The Eckington Summer Festival Committee began as a collaboration of a number of local community groups and organisations. It is a registered charity and a not-for-profit organisation, coming under the umbrella of the Eckington Development Company Ltd. The committee is made up of a number of volunteers, including members from fellow community groups such as Eckington Town Team, and Eckington Parish Council.
The group formed in 2012 under a very different remit. The original plan was actually for a June-time event in order to commemorate HM The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations. Unfortunately, due to a number of unforeseen problems, the event was delayed until the summer, at which point it became the Eckington Summer Festival.
For it’s inaugural year (2012), the event was held on the last Friday of the school term as a celebration for local people (in particular young people), at the end of the academic year. Since 2013, however, it has become a more community-wide event, being held on the first Saturday in July since then. Each year, more and more parishioners turn out, as the event’s stock in the local and wider community heightens.
A free event, the structure of the festival is to allow people in the community a free day out, and to enjoy the wonderful entertainment that we have to offer. Of course there are stalls in attendance, as well as many food and drink providers (including a fully-licensed bar), and much more.
Unfortunately, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the 2020 and 2021 events were unable to take place, bringing a run of 7 increasingly successful years to a halt. The return of the event in 2022 saw record numbers of attendees, and the committee are now striving to improve the event, year-on-year.
Eckington Summer Festival has many partners and sponsors, without whom the event would not exist. We would like to pass on our thanks for the continued support:
- Eckington Parish Council – www.eckington-pc.gov.uk
- Rykneld Homes – www.rykneldhomes.org.uk
- Eckington Business Centre (EDC) – www.eckingtonbusinesscentre.com
- Shepherd Distribution Services – www.shepherd-distribution.co.uk
- Eckington Town Team – www.facebook.com/eckingtontownteam1