A FREE family-friendly festival has been given the green light after fears it would not go ahead.
Mappfest 2023 will officially go ahead after the community banded together to raise much-valued funds for the charity event.
Andy Mapp founded the festival, which features a host of bands, as a garden party in 2009, and since then it has been a yearly free-to-attend event.
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However, the cost of living caused many people's purse strings to pinch, and the festival needed to secure additional funding before it could go ahead this summer.
Julie-Anne Goode, one of the organisers, said: "It has been a big relief.
"For a second, we were worried we could not do it because of the cost of living crisis.
"It is amazing the number of people going onto our Just Giving Page - it has been fantastic.
"Andy never thought this would happen, truthfully, I was 50/50 but I had faith in people, and it is a very popular event."
On the festival’s GoFundMe page, £2,000 was raised, which will go towards things like toilets, PA, fuel and first aid.
The festival has always prided itself on being 100 per cent free to make it accessible for everyone.
Ms Goode added: "Andy Mapp has tried to keep the festival alive for years, and he has single-handedly kept it running.
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"I can't believe the volume of people giving money, and it shows people want it to keep going.
"I can see Mappfest going on long after Andy Mapp."
Ms Goode said the event is about making money for their chosen charities and helping musicians be seen.
She highlighted that many musicians have struggled with the cost of living crisis, and getting their name out there helps.
When is Mappfest 2023?
This year, Mappfest will raise funds for Maggs Day Centre, which helps homeless people in Malvern and Worcester, and Headway Worcestershire, which works with people affected by acquired brain injury.
The festival will take place on Malvern Link Common on June 17 and 18 and will have over 20 acts perform across the two days.
Each year the Battle of Britain flies across the event, however, Ms Goode teased that it could be something else this year but cannot confirm what.
The festival is now seeking volunteers to get involved and help with a few activities across the weekend.
Anyone who may wish to volunteer and be part of Mappfest, please email andymapp@msn.com or follow its Facebook page.
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