Category Archives: food festival

Scott Dawson Advertising wrap up event season in their most successful year ever

Scott Dawson Advertising, the Burnley-based events and marketing agency, are celebrating the end of events season as their busiest ever year for large scale event management across Lancashire. Recent highlights include bringing Martin Kemp to Accrington and East 17 to Great Harwood, in what has been an action-packed event calendar for 2024.

People have visited town centres in their tens of thousands to celebrate together and get tills ringing as they shop and dine locally, with Scott Dawson managing events as diverse as the Accrington Food Festival, Nelson Food Festival, Accrington Soapbox Challenge, plus Christmas Lights Switch On events in Accrington featuring huge star Martin Kemp, and Nelson Lights Switch On featuring star DJ TeeDee. Three special run up to Christmas markets and events in Great Harwood ended with a big stage extravaganza featuring East 17. Scott Dawson have also provided marketing, social media and promotion for The Great British Rhythm and Blues Festival in Colne, and the iMEP Music Festival in Accrington featuring Grammy winning artist Jess Glynne.

Murray Dawson, founder and Managing Director of Scott Dawson Advertising, commented: “I’m really proud of all our team, we have pulled all the stops out this year and delivered some incredible events with record breaking turnout.

“We are unique in that we are turnkey operators, with all services and resources in house. When we’re contracted to an event, we handle everything from initial planning, concepts, budgeting, sourcing entertainment, security, health and safety, social media, promotion and PR right through to implementation and managing the event on the day and afterwards, including full reports on the event. Social media reach for the year is into the millions.

“We always get excellent feedback and have gone from strength to strength on events, we always create something spectacular and help people make memories – and get tills ringing as we always encourage people to #ShopLocal and eat locally, to give the whole economy a boost, not just the event. It’s a great feeling!”

Crucially, the events are always safely run and well managed, giving a great visitor experience even when town centres are packed. The local police force commented after the last event in Great Harwood, “It was great to see so many of you at the Great Harwood Christmas event this afternoon. It was great to be able to meet and talk to so many of you about the issues that matter to you.

“It was also fantastic to see such a family-friendly event and very little antisocial behaviour. Well done to all the organisers. We did reunite some small children to their parents whilst East 17 were performing but other than that it was a quiet, enjoyable afternoon where we were able to engage with many of you at a terrific event.”

Suzanne Haworth of Great Harwood Rovers, who was part of the High Street Accelerator Fund panel who commissioned the Great Harwood events, added: “Can I just say a massive thank-you to all of you from myself personally and on behalf of the club. You are all fantastic at what you do, your attention to detail is amazing and most of all your dedication is a credit to you all. 

“You are the ultimate professionals. Saturday was possibly one of the best days I have spent in Great Harwood, I was so proud of the club, the children and most of all of the community spirit and our town.”

Murray Dawson concluded, “Feedback like this is so good to hear and makes all the hard work worthwhile. The SDA team always go above and beyond to deliver. We can’t wait to see what next year’s event calendar brings, and how we can make events even bigger and more spectacular year on year, to keep our high streets buzzing!”

Scott Dawson Advertising are a full service marketing agency based in Burnley. They have over 30 years experience in marketing, with all of the services on offer in-house, so their highly skilled marketing professionals deliver the highest standard of work to each of their clients, from concept to completion. You can see more here: www.scottdawson.co.uk

NELSON GEARS UP FOR THIRD ANNUAL FOOD & DRINK FESTIVAL

THE third annual Nelson Food & Drink Festival is only a few months away and local businesses are keen to capitalise on last year’s success.

Boasting over 30 stalls and 9,000 visitors, last year’s festival was a resounding success. There was a vast array of food and drink stands and celebrity chef Richard Fox performing a wonderful cooking demonstration for the crowds.

This year is gearing up to be even bigger and better with the race to host a stand at the festival becoming increasingly more competitive as each year comes by.

Zahida Shamim, Events Director at Scott Dawson Advertising, who organise the event, said: “We are seeing an increased demand to host a stand at the festival every year and I would encourage anyone who would like a presence at the event to get in there early because the slots are likely to fill up pretty quick. Last year we increased footfall to the festival by a thousand people and this year we intend to go even further. It really is a fantastic place to showcase your business and products to a huge amount of people in the surrounding area, so get involved, the more the merrier.”

The event, to be held on Saturday, September 16, will be funded by Pendle Borough Council and Nelson Town Council, with Gold and Silver sponsorship coming from Pendle Rise Shopping Centre and Oddie’s Bakery respectively.

Mike Williams, Tourism Team Leader of Pendle Borough Council, said: “With the rise of the popularity of food programmes, and the importance of the food sector to the local economy, the event has not only proved a big hit but is a very important event not just to Nelson, but the whole of the Borough. It attracts thousands of visitors, top producers, and celebrity chefs.”

Zafar Ali, Chairman of Nelson Town Council, said: “Me and my colleagues are thrilled to see the Food and Drink Festival coming to Nelson again. Last year’s event was so popular I had residents, young and old, asking whether we could put the event on every month. You only had to look at the queues at the stalls to see how many food and drink enthusiasts there are in Nelson and East Lancashire – it was amazing.

My aim as Chairman of this Town Council is to keep rejuvenating our vibrant and diverse community and my colleagues try their utmost best to support Nelson residents in all walks of life. This event is a testament to that aim where thousands will come out to celebrate food and drink from different cultures.  I’m looking forward to seeing the centre of our town booming and I cannot wait for the final touches of the event to come together.”

Nelson Food & Drink Festival takes place in Nelson town centre from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm on Saturday, September 16. Find full details, including a downloadable brochure with the festival itinerary, at www.nelsonfoodfestival.co.uk.

Keep up to date with news about food stalls and attractions on the Nelson Food Festival Facebook page and follow @nelsonfoodfest on Twitter.

Missed last year’s event? Watch a short video of the 2016 Nelson Food & Drink Festival to whet your appetite for this year’s event.

Accrington Food & Drink Festival 2017

The Accrington Food & Drink Festival 2017 – More than 14,000 people travelled into Accrington for the 20th annual Food & Drink Festival.

It was a wonderful occasion with celebrity chef Richard Fox performing live cookery demonstrations, a live WW2 battle re-enactment to commemorate D-Day and an ‘Oops Upside Your Head’ world record attempt.

All this along with over 70 stalls to enjoy, serving food, drink and much more. Thank you to everyone who attended and to our two main sponsors Duckworths Estate Agents and Accrington & Rossendale College.

We hope to see you there next year!