The Mill Hill Family Festival is cancelled for 2025 due to lack of funds, returning biennially from 2026.
The festival came back in 2023 after being gone for fourteen years! In 2023 and 2024, people filled Mill Hill Park, enjoying bands, a bouncy castle, and more.
The 2025 festival is cancelled. Damian Talbot shared the news on Facebook as the chair of the Mill Hill Events Committee, explaining the festival schedule change.
The committee wants to ensure the event keeps going, and fundraising and organizing were big factors in the decision. The 2023 event raised £6,000 and cost £3,250 to put on.
In 2024, costs rose sharply for the festival. They raised £3,000 but spent £6,100, and now the festival account only has about £200.
Volunteers run this festival and receive no regular funding, meaning they must raise all the money. Higher costs mean aiming for £10,000 each time.
Raising so much money takes time; holding the festival every other year helps. This better ensures the event’s success as planned, though organizers understand some people will be disappointed.
They hope people support their fundraising efforts. Donations are welcome from generous people, and the committee will meet soon to plan and fundraise.
Locals offered supportive comments and ideas. People are excited to keep this event going, and Natasha Best suggested smaller fundraising events.
She proposed summer events with local artists. Donation buckets in pubs could also help, as she believes people will show their support.