Autumn Fest Returns To Barrow With Free Family Entertainment
Barrow's free Autumn Fest is returning to the town centre, with family entertainment and activities planned for visitors.
The event will take place on Saturday October 24 from 10am until 4pm, bringing autumn themed entertainment, activities and workshops to the town centre. Organised by Barrow BID, the festival is expected to attract thousands of people following the success of last year's event, which drew a record number of visitors.
Last year's festival attracted 29,863 visitors, according to figures released by organisers. Increased visitor spending across shops, cafes and other businesses in the town centre was estimated to have generated £1.2 million for the local economy, providing a significant boost for businesses during the event.
Barrow BID said the event is designed to encourage people to spend time in the town centre and make use of local businesses. The organisation highlighted opportunities for visitors to enjoy lunch, have a coffee or shop locally while taking part in the free activities and entertainment being provided throughout the festival.
Organisers are hoping this year's event will attract visitors from Barrow as well as people travelling from further afield. The festival is intended to build on the strong attendance recorded previously, with organisers looking to create another large community event that brings families and other visitors into the town centre.
One of the main attractions returning this year will be the free pumpkin patch. It proved particularly popular during the previous festival, with thousands of pumpkins picked and decorated by visitors as families took part in the autumn themed activity.
The pumpkin patch is expected to provide another opportunity for families to participate in the event rather than simply watch entertainment. Organisers said they were looking forward to recreating the atmosphere of last year's festival and welcoming people back for another opportunity to take part in the seasonal activity.
Visitors will also be able to take part in free workshops and family activities delivered by community organisations. A number of local groups are supporting the programme, bringing activities and opportunities designed to make the festival welcoming and accessible to people of different ages and interests.
Among the organisations involved are BarrowFull, Furness Multicultural Community Forum, Youthability and Artworks Art4All CIC. Their involvement adds a community focused element to the festival, with groups that regularly contribute to local activities helping to deliver workshops and entertainment during the event.
Barrow BID said the organisations supporting Autumn Fest play an important role in creating events that are welcoming, creative and enjoyable. The groups have also supported other activities throughout the year, and their involvement is expected to help provide a varied programme for families attending the festival.
The festival is being supported by BAE Systems and Barrow Town Council. Their backing will contribute to the delivery of the event as organisers prepare for another large gathering in the town centre, following the strong attendance and economic impact recorded during the previous year's festival.
The impact of this year's event will also be assessed after the festival. Barrow BID plans to use town centre footfall monitoring alongside feedback from visitors and local businesses to measure attendance and understand how the event affects activity within the town centre.
Organisers said the previous event demonstrated the importance of community festivals not only for families but also for businesses operating in the town centre. The high visitor numbers provided additional opportunities for shops, cafes and other businesses to benefit from increased activity during the day.
This year's Autumn Fest will therefore combine entertainment and family activities with an opportunity for visitors to explore Barrow's town centre. With the pumpkin patch returning and community organisations involved in delivering workshops, organisers are hoping the event will attract an even larger audience than last year's record attendance.
The festival will run from 10am until 4pm on October 24, with visitors able to attend the event free of charge. Organisers are encouraging people to come along, take part in the activities and support the local businesses surrounding the town centre while enjoying the autumn themed programme.
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