Over 6,000 people enjoyed the eventual sunshine at Whitehaven Alive at the weekend.
The festival, on Whitehaven harbourside and Copeland Athletics Stadium, welcomed food and drink traders, musical sensations, a ferris wheel and global automotive giant Porsche.
While Friday was wet, the sun came out on Saturday and showed Whitehaven off at its best.
Radio legend Chris Moyles brought his 90s hangover tour on Friday, platinum-selling Scouting For Girls performed to a sell-out crowd on Saturday evening, Porsche South Lakes brought some of its most exclusive vehicles, and thousands enjoyed the event village on Whitehaven harbour during the day on Friday and Saturday.
Co-founder Oliver Hodgson said: “We couldn’t be happier with the response and support for our first Whitehaven Alive, the feedback from artists, revellers, and traders has been phenomenal and everyone can’t wait for next year. It’s been a huge success.
“After careful consideration we decided to go ahead following the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, we altered programming, held a minute’s silence and broadcasted the King’s address on Friday evening to show our respects.
“We’ve been overwhelmed with the attendance at both the concerts and harbour event village, these numbers have totally exceeded our expectations for our first year. We thank the community and the town for supporting our inaugural event in this way, especially given the circumstances.
“It was all made possible by a huge team effort, all our bar staff, operations, artists, sales, venue, harbour commissioners, medical, comms and ticketing partners really pulled it out the bag! We are very proud of the fact our supply chain was all local from within West Cumbria except for our headline artists.”
Chief executive of Whitehaven Harbour Commissioners, John Baker said: “It was an incredible and of course challenging weekend. Seeing Whitehaven come to life and come together with the opportunity to pay appropriate respect to The Queen and to celebrate her life and of course the accession of the new king was very moving.
“That sense of togetherness down at the Harbour was tangible, the atmosphere at the stadium electric. What the Whitehaven Alive team have done is lay a marker down for the future. Whitehaven needs, and should have, a programme of events throughout the Calendar and Whitehaven Alive has shown what can be done. Congratulations to all concerned.”
Andrea Winders, co-founder, added: “This weekend has just been magical – both on the harbour and at the concerts. We well and truly brought Whitehaven to life. It was fantastic to see and hear people enjoying themselves and being respectful.
“Almost without exception there was a positive sentiment of this is what Whitehaven needs. We’re ready and raring to go for 2023.”
