DJ stages the second of his dream festivals at Cholmondeley Castle
■Family festival with amazing cars, fab food and great live music■CarFest on track to raise more than 800,000 for BBC Children in Need■Additional tickets now on sale
After the rip-roaring success of CarFest South, Chris Evans fund raising extravaganza comes to Cheshire this weekend (8-9 September) for CarFest North.
Originally dreamed up by the radio and TV personality to distract him from giving up bread during Lent, CarFest has snowballed into a huge weekend festival celebrating his three great desirescars, food and musicand simultaneously raising much needed funds for BBC Children in Need.
CarFest South held at Jody Scheckters Laverstoke Park Farm in Hampshire was an immediate sell-out with 20,000 visitors being treated to some memorable high-octane action, breath-taking aerial displays and sparkling live sets by top bands as well as a whole host of other superb family entertainment. And now Evans glittering road show is all set for a repeat performance in the glorious grounds of Cholmondeley Castle near Malpas in Cheshire.
"CarFest is my dream of the perfect family festival starring three of my greatest passionscars, live music and scrumptious food, explained Evans who was overjoyed with the inaugural Laverstoke event. CarFest South which took place a week and a bit ago was just utterly awesome and, from the moment it opened, took on a whole brand new personality of its own. And the best news is, we now get to do it all over again at Cholmondeley Castle on the 8th and 9th of Septemberanother groovy get-together, raising more funds for BBC Children in Need in the process. How will it differ to its southern cousin? I have no idea but I can't wait to find out and I wouldn't want to miss it for all the trophies in Michael Schumachers cupboard.
As home to the annual Pageant of Power, Cholmondeley is no stranger to putting on great motor shows and CarFests line-up is every bit as impressive. Heading the pack doing dramatic demonstration runs is Evans very own famed Magnificent Seven Ferraris. Taking their lead from this are numerous other collections of seven including legendary F1 cars, the very latest supercars, Group B rally machines, vintage cars and Nick Masons Celebrity Seven. Air displays are another crowd pleaser with the RAF Red Arrows and magnificent Vulcan bomber all set to turn heads skywards.
CarFest, though, isnt all about cars and planes. As Evans set out this is very much a huge party for all ages with something for all the family. The main Arena field will see displays from jousters and the JCB Dancing Diggers as well as a wide variety of other equally enthralling entertainments and sideshows. Theres even a silent disco in the Big Top and a Pride and Joy auction for those wanting to drive home in something special.
Putting the Fest into CarFest are live music sets with Texas, Paloma Faith and The Proclaimers topping the bill on Saturday evening and then Razorlight plus The Magic Numbers bringing the curtain down on Sunday night.
It all adds up to one huge not-to-be-missed party which is set to raise more than 800,000 for BBC Children in Need. Although the original 20,000 tickets were an immediate sell-out, an extended licence has enabled organisers to offer some additional day, weekend and VIP tickets. To buy tickets go to www.CarFest.org.
CarFest is the brainchild of radio DJ and TV personality Chris Evans. Featuring a medley of fast cars, food, live music and family entertainment, the inaugural weekend events was staged at Laverstoke Park Farm in Hampshire (25-26 August) with a second show at Cholmondeley Castle in Cheshire (8-9 September). Both are raising funds for the BBCs Children in Need appeal with a minimum of one third of the price of each ticket benefiting the charity.
BBC Children in NeedBBC Children in Needs vision is that every child in the UK has a safe, happy and secure childhood and the chance to reach their potential. This vision is realised by supporting, promoting and publicising work that addresses the challenges that children and young people face and work that builds their skills and resilience.
The charity is currently supporting around 2,600 projects that are working with children facing a range of disadvantages. For example, poverty and deprivation; children who have been the victims of abuse or neglect or disabled young people.
