Wirral Life July 2017 | Page 73

‘BE IN BIRKENHEAD FAMILY FESTIVAL’ RETURNS IN JULY The ‘Be In Birkenhead Family Festival’ is once again coming to Hamilton Square, Birkenhead on the 26th July. Last year’s inaugural event was a great success and its impact on the area was rewarded by winning the Place Marketing - Small Location Award in the BID Awards 2016. The event attracted more than 6,500 visitors from across Wirral and the Liverpool City Region, brought vibrancy and life to Hamilton Square, increased footfall and retail sales in the town centre and encouraged the local community to get involved, visit and take pride in Birkenhead. The festival delivered a range of free family activities with the support of organisations including Wirral Tram Museum, Tranmere Rovers FC, Wirral Gymnastics Club, Wirral Council, Wirral Radio and Merseyrail. This is a free event and will be held between 11.30am and 4pm on Wednesday 26th July 2017. Joe Scarth, Place Shaping Manager at Birkenhead First said, “We are really pleased to bring back this wonderful family festival again for 2017, last year the event attracted huge numbers of visitors to the town and this year we hope for even more people to join in the fun. The support given from local businesses has been wonderful.” Gemma Stewart, Head of Business Services at Wirral Chamber of Commerce said, “Birkenhead has a wealth fabulous shops, cafes, restaurants and visitor attractions, in fact something for everybody. We are really looking forward to the Be in Birkenhead Festival and believe that great family event as this offers another reason for visitors to come to Birkenhead and enjoy the day.” This year, visitors will once again be able board the Wirral Tram Museum’s lovingly restored vintage buses – the ‘Birkenhead Blues’ – and enjoy summer refreshments on the Square. There will also be children’s rides, craft stalls, Punch & Judy, and face painting. The event is organised by Birkenhead First, a Wirral Chamber of Commerce initiative in creating Wirral’s first Business Improvement District (BID). It was established with the support of local business to improve and promote Birkenhead as a visitor destination in four key areas: Wirral Radio will be hosting live broadcasts during the day, while craft and vintage stalls will offer scented candles, cosmetics, hand- made jewellery, and antiques. On the day, visitors will also be able to choose from a variety of tasty treats from the stallholders and true gems of the Wirral retail scene, including, Amorini Antiques, Trophy Pets, Vintage Interior Fairy, and others. There will be a host of activities to entertain children, which will include an inflatable maze provided by HYPE, Punch and Judy show, vintage ice cream van, children’s entertainer, Arts and Crafts by The Hive and circus workshops and activities provided by Birkenhead’s Magical Circus. • • • • Cleanliness & attractiveness Safety & security Marketing & promotion Supporting business Officially launched in April 2016, Birkenhead First aims to encourage visitors to the town, create greater investment in Birkenhead, and works with all business sectors to enhance the experience for visitors, shoppers and workers by making the BID area safer, secure, cleaner and more attractive. wirrallife.com 73