Despite concerns over riots, Stockton’s festival attracted 50,000 visitors and nearly £1m for the town, showcasing its resilience and community spirit.
The council mentioned that fears of unrest might have kept some folks away. Still, the festival featured 36 companies and 120 performances over three days. They had to cut back a bit this year, skipping fireworks and some other events due to ongoing construction.
Even with those challenges, the festival’s impact was significant. Most visitors rated it highly, saying it was a great use of resources. Tara Connor, who helps run the festival, noted that visitor satisfaction was over 90%.
She also pointed out that this year was much better than last year, which was plagued by bad weather. It’s great to see the numbers bounce back! They even had a fantastic community carnival that attracted over 6,000 people.
Looking ahead, they want to make the festival even more accessible for everyone, including those with disabilities. The council leader praised the teamwork that made the event possible, emphasizing how important these festivals are for bringing people together and boosting the local economy.
So, despite the worries, Stockton’s Riverside Festival proved to be a shining success, showing the strength and spirit of the community.
