A celebration of music and community spirit will take place in Pickering today.

Pickering Rocks is a free music event which aims to include people of all ages.

The event will take place on Saturday, September 9, in the Market Place and as well as a wide range of music there will also be children's rides, fancy dress and much more.

Scott Wardell Pickering Rocks Chairman said: "We will have a stage at the bottom of the Market Place and we will be hosting six bands from 12noon to 6pm, there will be a variety of genres including country, pop and rock.

"There will be a fancy dress competition aimed at children, but open to all, this year’s theme is Idols.

"Idols can be from any time past, present or even the future and they don’t need to be music idols.

"Special prizes are available for groups and families and there some awesome prizes to be won had so get that costume and make up ready.

The event will have a number of free children’s rides on the day, and there will also be a face-painter available to get everyone in the festival spirit.

The event will be opened by Pickering Town Council’s Mayor Cllr Joan Lovejoy at followed by the six local bands that will be on stage from 12.05pm starting with:- Hard Light, followed by -1pm Touch of Blues, 2pm Counterfeit Celts, 3pm Becky Mills , 4:15pm Rocketsmith, 5:15pm This House We Built

The Fancy Dress competition will be judged on the Stage at 3.45pm.

Once the event finishes in the Market Place, the event will move to local pubs starting with The Sun at 6.15pm with Cabin Fever, 7pm The Cover Ups - The Rose, 7:30pm Looking Back - The Con Club, 8pm Hazy Janes - The Black Swan. 8:30pm Hunter Gatherer - The Bay Horse, 9pm Oz Ward - Number Four Wine Bar,

Scott said: "We have worked tirelessly with the local authority to ensure the event will be fun, safe and memory making, we’re encouraging everyone to come in festival clothing and make it a day to remember for the people of Pickering and surrounding areas’

Andy Warriner from Rocketsmith who have a large local following, added: "We are so excited to play in our home town on the Market Place, this is a dream come true for all of us in the band."

This is a free event, however, costs have increased significantly in order to ensure the event runs smoothly and safely therefore a Crowdfunder has been set up for any donations. The link is Pickering Rocks Music Festival 2023 - a Music crowdfunding project in Pickering by Pickering Rocks (crowdfunder.co.uk)