Ben Dyas, director of Poole Harbour Festival, says it has been a tough few months but is greatly encouraged by the actions and messages of support of hundreds of willing festival-goers eager to return to live music and embrace the summer festival feeling.

“The support of the people of Poole, and further afield, has been absolutely amazing,” says Ben. “We have literally been inundated with requests for information, reservations and general messages of support – and not just on social media, but phone calls and even a few handwritten letters. I’ve never known anything like it.

“When we relaunched the festival back in March we had a rush of ticket sales as people were looking forward to a summer of getting out and being social again. Then when the lifting of restrictions was postponed last month we thought it would dry up, but it didn’t. 

“So many people have been in touch to say how much they are looking forward to the festival and asking for tickets for friends and relatives – it has been quite touching and a bit emotional if I’m honest.”

The family-friendly Poole Harbour Festival is back this year with an incredible 50 live acts on three stages headlined by 90s Britpop legends Dodgy and Toploader in what will be one of the few family live music events of the summer.

The three-day festival at Baiter Park offers a full weekend’s entertainment from 30 July to 1 August with mouth watering street food from around the world, walkabout acts, street entertainers and a full children’s programme including amazing dinosaur shows, the Passion For Laughter street shows, Mad For Animals and the award-winning Jamie Jambo.

“Poole Harbour Festival a brilliant day the whole family can enjoy together and has become an established highlight of summer in Poole,” adds Ben. 

“We have a bigger site that means more space and better access to the main stage creating a safer environment for all our visitors. There are more bars, managed queuing systems, more loos and at £27 for a family ticket in advance not only are we the safest festival in Poole we’re also the best value!”

Poole Harbour Festival opens at 5pm on Friday, noon on Saturday and 11am on Sunday, closing at 11pm on Friday and Saturday and 7pm on Sunday.

The last few tickets are available now at www.pooleharbourfestival.com.