ORGANISERS of a charity music festival are hoping crowds will ‘dress up and dance’.

Consett Festival has teamed up with a costume hire shop to promote the annual community gathering.

Around thirty people, with some dressed as Elvis, at various stages in his career, and rock and roll dancers took to the streets of Blackhill for the launch event on Monday.

Brad Wilkinson, the musician and father-of-two behind the event, said he hopes people will join in the party spirit.

He said: “It is three days of family friendly fun and can be any fancy dress at all, not just rock and roll or Elvis

“We’re giving a free t-shirt and ticket to next year’s festival to the best fancy dress costume on the Saturday.”

Fantasia fancy dress shop in Rosedale Avenue, Blackhill, which supplied outfits for the launch, is offering half price costume hire for the weekend of the festival, from Friday June 2, to Sunday, June 4.

Owner Melanie Calland said: “We want to encourage the whole of Consett to be in costume and make a really good weekend of it.”

As well as many local bands, the festival, at Belle View Stadium, the home of Consett AFC, at Delves Lane, will have a food tent, bottle bar and a Pimms and Champagne bar.

Half of the pitch will be taken over with market stalls and there will also be rides and games for children, which are free once they have a £5 wristband.

The festival launched in 2013 at Consett Rugby Club, and, now in its fifth year, is regular fixture on the town’s calendar.

Mr Wilkinson said: “The feedback we get is really positive. People bump into to friends they have not seen for years, chat, listen to music, drink and let their kids play together.”

Advance weekend tickets are £10 from consettfestival.co.uk