#AmazingAccrington launches 2023 events programme

#AmazingAccrington has announced exciting plans for an action-packed year of events in 2023, including the Accrington Food Festival, Soapbox Challenge and Futures Event. 

2022 saw a fantastic year of events hosted by #AmazingAccrington, including the return of the Soapbox Challenge after a two year hiatus due to Covid-19, with around 15,000 people attending, the Accrington Food Festival with Netflix star Molly Robbins and a Café Rene to raise funds for St James' Church which saw over 10,000 people attend, and a sensational Christmas Light Switch On which saw over 8,000 people visit Accrington Town Centre.

It didn't stop there, also organising a food bank collection in aid of Maundy Relief alongside Accrington Stanley and the Official Accrington Stanley Supporters' Trust, as well as organising the Accrington Stanley big shirt giveaway to all local Year 3 children for the sixth consecutive year.

But now #AmazingAccrington are aiming to go even bigger and better in 2023, with a great line-up of events.

May's Education Summit (19th May) will kick off a number of education based events taking place throughout 2023, also including the Jobs Fair on Friday 16th June and the Futures Event on Thursday 5th October, with the 2022 Futures Event once again seeing over 1,000 Hyndburn Year 11s getting the chance to meet local businesses and learn about the opportunities available to them in Hyndburn.

On Saturday 3rd June the Accrington Food Festival will be back and so will Netflix star Molly Robbins, who will be returning to compere the main stage after wowing the crowds in 2022 with her fantastic cake making and decorating skills. There will also be a big celebration of local Lancashire produce, with a wide range of stalls in the town square and inside and outside Accrington Market. Alongside the food festival, there will be a war re-enactment to commemorate D-Day and with the potential addition of a flypast of a Lancaster Bomber, this is one not to be missed!

#AmazingAccrington is also inviting people to attend the event in 1940s dress to create a fantastic 1940s scene, whilst anyone with a classic vehicle is encouraged to get in touch to add to the wonderful display of classic vehicles which will be on show.

If food is your thing, you are in for a treat with #AmazingAccrington also hosting a continental market on Broadway on Friday 2nd June, with a fantastic array of food and crafts set to be on show.

On Saturday 26th August, the eagerly anticipated Soapbox Challenge will return to Accrington Town Centre following an extremely successful 2022 event. Last year the challenge saw around 15,000 people flock to the town to enjoy a fantastic day of racing, fun and shopping local. All the food outlets experienced a fabulous day and this year #AmazingAccrington are planning a longer scheduled gig so people can eat and not miss the action - many outlets offered booked places so customers are not let down.

Miles Parkinson OBE, leader of Hyndburn Borough Council, said: "#AmazingAccrington ran some tremendous events last year but they are determined to go even better in 2023.

"2022 saw the return of the Soapbox Challenge and wow what a day it was, simply incredible. We can't wait to see even more scenes like that this year and see people flock to the town in their tens of thousands. They really do try hard every year to better last years." 

Sara Britcliffe, MP for Hyndburn and Haslingden, said: "It is great to see the #AmazingAccrington Business Leaders supporting our borough and the work they are doing through events such as the Futures Event and the Education Summit are crucial for our young people and the future of Hyndburn. The engagement with schools has been something I have also supported with school visits!"

Coun Marlene Howarth, deputy leader of Hyndburn Borough Council, commented: "Our local businesses are what make this town so amazing and we can't wait to see even more footfall in the town this year. They really understand how to engage the market in everything they do - I can't wait!"

"To anyone visiting the town for any of the brilliant events being put on by #AmazingAccrington, I urge you to pop and visit our fantastic local businesses around town and in the market, and to shop local."

Murray Dawson, chair of #AmazingAccrington, added: "We are extremely exciting to launch another jam packed year of events here in Accrington. Although we hosted some very successful events in 2022, we are determined to be even better and will be pulling out all the stops to achieve that. We can't do it without our key partners and we applaud the businesses who support our towns - this year we are extending our work to other towns with Town and District Transport Trust and Great Harwood as a focus - we hope to run the Soapbox in the town!"

"In the past we have seen staggering numbers of people attending these events and we are expecting to see even more people coming out and enjoying themselves over the next 12 months. We love flying the flag for Hyndburn with #AmazingAccrington, it makes us very proud to be Accringtonians." 

Businesses looking to book a stall or sponsor an event in 2023, can find more information on the #AmazingAccrington website https://www.amazingaccrington.co.uk/2023-events