Organisers of the Middlewich Folk and Boat Festival which attracts thousands of people every year say it is staying put at its new farm venue.

This year's event which attracted record crowds was moved to the all-new location at Kinderton Lodge Farm, off Holmes Chapel Road from the town centre.

And organisers say the decision was the best one they had have ever made as it allows the event to grow and get bigger and better than ever before.

Crowds turned out to this year's Middlewich Folk and Boat Festival. (Photo: Katie Mulhern)

The event has been running for over 30 years and highlights Middlewich's industrial heritage in which canal boats were used to move coal and other raw materials in the town for the production of salt and then move the salt out of town.

So popular is it that the festival, which this year took place from June 12th - June 15th, that it was declared among the top three folk festivals in England by Guardian Online in 2008.

Claire Armstrong took charge of the event three years ago and now has a team of volunteers and other organisers who help get the event off the ground.

She said: "It was very well attended and the move to a farm was definitely the best decision to make. Now it really feels like a festival. There was a great atmosphere.

"The location is surrounded by fields and there's plenty of space for everyone to enjoy themselves. We're looking at introducing all kinds of things like glamping.

"We had a vision to get it to grow and we've achieved that. Stallholders book in year after year. It's so popular. We have people coming from all over the country - Bristol, Ireland, Yorkshire and Cornwall.

"It's such a big event that people start travelling here a few days before. Next year we may have a well-being area with health food.

"We've got so many people to thank for make this year's festival such a success - from those who came along to the volunteers, stallholders and performers. It was a great success."

Claire said moving it to a farm means the event can grow and grow. "We had some great acts and everyone had a good time," she said.

A fairground at this year's event proved popular as did a DJ event on Thursday evening.

(Photo: Katie Mulhern)

Katie Mulhern who helped organise the DJ night and supports Claire with the running of the festival said: "We've had some very positive feedback. The positive comments outweight any negative ones. It was an excellent event."

Did you enjoy this year's festival? Sandbach Nub News is looking forward to next year's Middlewich Folk and Boat Festival which organisers have already started planning.

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