogs were created at The Mill Centre on Cowley Road and decorated by Oxfordshire residents and celebrities and will be sold to good homes to raise funds for Oxfordshire Mind.

No dogs, other than assistance dogs.

  •  Riverside Festival is on July 23-24 at The Mill Field, Dyers Hill, Charlbury, Oxfordshire. Entrance: FREE. No camping onsite. More information at riversidefestival.charlbury.com