| CarFest | |
|---|---|
| Status | active |
| Genre | Family Festival |
| Frequency | Annually |
| Venue |
|
| Country | England |
| Inaugurated | August 2011 (2011-08) |
| Founder | Chris Evans |
CarFest is an annual family music and motoring festival held in Cheshire and Hampshire, England. It was founded by the radio presenter Chris Evans in 2011, and raises funds for Children in Need, a British charity. The festival presents a variety of entertainment - live music performances, track shows, "celebrity chef" demos, driving experiences, a steam fair, a fundraising family fun run and a carnival fancy dress parade.
Dates
Both events have taken place annually since 2012, with the exception of 2020 when they were cancelled due to COVID-19. The North event has been held at 3 locations throughout Cheshire, including Cholmondeley Castle, Oulton Park, and the Bolesworth Estate, with the South event being held at Laverstoke Park Farm in Overton, Hampshire every year since its debut.
2022 was the last year that CarFest North took place at the Bolesworth estate, with a focus to making one main annual event at Laverstoke Park.
| Year | CarFest North | CarFest South |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 8-9 September (held at Cholmondeley Castle) |
25-26 August |
| 2013 | 2-4 August (held at Oulton Park) |
23-25 August |
| 2014 | 1-3 August (held at Oulton Park) |
22-24 August |
| 2015 | 31 July-2 August (held at Oulton Park) |
28-30 August |
| 2016 | 29-31 July (held at Bolesworth Estate) |
26-28 August |
| 2017 | 28-30 July (held at Bolesworth Estate) |
25-27 August |
| 2018 | 27-29 July (held at Bolesworth Estate) |
24-26 August |
| 2019 | 26-28 July (held at Bolesworth Estate) |
23-25 August |
| 2020 | Cancelled due to Covid-19 | Cancelled due to Covid-19 |
| 2021 | 23-25 July (held at Bolesworth Estate) |
27-29 August |
| 2022 | 22-24 July (held at Bolesworth Estate) |
26-28 August |
Scalextric
For the 2015 CarFest South, former F1 driver Martin Brundle created a 45-metre Scalextric circuit.
Air crash
During the 2015 event, held at Oulton Park, Cheshire, a Folland Gnat aircraft, one of pair performing a display, crashed into the ground, killing the pilot, Kevin Whyman.
CarFest Supergroup
Richard Jones of "The Feeling" put together the CarFest Supergroup, on behalf of Evans, who released a live double album for the 10th anniversary of the music and motoring festival, with the profits going to a number of charities including the Teenage Cancer Trust and the Starlight Children's Foundation. Vocalists/musicians on the album include Roger Daltrey, KT Tunstall, Gary Kemp, Ricky Wilson and Jones' wife Sophie Ellis-Bextor.
Break from Brand Events
In 2022, Brand Events, who previously organised the CarFest event for 11 years, moved away from the venture and CarFest Management was set up.
References
- "Chris Evans puts Chitty Chitty Bang Bang car up for auction". BBC Online. 12 August 2015. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
- Scullion, Murray (4 August 2015). "Serial CarFest charity donor gives away Moggie van and saloon". Classic Cars For Sale UK. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
- "Scalextric track built for Chris Evans CarFest to be sold for Children In Need - BT". BT Group. 12 August 2015. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
- "CarFest pilot death: Aeroplane 'broke into pieces' - BBC News". BBC Online. 12 August 2015. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
- "Chris Evans Releases Charity Album to Commemorate Carfest's 10th Anniversary". 5 November 2020.
- "Chris Evans launches CarFest charity album".
- "Official Albums Chart Update Top 100 | Official Charts Company". OfficialCharts.com.