Excitement is beginning to build in St Neots after funding for a first-ever festival promising a weekend full of music, arts and unexpected delights was confirmed.
St Neots Town Council voted to approve the release of £15,000 at a meeting on February 28, ensuring the festival can go ahead with the costs of the stage and other basic structures able to be covered.
Director of the Neotists, and chair of the festival committee, Clair Slade, was delighted with the decision and said: "We really want to do something that people turn up thinking 'it's going to be just another St Neots event' but will actually be blown away by what they see.
"We hope it will bring all of the community together."
Without this funding at this late stage St Neots Festival wouldn’t be able to go ahead. Thank you to the council for trusting us to deliver this first one! Save the date 24th/25th June at Priory Park! pic.twitter.com/YmelW1yIsk
— Clair Slade Low Sheriff of Huntingdonshire (@Clair_Slade) February 28, 2023
The Neotists, a community group in St Neots, are organising the festival, which was conceived back in 2018 before the pandemic derailed the original 2020 launch.
Funding had been approved back in 2020 and was sitting in an earmarked reserve awaiting release, and now the Neotists are ready to deliver.
🎉@stneotscouncil has approved funding to support @StNeotsFestival pic.twitter.com/YUxKBwtnhc
— Cllr Lara Davenport-Ray 💚 (@Lara4StNeots) February 28, 2023
Catering for potentially up to tens of thousands of people, Clair hopes the festival will "put St Neots on the map" to be known as a place where great things happen that can attract a host of people, opportunities and the arts.
READ MORE: Plans to reignite 'carnival spirit' with St Neots Festival Parade
The mayor of St Neots, Cllr Ben Pitt, said: "I'm delighted that we're finally back on track to welcome this fantastic new addition to our annual calendar of events for St Neots.
"There'll be something for all ages to enjoy and a wonderful opportunity to bring the whole town together."
With the St Neots parade already planned to combine with the festival, Clair says they have many other great ideas and surprise acts in store, which will be announced and confirmed soon.
The festival is planned to be free to attend and will take place in Priory Park on June 24 and June 25.
The Neotists are now on the hunt for sponsorship, and for more information and updates or to get involved, visit www.stneotsfestival.co.uk
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