Residents in and around Kempsey won’t have to travel far next month for a cider festival with a difference. The Bredon Cider Festival, held at Croft Farm Water Park near Tewkesbury, is set to bring a splash of Brazilian carnival colour to the area on September 5 and 6.
In a world first outside Brazil, everyone attending the Saturday event will be required to wear a brightly coloured vest – known as a “festee” – which they’ll receive with their ticket. Organisers say the idea is both to boost the carnival atmosphere and to make it obvious who has paid to get in.
Festival boss Martin Newell said: “I’ve imported 3,000 vest tops from São Paulo. Everyone arriving on Saturday has to wear one to get in.”
The unusual concept came from his wife’s Brazilian roots and his own trips to the famous Salvador carnival. In Brazil, the colourful tops replace wristbands and help security quickly spot who belongs at the event.
Between 1,500 and 1,800 people are expected on the Saturday alone, with around 1,000 more on the Friday night, when the vest rule won’t apply. The “festee” is also intended as a keepsake for festival-goers to take home and wear again.
As well as plenty of cider, the weekend will feature live music, with tribute acts covering the likes of Oasis, Alanis Morissette and Ed Sheeran.
And with the venue just a short drive from Kempsey, it promises to be a lively local outing – and possibly the first time villagers have seen a cider festival with a Brazilian carnival twist.
Tickets can be purchased from here: https://www.bredonciderfestival.com/tickets
