Last updated at 15:47, Thursday, 05 July 2012

• Click here for more details at cumbrialive.co.uk

A STREET arts camping festival has been scaled back.

Lake’s Alive’s Masquepony event at Cartmel Racecourse has been reduced from a three-day to a two-day festival on August 17 and 18 due to lower than expected advance ticket sales. Instead of being a wholly paid-for event, most of the festival will now be free.

Organisers blame the state of the economy, the plethora of other festivals, and the Olympics meaning many potential customers don’t have the availability or money to commit to the three-day event in advance. Those who have bought tickets in advance have been contacted and are due to be given a full refund.

Jan Shorrock, of Lakes Alive, said: “When we originally researched the level of interest in a new camping festival of this nature, we were confident we had created a strong concept and that there was a market for such a festival. Sadly, the initial interest we appear to have generated has not transpired into enough bookings to make the festival viable in its current format. We believe this is a combination of more straitened times and the multitude of festivals and events taking place around the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.”

Lakes Alive organisers, however, are delighted that thanks to partnerships, such as with Cartmel Racecourse, part of Holker Group, it is still able to offer an exciting two-day programme.

Ms Shorrock said: “We are aware many people have planned their holiday around the event, and have been looking forward to it. We have worked hard to find a solution which means we can still offer activity and a good quality experience to our audience. We’re pleased to say we have found a way to create a taster of Masquepony in Cartmel over two days on August 17 and 18. The activity will now mostly be free of charge.”

On the Friday afternoon there is set to be free street theatre in Cartmel to accompany an artisan food market.

There will also be a big-top on the racecourse site with a festival show performed at 4pm and 6pm. The performance will be free with donations encouraged.

And on the Friday night there is set to be a paid-for, ticketed music event at Cartmel Racecourse grandstand, featuring reeds, brass and percussion outfit Tongues of Fire and bluegrass band The Coal Porters. Tickets £9 and concessions £6.

On the Saturday there will be further performances of the festival show in the big top at 11am, 2pm, and 4pm.

There will also be a banquet style event on the racecourse with entertainers from 6pm to 9pm. This event will be free with donations encouraged.

Lakes Alive is still considering a paid-for street arts camping festival in future years.

Lakes Alive’s programme for 2012 kicks off in dramatic fashion next week with the world premiere of Les Commandos Percu’s On The Night Shift on the day the Olympic torch comes to Bowness next Thursday, June 21.

• See tomorrow’s Love Leisure Olympic Torch special for more about next week’s Olympic Torch Relay and showpiece Bowness event.
• For more details about Masquepony go to www.masquepony.co.uk.

First published at 13:43, Thursday, 14 June 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk