An award-winning family-friendly festival is returning to Harpenden after having been cancelled twice in the last two years due to the pandemic.

Festival on the Field is back with a vengeance, with a packed programme of eight acts. Taking place on Saturday July 9 it will, as ever, be held on the Sir John Lawes School playing field, from where it derives its name.

Live music from start to finish is the mantra of this family festival with a full line-up of top tribute acts as well as some amazing local talent performing from midday to 11pm. Headlining this year, and back by popular demand, is the much sought-after mass karaoke band, Massaoke. They took the festival by storm in 2018 with the almost 3,000-strong crowd singing their hearts out along with the band, with lyrics shown on the big screen.

There will also be performances from the fabulous Madness and Robbie tributes, One Step Behind and J K as Robbie and new to the Festival this year, Ultimate Dua Lipa and 24K Bruno, a Bruno Mars tribute.

As well as a great range of food and drinks on offer, the ever-popular fairground will also be back with an even wider range of attractions.

This is the fifth time around for Harpenden’s largest outdoor music event and fun day out for all the family. The previous four festivals have raised over £90,000 for Manland and Sir John Lawes Schools, with all Harpenden schools benefitting from a cashback scheme on tickets they sell.

In its first year (2012) the festival won the Gold Star Award for Fundraising Achievement in the south of England, and then went on to become the overall winner for the UK in this category. In 2014 it was shortlisted for the prestigious UK Festival Awards under the categories of best small festival and best family festival.

Herts Advertiser: Festival on the Field in Harpenden on July 7 2018.Festival on the Field in Harpenden on July 7 2018. (Image: Richard Washbrooke Photography)

Tickets go on general release from Monday February 21 and can be purchased via the following link: tinyurl.com/4wk2sjfd or via the website at www.festivalonthefield.co.uk.

Mark Hill, one of the show’s original organisers, says: “We are confident that the festival will finally go ahead this year. We sold out last year and many people have rolled their tickets over to this year. My advice would be to get your tickets for this year sooner, rather than later!”