Knutsford Beer Festival has chosen the town’s Royal May Day Festival as one of its community projects for the year.
“Knutsford Royal May Day is a fantastic local cause,” commented the Beer Festival’s Marketing Manager, Rachel Bishop. “We know that the smaller local charities struggle for funding compared with some of the bigger charities and we wanted to make sure we chose a charity local to Knutsford.”
The first Knutsford Beer Festival took place in 2014 in the then-vacant Old Town Hall, which is now The Lost & Found. This year’s event will take place at The Courthouse from Thursday 11 April-Saturday 13 April, with sessions on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings and Saturday afternoon. In the last five years, the Festival has raised more than £16,000 for various local charities.
In addition to all profits from ticket and beer sales going towards the Beer Festival’s chosen charities, the Courthouse will be contributing £1 for every beverage or food item that it has provided.
“I would like to thank our sponsorship team,” said Rachel. “We already have some great companies on board including glassware sponsor, Maguire Family Law, wristband sponsor, Jack Richards and Son, beer-cooling sponsor, Dodgsons, session sponsor, UK Containers, beermat sponsor, WA16 PR, collateral sponsor, Bella Marketing and digital marketing sponsor, Rachel Bishop Consulting. We still have some fantastic sponsorship packages available; it’s a great opportunity for local businesses. Any interested businesses should contact the sponsorship team by email at sponsor@knutsfordbeerfestival.org.uk.”
Eileen Podmore, Knutsford Royal May Day Committee Secretary explained why the support of local businesses is crucial for the continued success of the town’s much-loved May Day Festival: “We are absolutely delighted and immensely grateful that Knutsford Beer Festival has decided to nominate us - a small Knutsford group - as one of its community projects for the year. It costs in excess of £37,000 each year to put on the May Day and the news that Knutsford Beer Festival is supporting us this year has been welcomed by the entire Committee. Now in its 155th year, the procession has grown and involves more than 500 of the area’s children. It’s amazing when you talk to the children about May Day just how many say that their mother or father wore the exact same costume as them. It makes you realise just how old some of the costumes must be.”
Rachel added: "Having all lived in Knutsford for many years, or in the case of some of our team, for their whole lives, it is a charity close to our hearts. The hope is that our donation will fund the new sword dancers' costumes. We know that some of the costumes are now quite old and in need of repair. Knutsford Royal May Day is such a significant and historic event in Knutsford and we are proud to support it.”