ANDOVER’S youth festival has celebrated its 10th year, with what has been coined ‘the best event the team has ever done’.

A-Fest returned to the high street on Sunday, April 28, with plenty of fun and entertainment for festival-goers to enjoy and a variety of groups to learn more about. 

The festival had feature zones offering chances to get hands-on with activities focussing on arts and crafts, health and wellbeing, performance, and identity and self.

An environment zone also showcased community groups and organisations working to educate the community on environmental issues including preservation.

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Andover Advertiser: Test Valley Police gave youngsters to try on the police uniformCo-organiser Katherine Bird said: “It was the best event we have ever done - it had a real energy to it.

“We had a lot of good feedback from everyone who was there including stallholders and shops which opened on the day who had more custom than they would usually get.”

Despite concerns about the weather, people came out to enjoy performances from Mad Melodies Children’s Choir, Incolour, Can Dance Will Dance and Test Valley Brass.

There was also a record-breaking number of stalls on the day, showcasing what is on offer for families and children in Andover and the surrounding area. They included Andover Trees United, Chapel Arts Studios, the LifeBus, The Three Bees Project - Therapy Goats Enclosure and Yellow Brick Road Projects – just some of the organisations who were present.

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Andover Advertiser: Plenty of opportunity to have a go at activities“People who were representatives from organisations had really good conversations and engagements, so we really couldn’t ask for more,” Katherine, who organises the event alongside Dmitrijs Meiksans, added.

The festival, aimed at five to 18-year-olds, was organised by A-Fest Andover CIC, formerly known as Chat Together CIC, a local organisation that works to promote youth engagement in Andover.

Katherine, A-Fest Andover CIC director, said: “A-Fest is a fantastic testament as to what Andover can do if people and the community come together. It highlights the wonderful range of organisations and charities in and around the town that support families and young people.”

The organisers have thanked the team and volunteers which help make the event a success, saying “it couldn’t be done without them”.

Plans will soon get underway for the 11th year in 2025. 

Click on the top picture to view a gallery of pictures from A-Fest 2024