BUSINESSES INVITED TO GET INVOLVED WITH 2012 RIVER FESTIVAL
Mayor of Bedford Borough, Dave Hodgson, hosted an exclusive breakfast launch for the 2012 Bedford River Festival business community this morning (Tuesday).
Over 35 local companies attended the event at the Howard Room, Corn Exchange to learn about the exciting opportunities the region's biggest free festival can provide for them and their business. A significant amount of interest was shown by the companies who were looking forward to being involved in the biggest and best festival Bedford has ever seen.
In order to allow for early preparation and secure the status of the River Festival as one of the major public events in the region, Bedford Borough Council has already agreed its budget for the River Festival for both the coming year and the following financial year. The festival brings vast benefits for the local economy, with the 2010 event attracting around 320,000 people to the Embankment and Russell Park. It therefore provides a unique opportunity for local businesses to raise their profile and interact with thousands of people from Bedford Borough and further afield.
The 2012 Bedford River Festival will take place on Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd July - just four days before the opening ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics. Thanks to Bedford's strong transport links with the capital, it is hoped this will help make the 2012 event the biggest ever River Festival.
Mayor of Bedford Borough, Dave Hodgson, said: "The 2012 River Festival will be the biggest ever. It is therefore vital we start speaking to businesses early to give them the best possible chance of getting involved as well as offering them the opportunity to tell us what they would like to see at the next River Festival to help make it the best yet.
"One of the truly unique features of the River Festival is that it is a genuine community event. It is the vast number of local volunteers, charities, community groups and of course businesses which give it that special character. The involvement of local businesses in the event really is vital and I hope that today's meeting marks the start of a great relationship as we move towards the biggest and best ever Bedford River Festival."
There are a range of opportunities available for local businesses to be involved with the River Festival, including sponsorship, trading, hospitality and on-site promotional activities. Businesses can even enter a team in the dragon boat or raft races, or enter the parade.
The River Festival is a free event, spread across 105 acres. It stretches from Bedford town centre, along both sides of the River Great Ouse as well as taking in Russell Park and the adjoining meadows along the Embankment.