BrightFest is an annual summer charity music festival in the beautiful village of Brightwell-cum-Sotwell in Oxfordshire. BrightFest started life in 2008 in the Red Lion Car Park by the landlady of the Red Lion, supported by a group of regulars, as a way of generating additional income to contribute to the viability of the pub. Over subsequent years BrightFest took on a life of its own, growing eve
ry year. As a result, the festival moved from the pub car park to the Brightwell-cum-Sotwell Recreation Ground in Mackney Lane. The level of free funds raised each year steadily increased and 2018 was a record year, raising funds for Maeve's Magical Journey, with the highest ever attendance driven by great weather and support for Maeve’s Journey. Following consultation within the village, it was suggested that BrightFest should become “a non-profit unincorporated association governed by a constitution with an organising committee”, elected every year, and the officers of the committee to be trustees of the association. The constitution was formally adopted in 2019 and the BrightFest Organising Committee, BOC as it is commonly known, formed. The objective of BrightFest within the constitution is: “To hold an annual festival in the village of Brightwell cm Sotwell, with the aim of raising money for charity and community projects”. At a subsequent BOC meeting, it was proposed and unanimously agreed that in future BrightFest should raise funds for local charities and good causes and community projects (not for national charities).
