Chaps, the festival LOVES the fringe! Over the past eighteen months or so, our relationship with the town has improved enormously, which translates to a more supportive atmosphere in Folkweek and year round, and more material support locally for the festival as well. One of the things which has helped to develop this relationship is that we have driven home the economic impact of the festival on the region. Whether you attend festival events or not, if you are staying in a local hotel, B&B or campsite, using the supermarkets and restaurants, going to pubs and buying things in shops, you are contributing to the festival's positive impact on Sidmouth and consequently to our good relationship with the town's business community.

Of course, we also thrive on the collections, so your donations in the many tins are equally welcome and much appreciated!

If you want to help the festival, though, please also consider supporting those businesses who support the festival (you'll find the list in the programme or on our website, and most have signs in the window) - and let them know that you're shopping there because they support FolkWeek!

Last year, there was one shop which was selling "I (heart) FolkWeek" cotton bags - of course, there was no money coming to the festival from these, and to add insult to injury, they weren't even sponsors! (I did pop in and ask if they'd like to become sponsors as they were making money from the festival, but was rebuffed). So again, if you are going to buy FolkWeek merchandise, please buy the official stuff on sale at the Ham, as all profits help to ensure the festival's future.