Popular Rainworth family festival set to make welcome return

One organiser, Cheryl Wilford, said that events like Renfest are ‘rewarding’ as the ‘community’ can come ‘together once again.’

The family-fun day will be held for the first time in a couple of years, after being cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, which saw large-scale community events such as Renfest postponed as a result of government restrictions and guidance.

This year's Renfest is on Saturday, July 16, from 11.30 am till late.

Renfest 2022’ has taken two years in the making, as the organising team, known as Team Vinyl, said they are wanting to ‘bring the community together once again.’

The festival will include a street party, with Kirklington Road will be closed from the South Avenue entrance down to the traffic lights.

Residents are in with a chance to win raffle prizes and can support businesses from the village across various stalls throughout the day.

Entertainer Stephen Brailsford will be hosting the day and providing entertainment for the children.

Rainworth Village Hall, of Kirklington Road, will be involved in the event, in aid of Bluebell Wood Children’s Hospice and juvenile idiopathic arthritis, along with other local charities.

Cheryl Wilford, a nurse from Rainworth and member of Team Vinyl, said: “Events like this are so rewarding.

“We started in 2014 as friends. We held a disco and raised money for the John Eastwood Hospice in Sutton, which is close to my heart as my mum died there in 2006 – we wanted to give something back for the care they gave her.

“It was so well-received, we were asked to do it again and that is how we have ended up hosting regular charity events like Renfest over the years.”

Team Vinyl consists of the Wilford family, Cheryl, Pete, Dawn, and Rob. There are brothers Dave, and Rob Graham. Ian and Debbie Randall, along with Nicky and Russell Draycott, are also involved. Ben Donson, Linda and John Parker, and Paul Martin are part of the team.

Cheryl said: “It is a team effort, for sure.”

The group is made up of some family units, with all members being life-long friends who wanted to give something back to the community.

Team Vinyl has raised thousands over the years for local and national charities.