About BunkFest

On the banks of the Thames in South Oxfordshire, Wallingford BunkFest is a free-access community festival providing a unique, family-friendly celebration with something for everyone.

In 2023, BunkFest celebrates its 21st year of life – starting from a small marquee in a pub car park to filling the KineCroft and providing entertainment throughout Wallingford, on the River Thames and on the Bunk Railway line.

There is so much more to the history of BunkFest – find out how it all began, the history behind the name BunkFest and why thousands of people flock to Wallingford for the best free festival.

How can you support?

BunkFest is organised and run purely by volunteers with no funding or help from the local authority.

It is a massive undertaking every year to enable the festival to take place.

In order to keep BunkFest the GREAT FREE festival it has become, we need your kind support. Please dig deep into your pockets, buy our beer, buy our food, donate and most importantly ENJOY YOUR FESTIVAL!

General FAQs

Well-behaved dogs are welcome on the Kinecroft. BunkFest is a busy and noisy event so if your dog is of a nervous disposition, we would advise leaving him/her at home with a bone. Please note that the campsite and Sports Park only allow Assistance Dogs.

Technically yes, however, we rely on you to purchase drinks and food to help make the festival financially viable. If you do bring your own, please take your rubbish home with you.

Yes, space is limited so book early if possible. Please see our section on camping.

The festival is free. However, we do ask you to make donations in the buckets and purchase your drinks and food from the festival to help pay for the event.

Baby changing facilities are located by the Kinecroft site office, please ask a steward where this is.

Yes, but they are limited. There is one at the Esso garage, one outside the back entrance of Waitrose and one at Nationwide Building Society. All traders and the beer tent will be accepting card transactions.

Yes! The water is free and there are three water stations on the Kinecroft, one located by the beer tent and one at each end of the Kinecroft. Please bring a bottle.

Please feel free to email us with your information, however, we do not have space for new traders and our existing traders are invited back each year.

The process is to email us with your details and we will be in touch if we have the availability. However, we receive many emails and are unable to formally respond to them all.

Information about applying to become a Fringe Artist can be found here.

The Festival Shop will be open on Thursday afternoon and throughout the festival from 10:00 am.

Toilets (including disabled) are located at both the northern and southern ends of the Kinecroft. There are also toilets in the Cattle Market car park and in the town centre.

Full artists’ schedules and information can be found in the Festival Programme, available to buy in the Festival Shop. Our Artists and Venues pages also have some information.

First Aid is provided during the daytime and evening. The First Aid Post is located by the Kinecroft site office. If you have a problem and cannot get there, please notify a BunkFest Steward who will direct you.

Please hand in any lost items to the Festival Shop. This does not include bewildered Morris people or individuals carrying bodhrans! Any lost property remaining after the festival will be taken to the Wallingford Town Information Centre, and if unclaimed will be disposed of.

The Festival Shop is located on the western side of the Kinecroft (opposite the Coach and Horses) and is the place to go for t-shirts, festival programmes, beer glasses, soft drinks, water and lost property.

The Tourist Information Centre is located on the ground floor of the Town Hall in the Market Place.

Telephone 01491 826972.

Opening times: Mondays-Fridays 10:00 am-1:00 pm and 1:30 pm-4:00 pm, Saturday 10:00 am-2:00 pm.

Getting Here FAQs

Yes! Why not get on the Bunk Line from Cholsey to Wallingford? When buying your ticket on the GWR website, make your destination is Cholsey and change at Cholsey for the Wallingford Bunk Line (signposted). Trains start at 2:00 pm Friday to Sunday at 6:00 pm. Find out more information from Cholsey and Wallingford Railway.

Please use public transport and car share, if possible. If driving, there are signs around the Wallingford bypass directing cars to the Hithercroft Industrial Estate area for the Park and Ride service – please follow the yellow signs and the hand signals from the volunteer parking stewards on arrival.

Thames Travel bus services will be running to Wallingford over the weekend, please visit their website for further information

Please, please, please avoid using the residential areas of Wallingford for parking as this causes complaints to the event organisers and unhappy residents.

We have had huge increases in costs. So, we are asking for a suggested donation of £1.00 per person for this service.

Yes, from 10am to 10pm Saturday and Sunday, Please follow the BunkFest yellow signs around the bypass to the Hithercroft Industrial Estate area, the postcode is OX10 9RB. Please follow the hand signals from the parking stewards who will park you and direct you to the bus.

There is limited disabled parking located on The Kinecroft. Please use postcode OX10 0DB for Satnavs. The Public Car Parks also have some disabled spaces.

The Parkopedia website can help locate public car parks in Wallingford and tell you more about their prices and features.

From Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 am to 10:00 pm. There will be no bus service on Friday.

The town centre is closed between 7:00 am and 7:00 pm on Saturday and Sunday. All bus stops will be relocated by the Wallingford Museum and by MMR. More information can be found on the Thames Travel website.

They are located in the town centre by the Town Hall.

The town will be closed on Saturday and Sunday from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm. The taxis will be located by the Wallingford Museum and at the High Street end of the Kinecroft.

Friday 30th August – Sunday 1st September

Wallingford, South Oxfordshire