INTERVIEWS: Barefest village festival in Morecambe is a resounding success

Monday, 10 June 2024 15:43

By Greg Lambert @greglam72

Baybeat band performing at the Barefest 2024 parade

Inspiring charity challenges, music and dancing, and a colourful mayoral parade were among the highlights of a hugely successful village festival in Morecambe.

The annual Barefest event in the village of Bare pulled crowds for a fun-filled afternoon of entertainment and tradition.

Barefest included the inauguration of the Mayor of Bare, a role dating back to 1910 and taken for the second year by village butcher Chris Mount.

Mr Mount took part in a celebratory parade along Bare Lane and Princes Crescent on Saturday afternoon, headed by town crier Michael Glen.

There was music on the village green, salsa dancing in the street, and even an appearance by the Michael Jackson of Morecambe!

Princes Crescent was lined with stalls from community organisations and charities, and there was entertainment at local venues the Dog and Partridge, the Owl's Nest and Shackleton's.

Staff from the D&P including manager Nigel Pearson (pictured) took part in an ice bucket challenge in the car park to raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support.

A Local Hero Award was presented to Morecambe man Graham Jackson, who has raised more than £18,500 for the Motor Neurone Disease Association.

As part of Barefest, Mr Jackson, who has MND and lost his leg in his accident as a teenager, did a charity cycle on an exercise bike outside Bare Pharmacy to raise more funds for the MNDA.

Barefest was organised by Bare Community Association and supported by Lancashire County Council and Morecambe Town Council.

"I would like thank the Beyond Radio team, all the participants, visitors and locals who came along to Barefest on Saturday," said Marisa Seddon, chair of Bare Community Association.

"To see Bare village buzzing and to receive such positive feedback has made all the hard work behind the scenes worthwhile.

"To have such large visitor numbers was amazing, especially on a day when we were competing with A Splendid Day Out and the amazing Dave Day over in Barrow.

"We have had updates from a number of charities present, and every one of them made a significant amount of money, all of which will go towards helping people in the local community.

"Our shining star of this year's event was Mr Graham Jackson, the recipient of our BCA Local Hero Award 2024. Graham undertook his second Barefest cycle challenge, which, as an amputee and MND sufferer, is an amazing feat.

"He has raised a huge amount of money for the MND charity and added another £857 to his total on Saturday.

"The highlight of the day had to be our very own Lord Mayor of Bare Chris Mount dancing with Morecambe's Michael Jackson. This epitomises what our event is all about, fun, laughter, enjoyment and community spirit."

Beyond Radio was there to provide announcements and music, with a team of presenters Greg Lambert, Phill Hayward, Beth Pipe, Vanessa Ramsden, Sam Cragg, Luke Edmondson, Luke Stutchbury and Roy Ward joining in the festivities.

We spoke to many of the people who helped make Barefest 2024 such a success.

LISTEN to our interviews with:

Chris Mount, Mayor of Bare