Hard-working traders and volunteers have been busy organising a big summer celebration to remember.

Dursley Summer Festival is returning next week with events taking place for the community to enjoy.

This year's theme is "summer festival," with a swing band, a vintage car and motorcycle show, a martial arts demonstration, and a fairground in one of the town’s centre parking bays.

All attractions will be free for the public with other displays including a selfie booth, popular buskers, face painting, a BBQ, a doodle wall and the usual farmers' market. 

There are currently over 30 stalls signed up, including Uley Brewery, Gloucestershire Constabulary with a dog DNA stand and police quad bikes, Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust, and numerous food and drink vendors. 

The event is being organised by Festive Dursley volunteers and high street shop owners, putting one of the biggest events in the town since the Christmas lights switch-on.

Caroline Marrows, owner of Inches Fabric Shop, an organiser said: “It’s all come together really well and it’s just kind of exploded. Everyone’s playing their part and fingers crossed we’ll have music everywhere.” 

Dursley Town Council has stepped back from organising the summer event, instead assisting with road closure permits and other administrative tasks after hosting popular Jubilee celebrations. 

Last year's event was difficult due to the continuation of Covid restrictions which resulted in the cancellation of several planned activities.

John Kay, town clerk at Dursley Town Council, said: “The summer fete is a traditional event, it’s one of the first events that actually took place in the town last year.

“I’m hopeful it’s a success and the traders will want to continue to take it over.

"We could have two events each summer in the town instead of just one.

“Everybody in the town benefits from these types of events. It might bring new people to the town.

"We need to increase football in the town. People do notice and they come back again. 

“We want to encourage people that haven’t come back since Covid.

"They’re used to staying at home. Bigger towns are struggling even more, just look at Gloucester.” 

Takes place from 9am to 2pm next Saturday, July 9 in Dursley town centre.

For more information on the festival visit Festive Dursley.