Godiva Festival 2024: What you need to know

Tens of thousands of people attended the festival at War Memorial Park last year

Godiva Festival is celebrating 25 years in Coventry this weekend.

The popular three-day event is to be held at the city's War Memorial Park from Friday until Sunday.

About 69,000 people attended the annual extravaganza last year, described by its director as the "best value festival of its type."

Richard Ashcroft, Paloma Faith and Beverley Knight are all headlining this year's festival, joining dozens of other performers on the line-up.

West Midlands Police said it was working with the organisers to ensure music fans had a "safe and enjoyable time" over the weekend.

Previous years at the Coventry City Council-run festival have seen headline acts such as The Enemy, Tom Grennan, Sir Bob Geldof and The Libertines take to the stage.

For those attending this weekend's event, here is what you need to know.

Why is it called Godiva Festival?

Coventry City FC fan Tom Grennan was among the headliners in 2022

The event gets its name from Coventry's famous medieval legend, Lady Godiva, who is believed to have ridden naked on horseback through the city more than 1,000 years ago in order to reduce taxes imposed by her husband.

She was the wife of Leofric, the Earl of Mercia, one of the most powerful noblemen in 11th Century England.

Organisers took her name for the festival when it started in 1997 as a free, day-long event.

It was such a success it became a three-day festival the following year. It is held in War Memorial Park every year.

As well as live music, it offers dance and street performers as well as crafts and sports sessions suitable for all ages, alongside food and drink stalls.

What time does it start and end?

Preparations at War Memorial Park got under-way earlier this week

Doors will open at 18:00 BST on Friday, with the event due to finish by 22:30 BST.

Saturday and Sunday will see doors open at midday. On Saturday, the last acts are due to be finished by 22:30 and on Sunday, it will end at at 19:00.

Last entry is 20:30 on Friday and Saturday and 17:30 on Sunday.

Is Godiva Festival free?

The Enemy, which was formed in Coventry, has performed at Godiva Festival over numerous years

Tickets for Godiva Festival were previously free for all attendees, until charges were introduced by the council in 2019.

Prices for a day ticket for this year's event start from £15 for children aged five to 15, and £17.50 for adults.

Children aged under five or carers can attend for free, according to the website.

There are also a number of concessionary, family and weekend tickets available to purchase.

Who is performing?

Wolverhampton's Beverley Knight is headlining on Sunday

This year's festival will be headlined by former frontman of The Verve, Richard Ashcroft, on Friday, singer Paloma Faith on Saturday and Wolverhampton's Beverley Knight on Sunday.

Friday will also see indie band The Primitives and DJ's Holy Goof and Georgie Riot take to the stage.

Sam Ryder will be performing on the main stage on Saturday, alongside Solihull-born rapper Lady Leshurr and singer and Love Island star Wes Nelson.

Acid jazz and funk band The Brand New Heavies will play on Sunday, alongside 2 Tone singer Rhoda Dakar, before Knight closes the festival in the evening.

A number of other artists from the region are also on the line-up for the weekend.

Performances will take place across six different stages, including The Main Stage for festival headliners and The Cov Stage for local talent.

Approximate set-times for each artist have been listed on the website.

Do you need to bring ID to Godiva Festival?

Paloma Faith will headline on Saturday, with support from Sam Ryder and others

Proof of photographic identity may be required upon entry, the festival said on its website.

"We accept the following proof of ID: Passport, driver’s license or Official ID that contain the certified PASS logo. These are available for proof of 12 to 16, 16 to 18 and over 18," it said.

Photocopies and alternative forms of ID will not be accepted.

Other conditions of entry, including bag sizes and prohibited items are listed on the website.

One bag per person will be allowed onto the site, but it must be no bigger than A4 size.

Children under the age of 16 must also be accompanied at the event by a responsible adult.

Where is best to park?

Godiva Festival hosts live music acts across six different stages

Car parking is available onsite at War Memorial Park on Kenilworth Road for £15 per day, organisers have said.

Some road closures will also be in place throughout the event weekend.

The park is about a 10-minute walk from Coventry Railway Station for those travelling by train.

National Express Coventry will also be providing frequent bus services to War Memorial Park from Coventry, Kenilworth and Rugby.

Stagecoach will also be running between the park and Leamington Spa, Warwick and Solihull.