Kendal’s new family festival with 30ft climbing wall and Dino Rodeo

Kendal Family Festival will take place at various locations around the town on Saturday, July 29, from 10am to 5pm.

Peter Brendling, the manager of organisers Kendal Business improvement District (BID), said: “We are very excited to be putting on this fun and free event, which we believe will appeal to local families as well as tourists visiting the area.”

Among the free activities on offer will be a 30 feet-high climbing wall at Stramongate School, which youngsters and adults will be able to try and test their head for heights under the supervision of qualified experts.

People will be able to have a go on Segways within the school grounds and there will also be football, golf and archery taster sessions at the school.

In the centre of Kendal crazy golf will be on offer in Elephant Yard and in Finkle Street there will be a Dino Rodeo and a giant games area featuring Jenga, Connect 4 and Snakes and Ladders.

To tie in with the Kendal Family Festival, there will be performances at 11am and 2pm on the day of Kitchen Zoo’s The Tortoise and The Hare, an interactive story for under 6s and their grownups including live music and puppetry, at the Brewery Arts Centre.

There will also be other activities, which are still to be confirmed.

It will be the third festival staged in town by Kendal BID this year following the successful Kendal Cycling Festival on April 30 and May 1 and Kendal Folk & Food Festival on June 17.

“The aim of these festivals is to raise the profile of Kendal, increase business and footfall in the town and make it even more of a ‘go-to destination’ for locals and visitors,” said Mr Brendling.

“Lots of people have said the first two festivals had positive benefits, with cafes, for example, saying they experienced an increase in footfall.

“Businesses which have taken part have seen a return on their investment and have raised their profile.”

He added that the festivals also played a part in boosting community spirit in the town.

Kendal BID, a not-for-profit organisation, was established in 2014 and is now in its second five-year period of operation.

Its wide range of activities include marketing Kendal as a destination for visitors, running projects and providing benefits to businesses and the public that use them.

Kendal BID funds the Discover Kendal app, which highlights shops, food and drink establishments, businesses, attractions and varied things to do in the town, and sponsors the business section of the Visit Kendal website.

It can also award shop front grants to help businesses decorate or generally improve their frontages.

For more information about Kendal BID and the Kendal Family Festival go to www.kendalbid.co.uk

The Westmorland Gazette | News