[T]he organisers of Keswick Mountain Festival (KMF) have announced the dates for the 2018 event. Following consultation with local stakeholders and sponsors, it has been confirmed that the next KMF will run from 7-10 June 2018. Once again, the festival will be based on Crow Park in Keswick and will use other sites and venues in the area, including the Theatre by the Lake.
The 2017 Keswick Mountain Festival was held in June for the first time and featured the event’s biggest ever programme of sporting events, live music, big name speakers and outdoor activities. Improvements to the event included a larger dedicated campsite, increased capacity in the sporting events, and the addition of new activities designed specifically for young people. Advance ticket sales were significantly up on previous years and although the weather caused disruption to the event on the final day, attendance numbers stayed high and feedback from visitors has been very positive.
Following the festival, organisers completed an extensive round of debrief meetings with local organisations, including the National Trust, Theatre by the Lake, Cumbria Highways, Cumbria Police, and the KMF Local Advisory Group which is made up of representatives from Keswick Town Council, Keswick Tourism Association, Allerdale Borough Council and other stakeholders. The festival team also reviewed feedback from visitors and consulted sponsors and exhibitors before finalising the 2018 dates.
Keswick Mountain Festival director Nicola Meadley comments: “Moving the festival to June for 2017 had a really positive impact on the festival. Advance ticket sales were higher than in previous years – many of the sports events sold very quickly and there was unprecedented interest in the live music. This allowed us to build a more varied and extensive programme than in the past. The weather delivered some challenges over the weekend, but visitors still clearly loved the festival, even when the wind got up!
“Our priority has always been to deliver a sustainable major event here in the heart of Cumbria, that brings in extra visitors and income, and which local residents can also enjoy and take pride in. Independent research shows that the event brought £1.17m into the Keswick area in 2017 and that 15% of the visitors were new to Keswick and would return. We’ve had some excellent and constructive meetings with local stakeholders and are very pleased that next June we will once again be able to stage this brilliant festival on the National Trust’s Crow Park, which provides a stunning and iconic setting.”
Keswick Mountain Festival was launched in 2007 and has developed into one of the UK’s best loved and biggest events for outdoor enthusiasts. Every year, this unique festival presents a mix of sporting events, outdoor activities, guided walks, live music, high profile speakers, camping, and family friendly attractions. To find out more about KMF visit www.keswickmountainfestival.co.uk or follow @keswickfestival on Twitter. The first details of the 2018 programme will be released later this year, when sporting entries and tickets will also be available.
