MarkFest - Somerset's Family-Run Live Music Festival

Jul 30
4 min read

Every August Bank Holiday Sunday, the quiet village of Mark comes alive with live music, great food, local drinks and hundreds of people enjoying one of Somerset's fastest-growing independent music festivals.

Hosted by the White Horse Inn, MarkFest has grown from a small pub event in 2018 into a sell-out festival welcoming almost 500 people each year, while keeping the relaxed, friendly atmosphere that made it so popular in the first place.

Whether you're looking for live music in Somerset, August Bank Holiday events near Burnham-on-Sea, music festivals near Glastonbury, or simply a fantastic afternoon with friends and family, MarkFest offers something a little different.

What is MarkFest?

MarkFest is an independent, family-run music festival organised by the McKenzie family at the White Horse Inn in Mark, Somerset.

Unlike many commercial festivals, MarkFest has never tried to become the biggest. Instead, we've focused on creating an event that people genuinely enjoy returning to year after year.

Expect:

Live bands and musicians throughout the afternoon and evening
A relaxed festival atmosphere
Freshly prepared food
Fully stocked bars serving local ales, cider, lager, wine, spirits and cocktails
Outdoor seating and plenty of space to enjoy the music
Friendly faces and a welcoming community atmosphere

It's everything we love about summer, packed into one day.

MarkFest VIII - Sunday 30th August 2026

This year's festival takes place on Sunday 30th August 2026, from 4:00pm until 11:45pm, at the White Horse Inn, Mark.

MarkFest VIII is our biggest festival yet, with a capacity of 500 people and another fantastic line-up of live music.

Whether you're coming to dance in front of the stage, relax with a drink in the garden or simply enjoy an evening with friends, there's something for everyone.

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A Festival That Has Grown Every Year

One of the things we're most proud of is how MarkFest has grown organically through word of mouth and returning visitors.

Our journey so far:

Year	Event	Capacity
2018	MarkFest I	250 - 300
2019	MarkFest II	300
2020	Fallow year due to COVID-19	-
2021	MarkFest III	370
2022	MarkFest IV	400
2023	MarkFest V	400
2024	MarkFest: Summer of Disco	450
2025	MarkFest VII	495
2026	MarkFest VIII	500
2027	MarkFest IX	Planned
2028	MarkFest X - 10 Year Anniversary Weekend	Planned two-day festival

Every year we've listened to feedback, improved the site, expanded the event and invested back into making MarkFest even better.

Live Music at the Heart of Everything

MarkFest has always been built around live music.

Every act performs live, creating an atmosphere that's difficult to replicate anywhere else.

From acoustic artists in the early evening to energetic headline bands that keep the crowd dancing into the night, every year brings a fresh line-up while maintaining the same friendly atmosphere.

Supporting live musicians has always been one of the core values of the festival.

Great Food and Proper Drinks

No festival is complete without good food.

Rather than relying entirely on outside vendors, much of the food is prepared by the White Horse Inn team, alongside carefully selected visiting traders.

The bars are fully stocked with everything you'd expect from a country pub, including local ales, cider, premium lagers, wines, spirits, cocktails and soft drinks.

Quality matters to us just as much as the entertainment.

A Festival Built by a Family

MarkFest isn't organised by a national events company.

It's planned, built and delivered by our family and an incredible team of staff and volunteers who work tirelessly behind the scenes.

From designing the site and building the bars to booking the bands, producing the artwork, organising logistics and serving drinks on the day, it's a genuine team effort.

We think that's part of what gives MarkFest its personality.

Proudly Supporting Our Local Community

Although visitors travel from across Somerset and beyond, MarkFest has always remained rooted in the local community.

Many of our suppliers, musicians, staff and supporters are local people.

The festival has become an annual tradition for many families and friendship groups who return every August Bank Holiday.

Seeing familiar faces return year after year is one of the most rewarding parts of organising the event.

Looking Ahead

MarkFest VIII continues the festival's biggest year to date, but we're already looking towards the future.

MarkFest IX returns in August 2027 before we celebrate MarkFest X in 2028 - a special two-day anniversary edition marking ten years since the festival began.

We're excited to continue growing while staying true to what made MarkFest successful in the first place - great live music, fantastic food and drink, and a genuinely welcoming atmosphere.