A Herefordshire festival has been cancelled for good after its organisers admitted they no longer can give the time and dedication needed to make it successful.
In a post on social media, the Shobdon Food & Flying Festival said:
“Sadly, after a lot of thought, the organising team have decided we are no longer able to give the Shobdon Food and Flying Festival the time and dedication it requires and so will not be organising another one.
“We know how much the event has been enjoyed over the years and we are sorry if this news comes as a disappointment.
“We first came up with the idea of hosting a small food event as a fundraiser at Shobdon church back in 2004. The 2005 Shobdon Food Festival was the first of 15 annual events until the enforced pandemic break in 2020.
“Over the years, our team of incredible volunteers have helped raise tens of thousands of pounds for mostly local charities and good causes while promoting our little corner of the world. When we set out, our ethos was always to give local exhibitors an opportunity to showcase their skills and we were the first event of its kind in the area.
“By 2012, we had outgrown our site at Shobdon church and teamed up with our friends at Shobdon Airfield to form the Shobdon Food and Flying Festival. This unique association gave the event a new lease of life and we began welcoming thousands of visitors from all over the country – some of whom literally flew in to see us every year.
“However, all good things must come to an end and this feels like the right time.
“We would like to thank everyone who has helped us along the way, including our friends at Herefordshire Aero Club, our long-time event sponsor, Glenn Jones at Pearl Lake Leisure Park and all the other local businesses who supported us.
“We would also like to thank all the exhibitors who stuck with us as other events sprang up around us as well as everyone who visited the event over the years.
“Most importantly, we would like to thank our incredible team of volunteers. Whether you did a few hours on the gate or in the Refreshment Marquee or got involved in whatever capacity – you helped us create something very special that we hope people will remember for a long time.
“If you have any questions – please email them to shobdonfoodfestival@gmail.com”
