{"id":59762,"date":"2024-05-03T08:24:47","date_gmt":"2024-05-03T08:24:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/shefnews.co.uk\/?p=59762"},"modified":"2024-05-03T08:24:48","modified_gmt":"2024-05-03T08:24:48","slug":"popular-sheffield-festival-takes-new-venue-for-its-return-this-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shefnews.co.uk\/index.php\/2024\/05\/03\/popular-sheffield-festival-takes-new-venue-for-its-return-this-year\/","title":{"rendered":"Popular Sheffield festival takes new venue for its return this year"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Lowedges Community Festival<\/a> is returning to Sheffield after missing last year due to a lack of funding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stephen Rich, longstanding festival secretary, explains the difficulties they\u2019ve seen over the years trying to successfully establish the event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe started in 2008 with four free rides and an ice cream man, but he left after 20 minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNow in 2024, we\u2019ve rearranged a new committee, and as we had outgrown our Greenhill Park venue, we are now reborn as Lowedges Festival.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The festival is making its comeback at the Bowshaw Showground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Covid pandemic of 2020 halted the running of the festival after 10 years of success, causing funding and volunteer problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It will now be run by volunteers, and has Veezu City Taxis as their sponsors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Explaining how they got this new venue, Mr Rich said: \u201cI had talks with Mr Mike Snow, who owned the big 20 acre Bowshaw Showground and runs 10 car boots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cHe said he would move the time of his car boot for one week each year, and could offer his insurance.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite this taking 18 months, and with many councillor meetings, the festival was finally able to move there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From its first show in 2008, the festival has grown massively in popularity, attracting 15,000 people at its peak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The attractions on offer this year are as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arena one – viking arena with battles, living history and marquees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arena two – medieval arena with battles, living history and tents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arena three – dog show.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arena four – main stage with singers, dancers, belly dancers, birds of prey and the knighting of John Burkhill, top Cancer walker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arena five – half sized football pitch represented by local league teams Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Arena six – A mine detecting area run by the local army cadets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Other events taking place include a farmers market, funfair, funfair stalls, bars, classic car, bike and trike show, and hot and cold food from around the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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