As the dust has now settled on CroxFest 2011 and following the Committee's first meeting to discuss plans and ideas for CroxFest 2012, we thought you might like an update on that lovely afternoon.
To say we were fortunate with the weather would be an understatement; the sun shone for most of the day and put everyone in the festival mood. The bands all arrived on time, they all performed superbly on schedule and were unanimously well received by the audience. The organization went virtually as planned (if we say so ourselves) and the overwhelming feedback we received has been almost entirely positive and supportive. All of the caterers have asked to participate again next year and we have had a number of new and different concessions offer their services too. The organizers and volunteers all had an exhausting but thoroughly enjoyable and rewarding day and even the toilets worked right until the end!
Don't take our word for it though - please take a look at the feedback and see what the audience told us.
Here are a few facts and figures we would like to share with you:
Our Safety Officer (the unflappable Stephen Crabtree) estimates that at it's busiest there were over 3,000 people on the Green and during the course of the whole day the audience probably topped 5,000 people - not bad for a first time! ..... thanks to your generosity over £2,000 was raised for the two nominated charities and on behalf of The Peace Hospice and Help For Heroes we would like to thank you sincerely ..... three of the caterers sold almost their entire stock of food ..... over the course of nine hours, the Medical Aid team only had to treat six minor incidents, ranging from a wasp sting to a nose bleed ..... we only had three lost children who were all each reunited with their parents within a few minutes ... there have been a small number complaints - which we take very seriously - but which amount to about 2% of the total feedback we received.
Well, that's about it for now except to say that the provisional date for CroxFest 2012 is Saturday 8th September, subject to the licence being granted. We hope to have that confirmed shortly and will post the date as soon as we have it. We have a wide spectrum of thoughts, suggestions and new ideas on how to improve the day but are mindful that as it worked so well for so many people we don't want to change it too much. Please keep those suggestions coming though as it is your festival and some aspects have good arguments both for and against.
We would like to leave you for now with a short slideshow of the best photos from the day and thank you all again for coming, for your support and goodwill and we hope to see you again next year.
There is still time to add your photos to the flickr group.
Thank you to everyone for your support, and also the bands and our sponsors.