Wisbech Town Council steps in to save Rose Fair festival

Wisbech Town Council has decided 2024 will see the return of the Rose Fair festival

A town council has decided to "step in and save" the future of an annual festival.

Wisbech Town Council has said it will safeguard the future of the Rose Fair after the previous committee did not want to take the event forward.

This year is the fourth time the flower and float parade has been cancelled since its last event in 2019.

In a statement, it said: "The first event will aim to be a fun day... to get the event back on the calendar".

The festival, first held in 1963, sees lorry floats take part in a parade through the market town, and floral displays in St Peter & St Paul's Parish Church.

The council added: "While this was never a responsibility of the council, with other organisations deciding not to run it, this left only the Town Council to try and step in and save the event before too much time had passed for it to make a real comeback."

The authority said the event would return with a walking parade, Rose Fair Queen, entertainment and floral decorations.

It said: "There was a recognition that we had to "walk before we could run" and start with a fun event with the potential to grow and thrive in coming years"

The new-look festival has been scheduled for for Saturday 29 June, 2024.