THE Newent Onion Fayre turns twenty this year, and to celebrate the anniversary, organisers are promising something extra special.

A spokesman said: "This year promises to be bigger and better than ever, with more stalls, more food and more entertainment.

"It will feature live music, street entertainers, dancing, animal displays, fairground rides, exhibitions, lakeside events and over 100 stands with arts, crafts and plants and more. From organics and fresh local produce through to beers, wines, ciders and fruit juices, there's a lot more than just onions."

The 2015 event will take place on Saturday, September 12, as a last big hurrah for the summer on the local calendar.

It is not unusual for the event to attracts crowds of 15000, with most of the action taking place in the town centre and beside Newent Lake.

Organisers pride themselves that the festival is the only national festival to celebrate "the magnificent onion".

A big annual attraction is the onion eating competition, which takes place on the main stage at 1pm.

Lady entrants must each tackle a five ounce peeled, raw onion, in a timed event. For men, the onions are seven ounces.

A spokesman said to would-be competitors: "Don't forget the mouth wash".

In 2014, the winner of the ladies section was Sarah Davis, who polished off her onion in 1 minute 30 seconds.

The winner of the men's competition was Sean Wozencroft, who managed 1 minute 35 seconds.

A big attraction this year will be the Onionfest's "Afterparty" on the evening, from 7pm.

A spokesman said: "For one year only, in celebration of 20 years of the Newent Onion Fayre, we offer an amazing evening of entertainment around Newent Lake

"Bands will be playing on a specially constructed stage out over the water of the lake, accompanied by a spectacular laser lighting show filling the sky.

"This will be the ultimate celebration, the likes of which have never been seen before in Newent. This really will be the last party of summer."

There will be a licensed bar and hog roast, and fairground rides to late into the evening.

Headline acts will include The Beat, 3-Daft Monkeys and Nizlopi.

Entry to the funfair will be free, but tickets are required for the Afterparty.

This are available from Gooch Sports at 7, Church Street, Newent, or Cobblers, at 7, Church Street, Newent.