Burntwood Wakes Festival 2026

A free family day out at Burntwood Leisure Centre

The Wakes is back for another year. On Saturday 18 July 2026, Burntwood Leisure Centre becomes the place to be for an afternoon of rides, shows, stalls and the sort of easy, unhurried fun that a good local festival does best. Best of all, it’s completely free to get in.

Organised by Burntwood Town Council, the Wakes has long been a fixture in the town’s calendar, and this year’s line-up is as busy as ever. Bring the family, bring your neighbours, and make an afternoon of it.

The details

• Date: Saturday 18 July 2026
• Time: 12 noon to 4pm
• Where: Burntwood Leisure Centre, High Street, Chasetown, Burntwood, Staffordshire, WS7 3XH
• Cost: Free entry, no ticket needed
• Who it’s for: Everyone. Families, children and visitors of all ages are welcome.
• Organised by: Burntwood Town Council

Just turn up during the afternoon and enjoy it. There’s nothing to book in advance.

A quick note on timings: the council has confirmed the festival runs from 12 noon until 4pm. If you come across different times elsewhere online, stick with the council’s, as those are the ones to trust.

What’s on

There’s a genuinely full programme this year, and the council has confirmed that the following are all free to enjoy:

• Fairground rides
• Inflatables
• Face painting and face glitter
• A petting zoo
• A climbing wall
• Mobile caving
• A Punch and Judy show
• A static bird display
• A Puppet Petting Farm theatre show

Alongside all of that you’ll find charity and community stalls, market stalls and a selection of food vendors dotted around the site.

Free to get in, free to enjoy

The Wakes has always been about making a great day out that’s open to everyone, whatever your budget. The rides, inflatables, face painting, glitter, petting zoo, climbing wall, mobile caving and the entertainment shows are all free.

The only time you’ll need your wallet is if you fancy something from one of the independent food traders or market stalls, which are of course welcome to charge for what they sell.

Getting there

Pop this into your maps or sat nav:

Burntwood Leisure Centre, High Street, Chasetown, Burntwood, Staffordshire, WS7 3XH

Parking

The Leisure Centre has its usual on-site parking, With rides, stalls and food vendors taking up space on the day, spaces near the venue are likely to fill up quickly.

A few tips to save yourself the hassle:

• Arrive a little before midday if you can
• Walk to the venue if you live close enough
• Follow any temporary signs and directions from the event team on the day
• Give yourself extra time to find a safe, legal spot
• Steer clear of residents’ driveways, dropped kerbs and access points

If you want to be sure about road closures or any event-day parking arrangements, it’s worth a quick check with the council before you set off.

Accessibility

The festival is open to visitors of all ages and abilities. The Leisure Centre has its usual accessible facilities, though a specific accessibility guide for this year’s event hasn’t been published yet. If you need Blue Badge parking, level access or anything else to make your visit easier, get in touch with the organisers or the venue ahead of time and they’ll help where they can.

Food, stalls and community

You’ll find food vendors serving up plenty of options throughout the afternoon. The full list of traders isn’t out yet, so if you or anyone in your group has allergies or particular dietary needs, have a quick word with the vendor before you buy.

Local charities, community groups and traders will be out in force too, so it’s a good chance to see what’s happening around the town and support people doing good work in the community.

A Burntwood tradition

The Wakes is one of those events that’s woven into the fabric of the town. It marks the start of the summer holidays and gives everyone a reason to come together, celebrate Burntwood and try something new. Whether you’ve been coming for years or you’re new to the area, you’ll feel right at home.

Good to know before you come

• The confirmed opening times are 12 noon to 4pm.
• Some activities are outdoors, so they can be affected by the weather or by safety and operational needs on the day.
• Please keep children with a responsible adult.
• There’s no confirmed pet policy for this year, so only bring dogs or other pets if the organisers and venue say it’s okay.

Questions?

Get in touch with the organisers:

Burntwood Town Council Phone: 01543 677166 Email: info@burntwood-tc.gov.uk