This time next week, Barsby will look a little different.
The marquees will be up. The London bus will be in position. The bands will be doing their final sound checks. There’ll be BBQs firing up, volunteers running around making sure everything is where it should be and, if previous years are anything to go by, someone asking where the extension leads have disappeared to.
For the those on the PLG Committee, it’ll probably feel like a mixture of excitement and osupreme organisation with a big dollop of chaos thrown in for good measure.
And, honestly, we can’t wait.
A few years ago, BarsFest was just an idea.
Not a particularly polished one either.
We wanted to get people together for a summer evening, enjoy some good food, live music and raise a bit of money for charity.
What started as a simple idea has quietly grown into something that’s become a real highlight of the year for all of us.
Not because it’s the biggest event we’ll ever organise.
But because of what it represents.
More Than An Evening Out
Throughout the year we spend a lot of time working alongside contractors, case managers, solicitors, occupational therapists, suppliers and families.
BarsFest gives us a chance to see many of those same people in completely different surroundings.
The conversations are different.
The atmosphere is different.
And that’s exactly the point.
It’s one evening where work takes a back seat and people simply enjoy being together.
For us, that’s become just as important as the fundraising itself.
Why We Keep Doing It
Of course, the charities remain at the heart of everything.
This year we’re once again raising money for LOROS Hospice and the Child Brain Injury Trust.
They’re two charities that mean a great deal to everyone at PLG for different reasons, and knowing that every pound raised goes directly to them makes all the planning worthwhile.
Like previous years, PLG covers the cost of hosting the event, so every ticket purchased, every raffle ticket sold and every donation made goes straight to the charities.
That’s always been important to us.
It Takes A Team
People often see BarsFest on the evening itself.
What they don’t see are the weeks and months beforehand.
The planning.
The phone calls.
The spreadsheets.
The suppliers.
The volunteers.
The last-minute changes.
Like so many things at PLG, it’s a genuine team effort.
Everyone pitches in somewhere, whether that’s helping organise the event, sourcing raffle prizes, setting everything up or simply giving their time on the night.
Seeing everyone get behind it has probably been one of my favourite parts of watching BarsFest grow over the years.
The Countdown Is On
With just one week to go, there’s still plenty to do.
There are final details to tick off, deliveries to organise and, no doubt, a few unexpected surprises before Friday arrives.
But that’s all part of it.
By this time next week, we’ll be welcoming colleagues, clients, suppliers, friends, families and the wider community to Barsby for another evening of live music, good food and, hopefully, another fantastic fundraising total.
Whether you’re joining us for the first time or have been with us since the very beginning, thank you.
Your support is what has turned a simple idea into something we all genuinely look forward to each summer.
We’ll see you next Friday.
– Phill Gill
