A WEEKEND of live music and entertainment welcomed big crowds to Ashley Cross after the popular event was forced to take a year off due to the pandemic.

Long-running festival Grooves on the Green drew hundreds of people to the area with performances on two stages and other attractions including local food and drink, face painting, magicians, inflatables and craft stalls.

Event organiser Jan Crump said: “What a great turn out. Rescheduling an event is a lot of work, there’s the entertainers, store holders, the council and first aid, so it was a lot harder this year but it’s been an amazing day and considering the weather forecast, I couldn’t be happier.”

Bournemouth Echo: Grooves on the Green, August 7, 2021. Photo credit: Lauren Joy.

One group of visitors were NHS staff who got into the event for free, they said: “It’s been really nice, the main thing is that it’s nice to be outside listening to music again.

“Live music and feeling normal without having to wear face masks. It’s good to be around people again and not being told off.

“We’re all NHS staff so we got a free ticket but we’ve worked all the way through the pandemic and we haven’t stopped so it’s been good to have the day off.”

Grooves on The Green has been supporting local charities since 2000. For the last 7 years, they have supported Diverse Abilities, raising in the region of £30,000.

Diverse Abilities is a Dorset-based disability charity supporting children and adults with profound physical and learning disabilities across the county.

Bournemouth Echo: Grooves on the Green, August 7, 2021. Photo credit: Lauren Joy.

Wendy Barfoot, the daughter of the charities’ founder said: “It’s been good, I’ve enjoyed the day and gradually we’ve got more and more people around.”