Forest of Galtres Festival 2010

In its sixth year, The Forest of Galtres Festival is proving that the smaller, local festivals are growing in popularity over the huge, heavily commercialised festivals that dominate the calendar.

Galtres Festival 2010 looks to be the perfect balance of local artists, produce and beers, with great headliners thrown in for good measure. Headlining the Saturday are The Lightning Seeds, The Wonder Stuff, and York’s own Chris Helme, with Sunday hosting The Beat and Dodgy.

Music isn’t the only draw to Galtres Festival, with an on-site beer festival boasting 100 North Yorkshire ales, stouts and real lagers and a new cider marqee with 15 varieties of cider, scrumpy and perry. The organisers are very open about their music choice, with an emphasis on local, active, original bands and acts to put the community at the heart of the festival.

Another huge plus for the local festivals is how family-friendly they are. Dedicated areas and activities for kids keeps them and adults entertained through the day with a climbing wall, music workshops and a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party.

The festival is run as a green event and all festival proceeds are donated to charities including the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, St Monica's Hospital, the Arts Barge Project, and Impact Young Heroes - supporting teenagers with cancer.

Last year saw tickets sell out two weeks in advance of the festival so make sure you get yours now