About BrightFest.

BrightFest started in 2008 in the car park of Brightwell-cum-Sotwell’s Red Lion pub, organised by pub’s landlady. She was supported by a group of regulars, as a way of generating additional income to contribute to the viability of the pub.

Over subsequent years, BrightFest took on a life of its own, growing year by year. As a result, the festival had to move from the pub car park to its current, much larger, location, the Brightwell-cum-Sotwell Recreation Ground in Mackney Lane.

The level of free funds raised each year steadily increased and 2018 was a record year, raising funds for Maeve's Magical Journey, with the highest ever attendance driven by great weather and support for Maeve’s Journey. After a two-year gap between 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19, BrightFest returned bigger and better than ever in 2022.

Following consultation within the village, it was suggested that BrightFest should become “a non-profit unincorporated association governed by a constitution with an organising committee, elected every year, and the officers of the committee to be trustees of the association.

The constitution was formally adopted in 2019 and the BrightFest Organising Committee, BOC as it is commonly known, formed. The objective of BrightFest within the constitution is: “To hold an annual festival in the village of Brightwell cum Sotwell, with the aim of raising money for charity and community projects”.

At a subsequent BOC meeting is was proposed and unanimously agreed that in future BrightFest should raise funds for local charities and good causes and community projects (not for national charities).

In 2023, BrightFest Events Ltd. was established.