Organisers of a landmark festival in Blackburn are hoping the event will prove a big boost to the local economy.
The team behind Blackburn Cathedral Flower Festival, which takes place 23 – 26 June 2016, say that ticket sales are already exceeding expectations and that people are travelling from across the UK to the event.
Karen Brooke, one of the organisers of the Festival, said: “Ticket sales are already well ahead of our hopes at this stage, with bookings and enquiries coming from a large area. We are particularly pleased with the interest from coach trips & large groups and advance bookings are very healthy.”
The Festival in association with Barton Grange Garden Centre has made some exciting announcements in recent weeks including a concert by the renowned “I Fagiolini”, a Black Tie Celebration Dinner, a late night Secret Garden event and Champagne Preview. Great British Bake Off winner Nadiya Hussain will be the VIP guest at the Festival on Saturday 25th June when the town will also come alive with the family festival “Countryside Comes to Town” organised by Blackburn BID.
Karen continued: “From very small beginnings, this Festival has grown and become more exciting by the day. Once people understand the scale of the Festival and the size and scope of the floral displays which will fill the Cathedral on massive sculptural structures, they are keen to book tickets. The tickets have been on sale for a few months at a special advanced rate of just £8, but tickets sales in the last couple of weeks have really taken off.
“Now the programme of events is complete and people have a range of ways to enjoy the festival, making it an attraction that all ages can enjoy, we can feel the excitement building.”
Harriet Roberts, manager of Blackburn Business Improvement District, said: “The Blackburn Cathedral Flower Festival will be a centrepiece of the Countryside Comes to Town event, which returns to Blackburn on Saturday 25th June with Mr Bloom from CBeebies. The event will feature a stage in the new Cathedral Square, the first time the space will be used for an event, and family attractions across the town.
“Countryside Comes to Town brought 76,000 people into Blackburn last year and with the added attraction of the Flower Festival, it is bound to be a big boost for local businesses. I would urge them to plan for this event to make the most of the opportunity to promote and showcase their businesses.”
Headline sponsor Barton Grange Garden Centre are joined by a number of sponsors who are supporting the event including Blackburn BID, John Turner Construction Group, Blackburn Market, Eric Wright Group, High Level Maintenance, Cope Engineering and media partners BBC Radio Lancashire and Square Cactus. A few unique opportunities to sponsor individual events still remain including the Champagne Reception, Celebration Black Tie Dinner and The Secret Garden.
Blackburn Cathedral Flower Festival takes place from 23 – 26 June 2016. Tickets are available online on the website at www.blackburncathedralflowerfestival.com and are general admission tickets are also available from Blackburn Visitor Centre in Blackburn Market and from Barton Grange Garden Centre in Brock, near Preston.
Advanced Adult tickets start at £8 with the following special added events:
– Champagne Preview Evening hosted by Lady Shuttleworth Wednesday 22nd June 6:30pm
– Celebration Black Tie Dinner (by Café Northcote at the Cathedral) Thursday 23rd June 7:30pm
– The Secret Garden – See the Flower Festival in a new light with music and licenced bar Friday 24thJune 7:30pm
– I Fagiolini in Concert – Saturday 25th June 7:30pm
