Carnival to go ahead despite 'astronomical' costs

Iain Poole (left) says generous donations saved Hornsea Carnival from closure last year

A long-running festival which was on the verge of closure last year will continue despite "astronomical" costs, the organisers have said.

Hornsea Carnival has been running since 1967, but chairman Iain Poole said paying for the free event was increasingly challenging because of changes in rules and regulations.

Last spring, the carnival faced an £11,000 gap in funding, which was plugged thanks to a generous response to an appeal.

This year's event will take place from 18 to 20 July, with live music, fireworks, a parade, food stalls and activities for all the family.

'Community spirit'

Mr Poole said leading the three-day event was "ridiculously rewarding", but running it with 10 volunteers was now difficult.

"The costs have gone up astronomically," he said. "You end up spending a lot of your budget just on making the place safe and getting amenities in, before we even get on to paying for the acts."

The biggest costs included providing medical and security resources, hiring equipment and insurance, which had increased to £3,000.

"Community spirit" saved the event from closure last year, Mr Poole said, with residents and businesses raising £3,000 and the Hornsea Lions Club putting in £8,000.

But businesses and organisations had now realised that the event, which attracts approximately 25,000 visitors, was a good showcase for them – and so the support had continued, he added.

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