More events planned following success of Malton Food Festival (From Gazette & Herald)

More events planned following success of Malton Food Festival

3:09pm Wednesday 8th July 2009 in

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MORE festivals and events are planned for Malton following the success of the Food Festival earlier this summer.

They include a game fair in October, Hallowe’en Ghost Walk, Celebrate Malton Festival, another focusing on folk and blues music, as well as the annual motor show, and an art and music event in late August.

Members of Malton and Norton Business in Action were told by Ian Shepherd, whose marketing consultancy company masterminded the Malton Food Festival, it had proved a great success with about 5,000 people attending – almost double the number anticipated.

As well as bringing new life to Malton’s town centre, the festival had generated extra trade for local businesses, and created a feelgood factor in the town.

Retailers experienced higher than normal takings for a Saturday and the farmers’ market, which moved from the livestock market into the Market Place for the festival, had sold out, despite having extra supplies.

The cookery theatre had also proved a big hit.

Mr Shepherd said: “We now need to build on the momentum which has been created.”

The BiA meeting was told a Pride in Malton initiative would help highlight the town and encourage more businesses to take part and, in turn, attract more shoppers and visitors.

But signing from the A64 to Malton needed to be improved, and more of Malton’s 100 town centre businesses should become involved in BiA and its activities to help boost the local economy.

It was vital that more businesses supported BiA to enable festivals and events to be financially sustainable.

“It is all about promoting Malton for the benefit of local businesses,” said Mr Shepherd. “There are a lot of positive things about Malton which are not being promoted,” he said, highlighting the character of its Market Place, architecture of the town, craftsmanship, and individual shops.

There could be more promotion of local food on the menus of Malton’s 20 restaurants and cafes.

“We learned a great deal from the food festival which can be used as a template for future events.”

Another major event planned for later this year is a Dickens Festival from December 5 to 13, which will build on Malton’s historic links with the Victorian author.

Traders are being urged to support the forthcoming Yorkshire Day celebrations in Malton on August 1 by decorating their shops, distributing white roses, and having special stalls, when 200 civic dignitaries from all parts of the county parade through Malton in their civic robes and chains to go to a service at St Michael’s Parish Church.

Jeremy Powell, of the Palace Cinema, said the service would be screened into his premises for the overflow congregation.

The members agreed that the annual Motor Show should continue to be held on a Sunday and not a Saturday, as had been suggested recently.