KT Tunstall and Scouting for Girls help make Jimmy’s Festival in Wherstead a rousing success

Thousands of families and eager festival-goers braved the changeable weather this weekend to enjoy top bands, food and art at Jimmy’s Festival.

The two-day event featured dozens of food stalls – many of which came from within the region, alongside multiple live music stages, an arts area, talks, demonstrations and children’s fun at Jimmy’s Farm in Wherstead.

And while showers punctuated both days of the weekend, the festival’s faithful weren’t put off from the festivities, with around 7,000 on site each day.

Farm owner Jimmy Doherty said: “Suffolk has got so much to offer as a food location, as a music area, and we are really lucky we have so much support from the local community.

“The whole thing for us is that it is family based.

“I go to a lot of festivals and they have become more conscious of having food, and upping their game in being more family friendly, and with the whole farm it is about the community and being family friendly.

“It [the festival] is a celebration of all of those things.”

Following on from the Harvest festivals and Jimmy’s Sausage and Beer festivals over the last 10 years, Jimmy’s Festival has now become a mainstay on the summer calendar – a feat reflected in the calibre of bands it attracts.

This year, Saturday headliners Scouting for Girls were joined by Jake Morrell and Chas & Dave, while Sunday’s headliner KT Tunstall followed X Factor star Matt Cardle and Mamas Gun.

While the bands and food and drink offering were key attractions for those attending, many punters hailed the festival’s relaxed atmosphere and family-ethos as being the most important.

Carly Canning, 33, who was joined by daughter Ruby, seven, said: “It’s the first time we have come and it’s been brilliant.

“It’s all really well laid out, the food is lovely, the site is tidy and it’s just perfect for families.”

A spokeswoman from the organising team added: “I think we are a really good introduction to festivals – we aim to make it easy for people to bring their families and have a fantastic offering for people in entertainment.

“People seem to be happy. We have got a lot of people from Essex and London, but this is very much a local festival.

“We have local food producers, local arts people, and we want to grow that every year.”