Deva Fest 2022 Attracts 13,000 Visitors and Locals to Boost the Local Economy this Summer

Deva Fest, Chester’s Music, Food & Lifestyle festival returned after the pandemic attracting a record crowd of 13,000 people at Chester Lakes across the weekend of August 12th to the 14th to rave reviews. 

Festival goers were treated to a stellar line-up of acts including Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Heather Small, Scouting for Girls, Dodgy, Sonique, Symphonic Ibiza and many more who wowed the main stage in the iconic Deva Fest big top. The second stage, sponsored by local promotional platform We Love Good Times, hosted local bands and DJs. There was an epic line-up of comedians in collaboration with MC Danny Mcloughlin and local entertainment venue Alexander’s Live. 

Chester Lakes provided the festival ground in a partnership dating back to 2018, and organisers took over the entire site to provide camping and facilities to thousands of guests over the weekend. 

This year’s street food offering was curated by Chester-based food champions Taste Cheshire and included collaborations with local businesses such as Artezzan and Sunrise Patisserie, whilst bar operators iKo – who also operate Liquor & Co and Craft & Company in the city – ran all the festival’s bars. Gin Journey also provided masterclasses showcasing locally produced gins at the Gin & Prosecco Festival which formed part of this year’s event in a luxury tipi with DJs and additional entertainment including the Old Time Sailors. 

Organisers ensured there was plenty of entertainment for all the family including Europe’s largest Mermaid tank with fun and games for all age groups as well as local dance group Stagecoach, space exploration with Xplore, Laughter Tots and so much more. As has become an integral part of the Deva Fest Experience, a free fun fair with unlimited rides kept the costs down for parents and guardians. 

A dedicated welfare team were in place, as well as a first-aid crew, who were all well prepared to take extra care of guests over one of the hottest weekends of 2022. Free water was available for all, and clean luxury toilets were well received by everyone. 

Festival organiser Phil Marston said “It was great to bring Deva Fest back after such a long break caused by the pandemic. The feedback we have had about the festival has been amazing with 97% of people saying they would recommend the event to a friend, and seeing so many great businesses from the area benefit from the event is just wonderful. We are already planning the festival again for 2023 – we have just got to work out how we top this!”