Braintree Festival in The Gardens 2024 a huge success

Festival in the Gardens is an annual music festival which takes place in Braintree and Bocking Public Gardens.

The event returned over the bank holiday weekend and treated thousands of visitors  to live music, children’s entertainment, arts and crafts, food, bars and more.

This year’s Saturday headliner was Miss Disco, a vibrant group celebrating the best hits of the genre.

Sunday finished off with the headliner and high-energy function band, Band Theft Audio.

Sunday headliner - Band Theft Audio performing live (Image: Warren Woodcraft)

Crowd - attendees enjoying the festival (Image: Warren Woodcraft)

Fun - King Zepha performing at the festival (Image: Warren Woodcraft)

The festival is run and organised by businesswoman and operator of Coffee House in the Gardens Rachel Woodcraft, her husband, festival designer and photographer Warren Woodcraft, and recording studio owner Elliot Richardson.

Speaking to the Times, Rachel said: “We have been blown away by the response to this year’s event.

"Saturday was one of our busiest days ever, and the feedback has been amazing.

"After all the worry about the weather this week, we had one eight-minute spell of biblical rain and spent the rest of the weekend bathed in beautiful sunshine.

Entertainment - Dance Exclusive performing in front of the stage (Image: Warren Woodcraft)

Talented - Leanne Louise on stage (Image: Warren Woodcraft)

Musical - the artist Beans On Toast performing (Image: Warren Woodcraft)

“We always seem to be blessed by the weather gods.”

Rachel, who is the festival’s director, added she is keen to keep it going “every summer for as long as possible”.

Funds raised from the Festival In The Gardens are put back into keeping the park open for Braintree residents to enjoy.

Family-friendly - Towie Princesses (Image: Warren Woodcraft)

In the moment - a child at the festival (Image: Warren Woodcraft)

Act - Rebel Party (Image: Warren Woodcraft)

Elliot, who organises the main stage at the festival, said the festival has its "most diverse range of entertainment so far".

Warren, co-organiser, added: “Everyone we speak to is blown away by the scale and quality of the event.

“I’ve been around the Braintree music scene for over 20 years, and to be involved with putting on an event like this on our doorsteps is a real privilege.

“We really hope we can carry it on and go from strength to strength.

“We’re still crunching the numbers, but hopefully we’ve made a decent amount of money for the trust that runs the public gardens.”

The event will return in 2025.