The Gloucestershire Cricket Foundation welcomed young people from across the county back to the Seat Unique Stadium on 4th and 5th August for another fantastic edition of its annual community CricFest.
This year’s event brought together 80 young people aged 8–16 from the Foundation’s community programmes, including ACE, Wicketz and Chance to Shine Street, alongside youth sections from local cricket clubs. As GCF’s flagship community event, CricFest once again delivered two action-packed days filled with cricket, inspiring guest speakers, fun activities, and opportunities to build new friendships.
The festival continues to celebrate inclusive cricket by bringing together young people from a wide range of backgrounds and abilities to play and compete in the unique surroundings of the Seat Unique Stadium.
Hitting the Ground Running
With the first spell of rain in weeks threatening to dampen the opening of CricFest, we managed to dodge the showers and get the event off to a flying start.
Participants wasted no time getting involved in a range of exciting activities, including team games, Glow in the Dark Cricket and behind-the-scenes tours of Gloucestershire Cricket’s newly upgraded facilities. The tours proved especially popular, giving young people an exclusive look inside areas of the stadium that are rarely seen by the public.
The opening activities provided the perfect opportunity for participants to get to know one another, build confidence and excitement, and set the tone for two fantastic days of cricket, teamwork and fun.
“The event was very well organised, fun and all about cricket. My son is towards the top of the age range but still loved it – a real testament to the skilled running of the festival to be inclusive and engaging across a range of ages, abilities and cricketing experience.”
– Parent
A Sweet Surprise
There was an extra treat in store as Marshfield Farm Ice Cream generously donated tubs of ice cream for every participant to enjoy.
The surprise proved to be a huge hit, providing the perfect way to cool down after a busy morning of activities. The delicious ice cream was gratefully received by everyone and quickly became one of the highlights of the event, with plenty of smiles as participants relaxed together between sessions.
The Gloucestershire Cricket Foundation would like to extend a huge thank you to Marshfield Farm Ice Cream for their generous support in helping make CricFest 2026 even more memorable.
Cricket Takes Centre Stage
With the weather improving on day two, attention turned to the Seat Unique Stadium outfield, where participants had the unforgettable opportunity to play competitive matches on a professional county ground.
Throughout the morning, teams showcased outstanding enthusiasm, teamwork and sportsmanship as they competed in a series of exciting fixtures. More important than the results was the encouragement shown between teammates and the confidence that grew with every game.
“My son captained for the first time. He made sure everyone had the opportunity to bat and bowl and, although that sometimes cost his team, he felt it was important that everyone had a chance. I love seeing this attitude encouraged, which Wicketz does so well.”
– Parent
Before lunch, everyone had the opportunity to meet Gloucestershire CCC players David Payne and Matt Taylor, who shared coaching tips before taking part in an engaging Q&A session. They spoke about their cricketing journeys, role models and offered valuable advice for aspiring young cricketers, inspiring participants with their experiences both on and off the field.
A Well-Earned Lunch
After an action-packed morning, participants enjoyed lunch kindly provided by Nando’s, giving everyone the chance to relax, refuel and spend time with teammates and new friends before the afternoon’s final fixtures.
The tournament concluded with one last round of matches, rounding off another fantastic CricFest. Every participant demonstrated resilience, teamwork and respect throughout the two days, making the event another outstanding celebration of community cricket.
Congratulations to everyone who took part, with a special mention to this year’s recipients of the Spirit of Cricket Award, whose encouragement and leadership stood out across the festival.
Volunteers Make CricFest Possible
The Gloucestershire Cricket Foundation would like to thank Gloucestershire County Cricket Club and Nando’s for their continued support in making CricFest such a success.
A huge thank you also goes to our dedicated volunteers, who gave their time to mentor, coach and umpire throughout the event. Their commitment and encouragement created an unforgettable experience.
The Foundation would also like to recognise the fantastic Get Into Cricket volunteers, who once again played a vital role in delivering sessions and supporting participants across both days.
As another incredible CricFest comes to a close, the Gloucestershire Cricket Foundation would like to thank every participant, volunteer, partner and supporter who helped make CricFest 2026 such a memorable celebration of community cricket. We can’t wait to welcome everyone back again next summer.
“He was nervous to go, but felt welcomed straight away and had a brilliant time.”
“He loved it and asked straight away if he could come back next year.”
“My children loved all the different aspects – Glow in the Dark Cricket, playing at a professional cricket ground and making new friends.”
“He was really nervous to try something new as he had not been before, but he enjoyed himself and can’t wait for next year.”
