Warm weather and a packed field at Swindon Road helped create a festival atmosphere as live music, food vendors, local businesses, community groups and family entertainment attracted crowds throughout the day.
This year’s lineup included Green Haze, Chappell Roan UK, The Skadinals, Josh Kumra and a range of local performers.
Organiser Tom Falding said seeing the event in full swing made the months of planning worthwhile.
“We’re just really excited,” he said. “We’re here in the field, it’s full of people, the weather’s good, we’ve got fantastic music, food vendors, stall holders, kids’ entertainment. We are having such a lovely day.”
Falding has been involved with WRDE Up for more than a decade. After supporting the previous committee, he took over running the festival three years ago to help secure its future.
“I really wanted to take it over because I wanted it to carry on happening,” he said. “The committee were struggling to make it work financially and I didn’t want it to end.”
Despite another successful event, he said rising costs have made it increasingly difficult for independent festivals to remain financially viable.
“It’s worth saying, I don’t know whether it’ll be me or someone else in two years’ time,” he said. “I’ll be honest with you, it doesn’t work financially. The costs have gone through the roof, and even owning a lot of the equipment I still struggle to make it work.
“Ticket sales are a massive part. If we put ticket prices up by two or three pounds, people don’t like it, and I completely understand why. At the moment I’m paying for everyone to have a massive party in Highworth, which I want to do, but not with my business head on.
“I’m going to have a year out. I think the festival will benefit from a year out, then we’ll see what happens. Hopefully it comes back with a new wave of energy.”
Among the organisations supporting the festival was 878 Highworth Supermarine Squadron RAF Air Cadets, whose volunteers helped with ticket checks, litter picking and public engagement while also demonstrating flight simulators.
Officer Commanding Flight Lieutenant Nick Goddard said:
“We’re giving back to the community. Community ethic is incredibly important to us. As well as showing off our flight simulators, we’re helping with ticket checking, litter picking and engaging with the public.”
The cadets also spoke positively about their experiences in the organisation.
Cadet Barrett described it as “an amazing thing to do”, while Cadet McLean said flying had been his favourite experience.
Barrett added: “It’s changed me as a person. I think it can do that to many other people as well.”
Highworth Mayor Julie Murphy said the festival plays an important role in bringing the town together.
“The Highworth community is amazing, and having such a big music event in the town is really important,” she said.
“You can see children, older generations, everybody coming together to have a fabulous time and enjoy music from these wonderful artists.”
Although WRDE Up will not take place next year, Saturday’s turnout demonstrated the festival’s continued popularity and the strong community support behind it. Organisers hope the planned break will allow the event to return with renewed energy in the future.
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