Another record-breaking year for Stendhal Festival
'Year 14 was another remarkable success', says event director
The 14th installment of Stendhal Festival, which took place at Ballymully Cottage Farm, Limavady, at the start of July has turned out to be another record-breaking year for the event.
A total of just over 11,000 people came through the gates to enjoy sets from the likes of The Zutons, Heather Small and Hot Chip, beating the record set last year of just over 10,000 people.
Festival Director Ross Parkhill says he is pleased and says his team are already looking forward to next year when.
To celebrate the event’s 15th birthday in 2025 for the first time the event will shift to a Friday, Saturday, Sunday format.
Mr. Parkhill said: “Year 14 was another remarkable success for us in terms of the actual event.
“Record numbers enjoyed the weekend despite a few drips and drops of rain, everyone who came up the lane left safely and memories that last a lifetime were made by thousands.
“We still have a bit of bean counting to do to see how our figures ended up but at this stage we are confident enough to say that we will be back again next year to celebrate our 15th birthday in some shape or form.”
Mr. Parkhill has hailed the dedicated team behind the scenes who help ensure the festival takes place each year.
He added: “A huge thank you to the team behind the scenes who put in another massive shift, not just over the weekend but for the weeks and months leading up to the event and now for the few weeks after during the pack-down.
“There are so many unsung heroes that go into making the festival run as smoothly and safely as possible, so our gratitude goes out to everyone who put a high vis on for us over the weekend and kept things ticking over.”
“We are absolutely thrilled at the turnout.
“To be in a position where we, as an independent festival, are currently not at immediate threat of closure and are adding to our numbers year on year, really means we are bucking the current trend that has seen over 140 independent festivals close their gates for good since 2021.
“So, an even bigger thank you to everyone who made the trip up to the farm to enjoy the vibes and support the Northern Irish Arts and Music sector. Your support is vital, never taken for granted and greatly appreciated.”
Looking forward to next year and Stendhal’s 15th Birthday, Ross said that there will be a substantial change coming to the festival as he announced the dates it is due to take place.
He added: “Next year we are running the exact same dates as this year, July 4th, 5th, and 6th the big difference being that for the first time ever, we are going to be running on a Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
“Taking this step is vital for our sustainability and growth model and it means we can hopefully continue to raise the bar in terms of value for money and entertainment at the event going forward.”
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