PREPARATIONS are under way for BunkFest, Wallingford’s biggest festival of the year.

The annual three-day gathering features live music, dance, workshops, children’s entertainment, train and boat trips, a street fair and beer.

It will run from Friday to Sunday and more than 20,000 people are expected to attend the festival, which is held on the Kinecroft and other venues across the town.

Headline acts on the main stage at the Kinecroft will include Blackbeard’s Tea Party, Edward the Second and The Roving Crows.

Town mayor Lynda Atkins said: “BunkFest is easily Wallingford’s biggest festival of the year and we are incredibly lucky to have it.

“It brings people into the town to use the shops and other facilities and we hope that people who have not been to Wallingford before will think of coming back afterwards.”

BunkFest, named after the rail line between Cholsey and Wallingford, is staffed and organised by volunteers.

Now celebrating its 14th year, it started from a marquee in a pub car park to filling the Kinecroft and providing entertainment throughout Wallingford, on the River Thames and on the Bunk railway line.

Most events are free. Visitors only need to buy tickets for the boat and train trips, plus workshops and camping.

There will be live music in venues across Wallingford, including Boat House, Comrades Club, Corn Exchange, Cross Keys, Dolphin pub, George Hotel, Wallingford Sports Park in Hithercroft, Town Arms plus on Salters Steamers boat trips and ‘The Singing Train’ on the Cholsey and Walingford Railway.

Across town, dance teams from across the country will take over the streets as well as roving street entertainers.

There will be performances from several Morris sides and other various styles including Irish, step clog, rapper, belly and capoeira dancing.

There will also be ceilidh events at Wallingford Sports Park at 10.45pm on Friday and Saturday, and Kinecroft at 3.15pm on Sunday, plus a silent disco on Friday and Saturday nights from 8pm.

The community street fair will be held in and around Market Place over the weekend, giving local community groups and businesses a chance to tell visitors about all their activities and products.

The town centre will be closed to traffic from 7am to 7pm on Saturday and 7am to 6pm on Sunday. This means buses will not be able to go into Market Place during this time.

BunkFest Beer Festival, based on the Kinecroft from Friday to Sunday, will feature 30 real ales, with an emphasis on local independent brewers.

As well as the usual array of traction engines and fairground rides on the Kinecroft, Mr Alexander’s Travelling Show will make a return to delight youngsters.

There will also be a variety of workshops, including photography and tuition in playing musical instruments such as the ukulele and banjo.

To see the BunkFest programme, visit bunkfest.co.uk.