Ollie Fest returns for its third year on the Bank Holiday weekend and offers three days of entertainment and fun for the whole family.

Starting at 6pm on Friday, August 25th and finishing with a grand firework display at 10.45pm on Sunday, August 27th, there really should be something for everyone.

The organisers want the event to be a chance for people in the town to come together, have a good time but also remember those young people who have lost their lives in recent years.

Ollie Fest was first held two years ago in response to the tragic loss of a member of Ross Rugby Club, Ollie Floyd. Just 20-years-old when he died in March 2015, Ollie was a popular member of the Rugby Club. Unsure of how to bring the community together, friends and relatives put together a free community event featuring live, local bands and several well-known headline acts, and a friendly rugby match.

Gavin Oates, one of the original organisers, along with his brother, Wayne, Alex Knapman and Sally Annelise Ballinger, told the Ross Gazette that the first event was a spur of the moment response to put something together, to acknowledge their grief and lift the community’s spirits. He said: “We started with no budget and it has just grown.”

He added that it will cost about £20,000 to stage the event this year and it is only possible due to the fantastic support they have had from local businesses and individuals.

He said that this includes all those people who put their change in the collecting buckets which means that they have the funds to keep going.

The event now offers a wide variety of musical entertainment as well as a fun fair, inflatables and plenty of places to eat or drink. Entry is still free, although there is a charge for parking of just £3.

Nick and Hayley, Ollie’s parents, are very grateful for all the support that continues to be offered by people and businesses in the local community. Many firms have sponsored the show as well as the Rugby Club for allowing the festival to take over their grounds at Greytree.

This year the event is being held to raise funds for Hope Support Services, a charity based in Ross-on-Wye which helps young people who have a parent or close family member diagnosed with a serious illness.

Friday night features great local DJs and an incredible sound system playing electronic music including hip-hop, reggae, funk, techno and house music. In the food court will be a German sausage stand, burger bar, noodles and crepes to eat as well as a licensed bar. Entertainment will also include fire twirling and a glitter station.

This is a new venture for Ollie Fest and should put a new spin on this celebration event.

There is a great range of different musical acts over the weekend so take a look at the line up because there is sure to be something to appeal whatever your taste in music.See lots more information about Ollie Fest in this week’s edition of the Ross Gazette, or subscribe to our online edition here.