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All you need to know about CarFest

Katy Prickett
Getty Images A woman with blonde hair and a blue and white dress, with her arms outstretched and singing at CarFest 2025. Behind her is a large crowd of men and women, some also swaying to music. Getty Images
Its previous home was Laverstoke Park Farm in Overton, Hampshire

Music and motoring festival CarFest is to take place at Silverstone for the first time this weekend.

The event runs from Friday until Sunday, with headliners featuring Jessie J, Sir Tom Jones and Nile Rodgers & Chic.

Organisers previously said the move to the famous Northamptonshire circuit "means that no one from either north or south has an excuse not to join us".

What can festival-goers expect to see and do this year?

What is CarFest?

Getty Images Chris Evans and Mr Motivator on stage at CarFest. Evans is wearing a red and white baseball cap, dark glasses and a light-coloured cotton hoody. Mr Motivator is wearing a colourful scarf on his head, dark glasses and a mesh vest over a colourful vest. Both men are laughing. Getty Images
Festival-founder Chris Evans at CarFest last year, with Mr Motivator, who is also attending this year's event

CarFest was founded by radio presenter Chris Evans in 2012 to "celebrate all things automotive".

Classic, vintage cars will be on display, while cutting-edge supercars will roar around the track.

Getty Images Visitors look around the Motorsport Paddock during Carfest 2025 music festival, at Laverstoke Park Farm on August 24, 2025. There is a white Nissan car, covered in logs with its doors open and more cars to the right. Women, children and men are milling around. Beyond the paddock is a field, marquees and more people. Getty Images
There will be more than 1,000 vehicles present, as well as manufacturers and owners

The festival says it has raised more than £28m for UK children's charities, including BBC Children in Need, the Teenage Cancer Trust and Young Epilepsy over the years.

This year, Northamptonshire Community Foundation (NCF) has been chosen as a partner and is set to receive 2% of the money raised.

Why has it moved to Silverstone?

James Roberts Photography Dozens of Citroen C1 cars bunched together on the track at Silverstone circuit. The vehicles are of different colours including red, yellow, white and blue. The cars are passing a red and white barrier, behind which BRSCC banners are visible. There are empty spectator stands with blue sets behind the track.James Roberts Photography
Silverstone hosts various events, including this line up of Citroen C1s taking part in a 24-hour challenge last year

Location, location, location.

Organisers feel a site in central England offers easier access to more people than its previous home at Laverstoke Park Farm in Overton, Hampshire.

"This move opens up possibilities we've never had before, more space, more cars, more ways to surprise and delight our audience and most importantly an opportunity to raise even more money for UK children's charities," according to Evans.

The circuit, near Towcester, is the home of the British Grand Prix, but also hosts motorbike racing event MotoGP and karting events.

Its chief executive Stuart Pringle previously said: "Silverstone has evolved into a year-round destination for world-class events, and we are thrilled to be working with CarFest."

Who's performing?

Getty Images Sir Tom Jones holds a mic stand and smiles. He is wearing a dark suit over a dark shirt and tie. He has white hair and white goatee-style beard. Getty Images
Sir Tom Jones is one of the headline acts

The music line-up includes Rick Astley, the Sugarbabes, Sophie Ellis-Bextor and The Proclaimers.

Former Great British Bake Off judge Dame Prue Leith is taking part in FoodFest, along with plenty of other cooks, including Big Nath, Ching He-Huang and José Pizzaro.

There will also be opportunities for people to chill out at yoga and mindfulness sessions in its SpaFest.

How do we get there?

Getty Images A road sign which says welcome to Silverstone please drive carefully in black letters on a white background. It is positioned on a verge to the side of a tarmacked road. Getty Images
Gates will open to the public from 08:30 BST

Organisers say access to the site near Towcester is "exceptionally easy along the A43 dual carriageway from the M1 motorway".

Parking on site opens at 08:30 BST each day, while the festival gets under way from 10:00.

There are public transport options, including Stagecoach buses that drop passengers nearby, but the nearest railway station, Wolverton, is 10 miles (16km) away.

What's the weather forecast?

Getty Images A lively concert at CarFest with bright stage lights, confetti, and a large audience gathered in front of the stage.Getty Images
Organisers are expecting thousands to attend

After such a scorching summer, the Met Office is predicting rain falling for some or all of Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Temperatures are forecast to reach about 19 or 20C, with some sunshine.

So it looks like the sensible advice is to treat the weekend like a typical English August Bank Holiday - and come prepared for all weather eventualities.

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