New dates confirmed for Cornwall Folk Festival in Wadebridge

To encourage more people to celebrate its 40th anniversary the Cornwall Folk Festival in Wadebridge is changing its dates.

Traditionally the event has always run on the August Bank Holiday but next year organisers have decided to move it to the first weekend starting Friday, August 3 to Sunday, August 5.

One of the festival organisers, Mike Walford, said: "There are numerous reasons for doing so but the main reason is to put clear water between us and all the other festivals that are happening at the same time and to attract more people to ours.

"The new dates are at the height of the Cornish holiday season and we want greater numbers to attend. The past few years have seen flagging audiences and dance groups and we felt it was becoming tired and in need of some regeneration."

The weekend before the date of the new festival will be Wadebridge carnival and a possible regatta weekend so the folk festival organisers are hoping the visitors might stay around.

Mr Walford said: "Another major factor is that the Irish and Scottish bank holiday date is August 6 and it is hoped we will be featuring some Irish and Scottish headline acts in 2012 as well as a top European act from Holland.

"2011 was a brilliant festival but we were well down on numbers paying to go to the concerts so a change is needed.

"The festival is reverting back to its original name as the Cornwall Folk Festival and now has Brian Flexman of Wadebridge Hobgoblin Music Shop and I as the festival organisers, Pete McClelland is now the artistic director responsible for booking all the main headline acts.

"We will be updating the original website at the earliest opportunity. There are some excellent acts wanting to perform next year for this special 40th Folk Festival so pencil in those dates in your diaries."

For more information contact Mr Walford on 01637 880604 or e-mail millways@btinternet.com