The sold-out Early Summer Festival will take place at Delta Tennis Centre, welcoming competitors from more than 50 clubs. Visitors are travelling from as far as Hong Kong, Australia and Ireland.
Organisers say the event underlines Swindon’s growing status as a leading destination for the fast-expanding sport.
Over two days, players from across Britain will compete in matches and take part in social and community activities. The festival has become known for encouraging participation from people of all ages and abilities.
Pickleball, which combines elements of tennis, badminton and table tennis, is one of the fastest-growing participation sports worldwide. Clubs and courts have been appearing across the UK at pace in recent years.
Hundreds of players and supporters are expected to spend the weekend in the town, providing a boost to local businesses.
Organisers will also use the festival to launch a fundraising campaign to build dedicated pickleball courts in the southern African nation of Lesotho.
The project aims to fund two permanent courts alongside existing community sports facilities. It is hoped the development will create new opportunities for young people to access organised sport in one of the world’s poorest countries.
The initiative has been inspired by Swindon Pickleball Chair Shaun Jones, who has longstanding links with Lesotho through supporting the work of Kick4Life.
Shaun Jones, Chair of Swindon Pickleball, said:
“It is fantastic to see the continued growth of our festivals. To have players making the journey from Hong Kong, Australia and Ireland, alongside players travelling from all corners of the UK, is a real testament to what these events have become.
“Every festival seems to grow bigger than the last. We are proud that people are choosing to visit Swindon to experience the welcoming atmosphere that the pickleball community is known for.
“We’re also excited to launch our Southern Africa fundraising campaign. Sport has the power to change lives and we hope the pickleball community will get behind our ambition to leave a lasting legacy by helping provide facilities for future generations in Lesotho.”
The weekend will also raise funds for Helping Hands Catering, which provides paid catering roles for young adults with special educational needs and disabilities. The team will supply food and refreshments across both days.
The Early Summer Festival runs on Saturday 13th June from 11am to 7pm and Sunday 14th June from 10am to 6pm.
Organisers say the scale and international reach of the event highlights how quickly Swindon’s pickleball community has developed.
