THOUSANDS of people are expected to flock to a community festival offering everything from pony rides to country dancing.

Organisers of this year’s Warsash Festival are hoping to match the 6,000 visitors to the event back in 2013 and say the signs are looking promising for a great turnout once again.

The event on Saturday, which runs from 12.30pm to 4.30pm, will see the Strawberry Field, off Newtown Road, in Warsash transformed into a village fete acting as a showground for local businesses, clubs and organisations while raising money for good causes.

There will be more than 70 stalls along with a classic car display, local brass and jazz bands, children’s entertainment, a steam traction engine, laser quest and pony rides.

In the central arenas there will be a dog agility display, fun dog show, sea cadet’s display, youth gym team, country dancing by a local school and various demonstrations of fitness routines and dances from several local clubs.

Returning for the fourth festival in a row is the scarecrow competition, which will see scarecrows in place throughout the village with around 30 businesses and organisations competing to win the Festival Cup. The winner will be chosen by the public who will have the chance to vote for their favourite on festival day.

In 2013 organisers estimated that local groups raised more than £10,000 which was injected back into the community via charities and local good causes.

In addition the Festival Committee donated from surplus funds a further £2,500 which was split between five local organisations to assist in the work they do.

Recipients were the RNLI Locks Heath & District, Warsash & Locks Heath Community Responders, Warsash Sea Cadets, Stay and Play Children’s Activity Group and the ‘Friends of Hawthorne Court’ Nursing Home.

Organised by a committee of volunteers, the festival started in 2000 and is held every two years and has grown during that time.

Festival chairman Matthew Chase said the 2013 event was a fantastic day with lots of positive feedback and off the back of that success there had been a tremendous response so far leading up to this year’s event.

He said the planning for the festival had started a year in advance and a massive amount of hard work from the committee and volunteers went into the day.

Lifelong Warsash villager Matthew added: “It’s such a good feeling to be able to have the opportunity to bring so many people together in one place and celebrate life in the local community.

“Seeing so many smiling faces on the day really does makes it all worth it.”

For details, visit stmarywarsash.org.uk/warsash-festival.