[dropcap type=”circle”]A[/dropcap]n ambitious scheme to turn Heswall into a Christmas winter wonderland is still on track despite appearing to feel the frosty cool of the uncertain economic climate.
The Heswall ICE Christmas festival is scheduled to begin with a switch-on of lights on Thursday December 1st and end with a closing party on Sunday December 4th.
The festival is powered by the Heswall & District Business Association and has the aim of making “Christmas fabulous for families, kids and local businesses”.
ICE stands for Interactive, Creative and Educational.
Nik Ellis of Whitfield Business Support on Pensby Road, who is one of the driving forces behind the festival, says: “We’ll have loads of festive stalls, food and wine, a nativity, tons of interactive and educational things for children to do, from creative workshops and fun learning to a very special Santa’s grotto. There’ll be choirs, music, even a dog grotto, and it will run from the gateways of Heswall – from the Devon Doorway to the Puddydale – renamed the Puddingdale for the festival – to Whitfield Business Hub.”
Earlier this year the ICE festival turned to crowdfunding to raise much needed funds but with mixed results.
On the crowdfunder.co.uk site £5,630 was pledged, though the target was £20,000.
This has not deterred the organisers. A JustGiving page set up on October 4 has so far raised £250 of a £5000 target – but the appeal still has 44 days to run.
On the JustGiving page Nik’s colleague at Whitfield Business Support, Justine McLaughlin, event director of ICE and Chair of the Heswall & District Business Association, writes: “We believe we could expect over £100,000 in extra revenue for local businesses with an extra 10,000 visitors to Heswall. Can you help us make this a memorable Christmas?”
Justine says, “This is an event which the whole of Heswall and the surrounding areas can be proud of. All donations will help us cover hire costs for equipment and temporary structures. We also intend to arrange a beautiful light display linking businesses with a consistent theme.
“The ICE Festival is designed to bring the community even closer together, to encourage greater interaction between residents and local businesses to stimulate community relationships, trade and festive goodwill.”
Nik adds: “We set the bar very high at £20,000 and although we may not be able to deliver the real ice rink we imagined everything else is good to go. We’ve just added the Heswall ICE Factor singing competition with a £1000 prize for under 16s, over 16s and groups. This is in conjunction with Wirral Radio, who will be broadcasting from the event. We also have one or two surprises up our sleeves.”
If you are interested in backing the enthusiasm of Nik and Justine by supporting the Heswall ICE festival you can find out more by clicking or tapping here:
And here you will find the JustGiving page where you can make a donation.
Christmas comes but once a year. Let’s hope it’s a good one.
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