The organisers of the StrEat Food Festival in Valley Gardens have said it will not go ahead unless they secure £30,000 from a crowdfunding campaign.
The event has been a big success for Harrogate over the Bank Holiday weekend at the end of August, attracting thousands.
To date it has £199 in pledges with 11 days to reach the target sum.
See the crowdfunding page http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/keep-streat
Organisers say that gate numbers have increased from 110,000 in the first year to 149,000 for the 2nd year in 2017 and that increase creates issues.
The crowdfunding cash would be used to increase security, medical support, insurance, facilities and to generally improve the festival.
Cathy McConaghy of StrEat says that people’s expectations are high.
Cathy McConaghy said:
We can’t keep putting on a festival of this scale and that quality without sponsorship or public contribution. We don’t bring in cheap marquees, the entertainment we have is second to none, we have 17 performers that need accommodation for five nights, we have to feed them, get them there, we hire in the deckchairs, we have to hire in grass protection, we have to hire in traffic management and our electric bill is 20k on its own!
Due to problems on first year of the festival with damage to grass areas, the available space for the festival was reduced.
The organisers charge a pitch fee for each stand at the festival – the more crowds it attracts, the more work it essentially makes for the organisers with no additional financial return.
The planning for such an event starts months away from it happening and involves dealing with many agencies. Organisers say they are not going to start that planning unless they can be more certain that it will make a profit in the future.
StrEat run a sister-festival at Newby Hall, charging £25 per day entry. Entry is not charged for the event in Harrogate.
Would you be prepared for Harrogate ?
I would be happy to pay if I got something in return – I wouldn’t pay to go in and then have to pay for everything in there. They need to have a model similar to beer festivals where the entry fee includes drink tokens and, usually, a commemorative glass.
They are trying hard, give them some love. They made us all smile last year, they’re trying for a chance to make us smile again. They are very welcome. And I live in the middle of town so I speak for everyone.