Thousands enjoy music, family activities and charity fundraising at Vale Park
Vale Park was busy at the end of August as Aylesbury’s Parklife Weekend returned with a packed programme of live music, family entertainment and community stalls. The event, organised by Aylesbury Town Council, ran on Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 August and brought together local musicians, charities and residents for two days of free and ticketed activities.
Saturday’s schedule mixed all-ages entertainment with a late family-friendly party. The day opened with Live in the Park, hosted by Stoke Mandeville Hospital Radio’s Dez Kay, and offered performances across two stages. Headliners The Eclectix closed the night with a headline set, while the evening finished with a retro family rave — Club in the Park — led by DJ Dan Blaze.
- Festival Village: a new area for 2026 showcasing charities, community groups and information stalls.
- Radley Tent: a children’s area run by Radley Windows and Doors with family-friendly activities.
- Live music: two stages with local bands and headline acts.
- Proms in the Park: Sunday evening concert featuring Aylesbury Concert Band and local musicians.
Sunday’s programme placed competition and public participation centre-stage. The Battle of the Bands produced two winners who earned guaranteed spots on next year’s main stage: Clear Air Turbulence won the 24-and-under category; With Me Run Ghosts topped the 25-and-over group. Both acts will also receive an eight-hour recording session with XYZ Music Academy.
"Parklife Weekend makes me very proud to be Mayor of our beautiful town. It was a wonderful testament to community spirit, collaboration and teamwork,"
The Mayor of Aylesbury, Councillor Sherrilyn Bateman, praised the weekend as a demonstration of local cooperation and community spirit. Aylesbury Town Council also highlighted the role of the event in supporting local causes; the Mayor’s chosen charity, Aylesbury Homeless Action Group (AHAG), received donations during activities throughout the weekend.
| Day | Highlights |
|---|---|
| Saturday 29 Aug | Live in the Park, The Eclectix headline, Festival Village, Club in the Park (DJ Dan Blaze) |
| Sunday 30 Aug | Battle of the Bands, Bandeoke, Proms in the Park with Aylesbury Concert Band |
Organisers described the new Festival Village as a focal point for community organisations, offering stalls and free activities that allowed residents to learn about the services and voluntary groups operating locally. The Radley Tent provided a dedicated space for children’s entertainment, while participatory highlights such as Bandeoke drew members of the public onto the stage accompanied by a live house band from XYZ Music Academy.
Aylesbury Town Council publicly thanked performers, event partners and sponsors for their contribution to the weekend and for helping to deliver what organisers called a family-friendly celebration of local culture. For many residents, the event provided an accessible weekend of live entertainment and a chance to support local causes and musicians.
For local bands and music groups the Parklife Weekend also offered a practical route to higher-profile opportunities: in addition to performing, the Battle of the Bands winners will get professional studio time and a place on next year’s Live in the Park line-up—an incentive likely to encourage emerging acts in Buckinghamshire and the surrounding area.
As the town reflects on another summer event season, Parklife Weekend will be measured by organisers and councillors not only by attendance, but by its ability to raise funds for charities such as AHAG and to strengthen ties between local groups, volunteers and residents who took part across the two days.
