Organisers of the New Brighton Family Food and Drink Festival said they were 'absolutely heartbroken' after cancelling the final day of the event due to high winds.
Event details
The festival returned this week with more than 100 traders at The Dips from Thursday, July 23 to Sunday, July 26. It featured world cuisines, family entertainment, and attracted over 30,000 visitors last year. The free event included an independent market village, an international food village, and a pet village with dog shows and a pet assault course.
Cancellation
In a statement on Sunday morning, July 26, organisers Kate Corcoran and Jess Waring said: 'We are absolutely heartbroken to announce that due to high winds and following urgent health and safety assessments this morning, we have made the incredibly difficult decision to cancel today’s (Sunday’s) New Brighton Family Food & Drink Festival. The safety of our visitors, traders, performers, and staff must always come first.'
They added that the previous three days had been 'absolutely incredible, with record-breaking visitor numbers and fantastic trade for many independent businesses.' They thanked attendees and promised to 'come back next year bigger, better, and stronger than ever.'
Community reaction
The announcement drew supportive comments from the local community. One person said: 'Sending you all so much love. You have absolutely smashed it and created something truly wonderful. Safety and integrity always.' Another commented: 'Absolutely gutted, but safety first.' Others expressed disappointment, with one parent noting their 'two very sad little girls' at home and another saying their daughter was 'gutted' to miss the K-pop performance.
