The GAP Festival brought ten unforgettable days of creativity, curiosity and community spirit to Goring and Streatley from 12 - 21 June, with this year’s Journey of Discovery theme inspiring a vibrant programme enjoyed in glorious summer weather. More than 3,300 tickets were booked across the Festival’s 70+ events, with hundreds more joining the many free activities that filled the villages with colour, conversation and creativity.
Audiences embraced an impressively diverse programme spanning music, theatre, science, literature, art, wellbeing and family activities. Highlights included the sell-out three-night run of Opera at Streatley Farmhouse, the hugely popular Wonders of the Natural World Family Day (which welcomed around 600 visitors for a packed day of wildlife, science and hands-on discovery) and the much-loved return of Open Gardens. Daily wellbeing sessions, art workshops, concerts, talks, plays and exhibitions ensured there was something for everyone, from quiet moments of reflection to lively communal celebrations.
For the Community, by the Community
The atmosphere throughout the festival was one of joy and togetherness.
“We’ve recently moved to Goring and really enjoyed this being on our doorstep. What a great community event. Huge thanks to all involved.”
“There was such a fun atmosphere in the village during the Festival (doubtless the weather helped!) and the events I attended were super. All the volunteers were so friendly and enthusiastic.”
“The Festival is a wonderful event with an impressive range of activities.”
These reflections capture the spirit that has made the GAP Festival such a cherished part of the local calendar.
Behind the scenes, the festival was powered by an extraordinary team of volunteers. In the months leading up to June, more than 40 committee members and volunteers dedicated countless hours to planning events, coordinating marketing, managing ticketing, updating the website and organising the many logistical details required for a festival of this scale. During the ten days themselves, a further 50 volunteers kept everything running smoothly; stewarding events, supporting workshop leaders, setting up venues, running bars, operating sound and lighting, and capturing the festival in photos and video. Their commitment ensured the programme flowed seamlessly from the opening event to the closing performance.
