Falmouth Spring Garden festival - Spring fever will spread from port to moor

Spearheaded by the town’s Business Improvement District (BID) and following on from the flourishing success of last year’s event, Falmouth, Cornwall will celebrate all things bright and beautiful with the return of ‘Spring Fest’ for 2012.  From Saturday 17th until Sunday 25th March, the town comes alive featuring everything from flower shows and fairs, to guided walks, guerrilla gardening, daily rockpooling sessions, art exhibitions, a fashion show and Gardeners’ Question Time. And this year, the festival has scattered its seeds to produce even more fruitful events, including a new Zumba Zestival, Pop-up Gardens, Foraging Walks and Tea Dances.

 The Cornish festival, designed to celebrate Falmouth’s superb open spaces through art, music, dance, walks and community events, springs into action on the 17th March and the award-winning Falmouth Art Gallery will ‘Get Arty’ with free creative workshops for the whole family on The Moor. Outside, a spectacular Spring Fair featuring fresh local produce and arts, live music and cookery demos will brighten up Events Square over the first weekend. New for 2012, hundreds of locals and visitors will zing into motion at the Zumba Zestifal on 24th March as the open air dance extravaganza on The Moor is set to be one of the largest outdoor Zumba events ever held in Cornwall, raising hundreds of pounds for Type 1 Diabetes in the process.

 Throughout the Festival, the work of Falmouth’s magical gardening gnomes (or University College Falmouth students) will be the talk of the town as areas in need of a little TLC  transform overnight into perfect ‘Pop-Up Gardens’. And in a bid to make Falmouth’s greens clean, the ‘Clean-up Crew’ will be on a guerrilla gardening mission to beat last year’s five tonne clearance of foliage and rubbish (which scooped a Cornwall in Bloom Community Award in the process), revamping numerous targeted areas.

 Better than a box of chocolates for some, on Mothering Sunday, families can participate in Falmouth’s first half-marathon, Run Falmouth.  Whether striding the streets or giving moral support, the 13.1 miles scenic route which will take in three beaches (including the award winning Blue Flag designated Gyllyngvase Beach) and the famed Cornish coastline. The event is set to raise thousands of pounds as Falmouth BID teams up with Cornwall Hospice Care to make it all happen. Runners will be rewarded with a well deserved glass of bubbly and a Falmouth goody bag as they pass the finishing line! On the 21st March, there will also be a chance to get out into the wilds with a totally Cornish coastal ‘Foraging Walk’- perfect for any budding Ray Mears out there!

 The 2012 Spring Fest will also be supporting the historic Spring Flower Show, which incredibly is celebrating its 101st year. Situated on the Princess Pavilion, from Saturday 24th to Sunday the 25th March, visitors will be able to enjoy a stunning array of perfect spring flowers, rare plants, bonsais, orchids and flower arrangements, talks, as well as a photography exhibition. Open between 10am-5pm, £3pp - under 16yrs free.

“Falmouth Spring Festival is the result of the strong community spirit that exists here in this special town” said Richard Wilcox, Falmouth Business Improvement District (BID) Manager. When I first raised the idea with businesses and groups, I was met with overwhelming support and enthusiasm that enabled us to organise a varied festival that appealed to all ages.”

For more information, images and a full event timetable plus news on special Spring Festival accommodation offers please visit www.falmouth.co.uk or check out the ‘Falmouth – Spirit of the sea’ Facebook page.