[F]our local organisations have added the vital ingredient to this summer’s Eden Food and Farming Festival – the all-important funding to run this popular week-long programme of events.
Eden District Council, Penrith Town Council, Penrith Business Improvement District and the Pride in Penrith Lottery have confirmed their backing for the popular festival, which is one of the main town-centre events each year.
Penrith Chamber of Trade takes over from Penrith Partnership as the festival organiser for 2017, supported by Totally Locally Penrith, with local firm Eden Lighthouse once again providing event management and marketing services.
“As a free festival for local communities and visitors to enjoy, it wouldn’t be possible to run it without the support of our funders,” said Heidi Marshall, president of Penrith Chamber of Trade. “Their continued backing of the festival is a testimony to the hard work that Penrith Partnership has put into it over the past four years, developing it into a firm fixture on Eden’s calendar of events. We’re relishing the challenge of dishing out a fantastic week of events this year, starting with the main course, Penrith on a Plate, on 15 July.”
Penrith on a Plate sees the town centre transformed into a bumper artisan food and crafts marketplace, complete with music, entertainment and activities for food lovers and families. It’s complemented by an assortment of food and farming events around Eden, leading up to the farming highlight of the year, Penrith Show, on 23 July.
“What better way to mark the start of the summer than a free festival for residents to enjoy,” said Yvonne Burrows, economic development support officer at Eden District Council. “It also supports the work we do to promote the area as a tourist destination nationally.”
Penrith Town Council Clerk Viv Tunnadine added: “Supporting events like Penrith on a Plate is a priority for us, because they benefit the town in so many ways. We’re glad to be able to give a helping hand to the local organisations who work hard to put on free town-centre events like this one.”
Penrith Business Improvement District has continued its support for the festival due to the power of events to bring people into town and boost trade.
“We see events as a major support to the local economy,” said BID chair Dan Harding. “Our members, who are businesses and other organisations in the town centre, benefit directly from the extra visitors the festival attracts, and indirectly through the publicity the town gains from all the promotion that goes into the festival.”
The Pride in Penrith Lottery has also been a long-term supporter of the Eden Food and Farming Festival.
“Our members take part in the lottery because they want to support their community, and the festival does exactly that,” said Rob Udale, the lottery chair.
“With Penrith on a Plate and most of the other events being free, the whole community can come together to enjoy them. We hope everyone gets it in their diary and comes out to enjoy it. Bon appetit!”
The festival organisers are encouraging everyone to sign up to the festival newsletter and register for Penrith on a Plate, to be first to hear details about all the events being planned for festival week.
“We’ll have a limited number of places at most of the events during the week, so it’s a good idea to be on the email list to get first dibs on booking,” Heidi said. “Anyone who signs up for the festival newsletter or registers for Penrith on a Plate will also be entered into a draw to win a hamper of delicious local foods worth £50. Visit the festival website at www.edenfoodfestival.org to join the list.”