Wakefield Council plans string of events to celebrate city's culture and history

Following on from 2019’s Festival of the Moon – which brought a record 31,000 visitors into the city centre – the council has approved plans for a Summer Festival in August, Words Fest in October and an Explore Festival.

Seaside events at Castleford, Wakefield, Knottingley and two other locations across the district, Roman Castleford, Pontefract Liquorice Festival, Thornes Park Community Firework display, and Christmas Lights events in Wakefield, Castleford and Pontefract will all return in 2020.

The total events spending approved by senior councillors in Wakefield’s cabinet is £510,500 in the financial year 2020/21, £584,250 in 2021/22, and £603,00 in 2022/23.

Jacquie Speight, Wakefield Council’s cabinet member for culture, leisure and sport, said: “This new and exciting programme will bring significant benefits across the district, including promoting the district as a unique cultural and creative place as well as increasing footfall in our city and town centres.

“The potential to widen our programme of events will benefit communities across our district, with fringe activities and other smaller events, which will support the high street and also showcase local talent.

“This is a really exciting proposal for our district and the opportunity to show off what we have here to the outside world, whilst also providing local people with great festivals and events to enjoy. This programme really will help put our district on the map.”

When the Express asked readers what they want to see where they live in our city and town centre surveys, many people said events were a huge benefit.

Readers said Wakefield Rhubarb Festival and Pontefract Liquorice Festival were big draws for shoppers to visit their centres and more events would encourage them to return more often.

Last year the council hosted its ambitious, 16-day Festival of the Moon, largely within the former Market Hall on Union Street, which has been converted into an events space.

It featured a large replica Moon artwork by Luke Jerram called Museum of the Moon. It has travelled to cities around the world and took pride of place in the centre of the hall.

Indie act Public Service Broadcasting headlined the final big event of the festival. And Cribs drummer Ross Jarman and Blur drummer Dave Rowntree also performed DJ sets earlier in the festival.

The council said the festival supported the local economy and helped raise the profile of the city. Its new programme of events hopes to build on that momentum.

The three new “signature” festivals will try to get people involved who might not normally take an interest in council events and will involve issues such as the fight against climate change.

In a document on the proposals that was considered by cabinet, the council said it had “been working hard with the support of Arts Council England, on the establishment of a robust long-term ambition document for creativity and culture”.

It said: “The new programme will bring significant benefits across the district, including promoting Wakefield as a unique creative and cultural place, both for local people and to a wider audience.

“The signature festivals will attract significant footfall into the city centre, supporting the high street and showcasing local creative talent to inspire and engage residents and visitors.”

In January 2019 Wakefield was one of five areas nationally to be awarded Cultural Development Fund cash, receiving £4.38m to support the local creative sector.

The money has been used to redevelop the formed Market Hall and will be used to set up a new innovation hub in the South East of the district.The council is looking to promote the district as a centre for the arts.