Falmouth Sea Shanty Festival 'the most successful yet'
Organisers say it's brought in £1.5m for local businesses
Organisers of the Falmouth International Sea Shanty Festival say this year's was the most successful yet.
Tens of thousands of people came to the town over the weekend to hear maritime melodies from more than eighty groups from Cornwall and around the world.
Falmouth Business Improvement District (BID) predicts the event to have delivered over £1.5 million for businesses in the town.
More than £21,000 was recorded in donations for the RNLI at the closing of the event, with more still coming in.
The award-winning festival started back in 2004 as a grassroots event and is now the largest free nautical event in Europe with sea shanty groups coming from as far as Canada to be involved.
Executive Director of Falmouth Business Improvement District (BID) and Chair of Cornwall Towns Group and South West BIDs, Richard Wilcox says, “It is quite remarkable to reflect on Falmouth International Sea Shanty Festival’s growth and success and the impact it continues to have on Falmouth 20 years on.
"It has become a cornerstone of our cultural calendar and is an essential driver of local economic activity. Anyone who came to Falmouth last weekend would have witnessed how the whole town came alive with the sound of music, with visitors from far and wide enjoying great hospitality in our fantastic local businesses.
"The economic uplift and footfall generation is significant and demonstrates the importance of events such as this.”