Once a year, on the Spring Bank Holiday, Rolleston plays host to a fantastic array of vintage vehicles, bicycles, motorbikes, stalls, fairground rides and much, much more. These are displayed on the Croft, Burnside and surrounding areas in the village of Rolleston On Dove. The festival is organised by a dedicated team who give up their time to give something back to the community in which they live. It is this dedication which has helped to raise vital money for local charities. Without the continued support from you, our visitors, we would not raise a single penny. So please support the festival and join us in May when Rolleston once again attracts polished chrome and bodywork for enthusiasts and the whole family to enjoy.
In addition to the Transport Festival the day also sees the village-wide Grand Garage Sale Tour where vintage buses will ferry visitors around the many garage sales all over the village. The combination of the two events make this a unique day out for all the family.
Events and Classic Bus rides
Children’s entertainments throughout the day – rides, stalls & all the fun of the fair
Tea and cake in the Old Grammar School – Festival food in Rolleston Club
Displays and stalls in Rolleston Club
2.45pm – Dakota Fly-past – (weather permitting)
Classic bus rides for the Grand Garage Sale Tour from outside St Mary’s Church
until 3.45pm. Depending on traffic and stops this should take 30-45 minutes. Buses will stop and pick-up on request
4.00pm – Fabulous festival raffle prize draw on the Croft
4.30pm – Grand Parade of vehicles around the village
Helping Local Charities
- St Giles Hospice
- Midlands Air Ambulance
- St Mary’s Church
- Rolleston Almshouses Renovation Appeal
- Burton YMCA
- Rolleston Pre-school Playgroup
- Rolleston Methodist Chapel
- Rolleston United Foundation
- Station Heritage Group
- Staffordshire/Shropshire Blood Bikes
A Few Pictures From Our Festivals
A Few Video Clips From Our Festivals
Useful Maps to Help You Find us
Fundraising
The original intention of the organisers of the Festival was to provide a day out for Rolleston and surrounding residents. It became apparent that we would need to raise money to put the event on and then that we would, hopefully, more than cover our costs. This proved to be the case and, after deducting costs, the money raised was given to local charities. This continued over the years and to date we have raised approximately £40 000 for charity.
Whilst the first aim was always to provide a good day out, raising money for charity has become a large part of the organisation. This year we took the decision to make the event free entry for both exhibitors and the viewing public. In order to keep up the fund raising impetus we need voluntary donations so please give generously on the day. Be assured that we are a non-profit organisation and all money raised goes to charity.
Sponsors of Rolleston Transport Festival
TL Darby Major Sponsor Of The 9th Rolleston Transport Festival
This year will be the ninth Transport Festival and each year the number of exhibitors and the number of visitors has grown substantially. The exhibits now spread over a large part of the village. The organising committee decided that it is too difficult to try to collect entrance money over the different sites and that entry would be free for all, with donations sought for our charities.
We are very pleased to announce that TL Darby will be sponsoring the festival this year and will cover a large part of the running costs. This will enable us to put the majority of the money collected on the day towards our charities. TL Darby are a local firm of car dealers who have been trading for 50 years and are agents for Volkswagen and MG. We are very grateful to Richard Darby for his generosity and hope you will visit his display on the day.
We are still looking for sponsors who would not be in competition to TL Darby and who would have access to a large number of car enthusiasts and be linked to a very successful venture with many opportunities for advertising. Please contact John Morris (see contact details) if you would like to take advantage of this opportunity.
