ONE of the region’s largest free community events makes its long-awaited return this weekend.

Kelvedon Community Festival takes place for the 20th time this year and will once again be held on the village’s recreation ground.

K-Fest, as it has come to be known over the years, attracts crowds of up to 4,000 people and this year more than 20 acts will perform live throughout the day.

The event takes place on Saturday, July 13, from noon until 7pm.

Acts set to appear include Rekovered, the Jellycats, Funk2K, Stretch Soul Gang and Sophie Nash, while there will also be entertainment on offer for younger visitors.

The festival was first launched back in 1999, when it took the form of a series of performances staged at different venues around the village.

In 2000, the festival moved to Kelvedon Recreation Ground and now boasts two stages – the main stage and the Pink Shed Stage for acoustic acts and new up-and-coming talent.

In 2015, the festival added a Silent Disco Tent to its line-up which sees DJs from the area perform a range of music to a diverse audience throughout the day.

Festival co-founder Jan Stobart said: “We had no idea it would grow to be as large and as popular as it is now.

“It really is one of the highlights of the year for people living in and around Kelvedon, attracting thousands of visitors from across the area.

“We’re also working hard to become an eco-friendly event so our impact on the environment is as minimal as possible.” The festival is free to attend, but costs more than £27,000 to run each year, with costs expected to increase year on year.

Organisers say they have launched a JustGiving page where residents can donate to help cover costs, while donations can also be made on the day.

To donate to the festival, visit justgiving.com/crowdfunding/kelvedon-festival.