Arts festival taking a year off 'to regroup'

The Bootleg Beatles are just one of many acts to have played Holt Festival

An arts festival will not go ahead this year due to concerns about its financial viability.

Holt Festival has been held in the north Norfolk town each July since 2009.

Organisers said the "unstable financial climate" meant it would not go ahead this year, but they have appealed for volunteers to help with next year's event.

The festival combines music, comedy, exhibitions and talks, and usually attracts about 3,000 people.

Acting artistic director Lady Anwen Hurt said she was proud of the way the festival had recovered after the Covid pandemic, but she said it was "untenable" in its current form.

"We need to look very closely at our business plan, at how the festival operates and at our resources, both monetary and in terms of personnel," Lady Hurt said.

She added that some members of the festival team were dealing with health issues.

"I have therefore, in conjunction with my fellow trustees, taken the very difficult decision to cancel Holt Festival 2025 and this year's art awards to take time out in order to regroup and reset."

North Norfolk MP Steff Aquarone said it was disappointing news but added: "While the festival will be hugely missed this year, I applaud the organisers for taking a break to look after their health and to rework the festival in the face of financial challenges."

It is the second event to be cancelled in the town in recent months, coming after the planned Christmas lights switch-on could not go ahead.

On that occasion, a community group stepped in to put on an alternative festive display.