Church Stretton will have a 2009 summer town festival, rising out of the ashes of the now defunct food fayre.
On June 20, the first ever Stretton Summer Fest will be held in Church Stretton.
The town’s Sandford Avenue, High Street and Square will be closed to cars for a day of stalls and entertainment.
Church Stretton was left without a summer event when organisers of the popular Church Stretton Food Fayre decided to call it a day in 2008.
Instead, Church Stretton Chamber of Trade has come up with it’s own plans for a summer celebration.
Local bands will play from 10am in the Square, vintage vehicles will be on show and there will be children’s games and events in Rectory Field.
From 6.30pm there will be a barbecue and music in Rectory Field.
Martin Huszak, chairman of Church Stretton Chamber of Trade, said: “It is a community event, to showcase the town and generate trade and business.
“We want it to be all-inclusive. You won’t have to pay to come in but we might have a bucket on the front of the Rectory Field event in the evening if people want to make a donation.”
The 2009 event will cost around £6,000 to stage and now the chamber of trade is busy fundraising.
A disco at the Silvester Horne Institute last weekend raised £650.
Mr Huszak continued: “Everything costs nowadays but this will be a fairly low cost base because we won’t have marquees.”
The Stretton Summer Fest already has the backing of Church Stretton Town Council and even the former food fayre founder and chairman John Woolmer is helping out.
Mr Woolmer told the Journal: “I’m now heavily involved with the planning of the Summer Fest.
“Essentially it is going to be a community event – shaped and centred firmly in the town. Weather permitting, it will be a fun-filled day for families with a host of events that centre around music, dance, drink and children’s entertainment, with an evening extravaganza of music, drink and hot food in Rectory Field.
“So far we have some 50 activities and events signed up – with another 30 planned – if we can muster enough finance.”
Trade stalls are already filling up fast. To book a space call Eileen on 01694 720086.
