Reading Voluntary Action is looking for local volunteers to help run the Forbury Fiesta in Reading, which serves as the launch event for the 37th annual Reading Children’s Festival. The festival, which takes place on Saturday 9 May 2026, requires volunteer stewards to assist the Reading Borough Council events team with crowd management and activity support.
The Forbury Fiesta will be held at Forbury Gardens between 11am and 4pm. The event features a wide range of family-friendly activities, including stage performances, workshops, face painting, arts and crafts, and balloon modelling. This year marks the 37th anniversary of the festival, which runs from 9 May to 31 May 2026 and celebrates the National Year of Reading.
To qualify as a volunteer, individuals must be at least 16 years old. Those interested are required to attend a briefing session on Thursday 7 May 2026 at 12pm, located at the bandstand behind the Maiwand Lion in Forbury Gardens. On the day of the event, volunteers can choose between a morning shift from 9am to 2pm or an afternoon shift from 1.45pm to 5.45pm.
Louisa Dean, head of communications and marketing at the council, described the festival as a special day for the community that showcases the various activities and clubs available to local families. Those wishing to assist with the event can register through Reading Voluntary Action, a registered charity that supports community initiatives across the area.
About this article: This story was put together with the help of AI tools and checked by a real person on our team. We're a small crew trying to cover as much of the UK as we can on a limited budget. We're getting better every day - but we're not perfect yet. If something looks off, let us know. You're part of the process.
