Welcome
This year Harvest Fair will cover two weekends - some older readers will remember when this was always the case. On the 3rd & 4th we have the traditional events, as shown in the *schedule, and on the following Saturday the Carnival will take place. The reasons for this are the Cornish Gorsedd and the Street Festival. The Gorsedd will provide us with plenty of extra outstanding activities for the 3rd and 4th. The Street Festival, on the 10th, will mean that the town will be buzzing with young people, colour and excitement. (A Gathering of the Bards of Cornwall programme is available from Helston Museum). www.gorsethkernow.org.uk
Once again we are deeply indebted to our sponsors. To the shopkeepers who display our posters and supply the prizes to the business' that run events and provide support and help. GRIP, The Blue Anchor and The West Briton for SKATE day, the Beer Festival and The Pet Show respectively. Thank you.
Further thanks must go to a huge band of helpers that include:- first aiders, raffle ticket sellers, decorators, judges and Helston Town Council office staff.
Detailed Harvest Fair schedules are available from the Guildhall offices and local shops. Grand Draw tickets can be purchased from all members of the Harvest Fair Committee or by e mailing harvestfair@hotmail.co.uk. Our target to sell this year is 2000 (400 books).
If you wish to put your name forward to assist on the 3rd, 4th or 10th September you can either contact Miss Lavelle on 572063 or e mail harvestfair@hotmail.co.uk or write to Helston Town Council, The Guildhall, Helston, TR13 8ST. Your help would be appreciated. If you would like to donate a prize, or offer some form of sponsorship, please use any the above to contact us.
* We advise that you please check the printed programme schedule as well as this digital version before submitting your application.
Harvest Fair 2012
As you should know earlier this year Helston Town Council voted to allow Harvest Fair to become once again a community organisation. This means that from October this year the Town Council will cease to have any functional involvement with the running of future Harvest Fairs. Any funds that have been accrued will be transferred to a properly formed community group that it is hoped will be set up to organise any Harvest Fair events. At the time of writing there are no plans for such a group but it is likely that in the months to come a number of willing volunteers will emerge. The Town Council will not be setting up such a group itself.
It is believed that enabling Harvest Fair to return to being organised by the broader community this will encourage participation from a range of new contributors. They will be free from local government working practices and will bring energy and enthusiasm to a long established Helston tradition. Clearly, if nobody steps forward, then this could be the last Harvest Fair ever. The Town Council has provided help and support for Harvest Fair for several years and through its structured and publicly accountable way of working it has enabled the Fair to grow from strength to strength. Guidance for a new organising group would be available from Harvest Fair Committee Councillors and current community contributors.
If you would like to contribute to the creation of a new Harvest Fair Committee please contact harvestfair@hotmail.co.uk
Review of 2010
Harvest Fair 2010 was a success. Despite the weather on the Sunday spoiling the Pond Hoppers, and possibly some entries to the Pet Show, the Saturday programme was well supported. The general feeling was positive about the return of the marquee to Coronation Park and we recorded a rise in actual entries to the Horticulture and Craft Show plus an increase in public participation. We put a number of new fund raising activities into the weekend including the Grand Draw, A tombola table and a white elephant stall at the Farmers' market in July and August. The Harvest Fair Committe were very pleased with the financial return which meant that we are in a healthy position to begin planning for 2011.
We had a huge list of sponsors - they included:- John Sainsbury; Horse & Jockey Bakery; Rafters; Joy Williams; Keith Richards - gents hairdresser; Stokes; Scorses; The Godolphin Club; The Blue Anchor; Mr. Robert Cowell & Mr. David Martin.
Sainsbury's made a very generous first contribution to Harvest Fair and we were again very grateful to so many business people in the town who continued to support 'Our Fair' despite the tough economic times that we are all living through. Thank you all again for your support.
