THE National Festival of Making, the event which brought more than 40,000 people into Blackburn in May, is to return in 2019.

For its third year, the festival which celebrates the town’s manufacturing heritage and encourages people to get involved in creative projects, will move to a new date. It will be held on Saturday, June15 and Sunday, June 16 with organisers promising it will be bigger and better than ever.

Festival co-founder, designer Wayne Hemingway who grew up in the town, said: “What has been achieved by The National Festival of Making in just two years is nothing short of remarkable. Blackburn hadn’t previously been renowned as a place of weekend festivals.

“Most importantly, the National Festival of Making is helping the region reclaim its status as Britain’s making and manufacturing hotbed. This is something that has always been in the ‘place DNA’ of the region and will stand it good stead for its future well-being.”

Lauren Zawadzki, festival director, said: “For two years the festival has created a living experience of making in Blackburn town centre with and for communities.

“Through hundreds of partnerships and extensive community engagement, Lancashire has taken the festival on as its own, but this is also a nationally relevant festival weekend and one that increasingly will attract culture visitors to Blackburn and Lancashire.”

Councillor Phil Riley, Blackburn with Darwen Council’s executive member for regeneration and growth, said: “It’s exciting news that Blackburn will be hosting this award-winning festival for the third year running. The festival provides a massive boost for the town’s tourism profile and supporting businesses in the borough, which is very much a priority for our council.

“In 2019, the event promises to be even bigger and better and we are really look forward to welcoming more visitors to showcase how Blackburn has transformed over recent years and what the town has to offer.

“As a council, we’re passionate about supporting the creative arts and we like to be innovative, showcasing events like The National Festival of Making and including many others like the recent Blackburn Open Walls, which saw artists from around the world use buildings as a vibrant outdoor gallery. Initiatives like these really help put Blackburn on the map and make it a place that visitors want to come to. “

In 2018, 10,800 people took part in more than 100 workshop sessions over the two days and the festival was shortlisted for Best Family Festival and Best Non-Music Festival in the UK Festival Awards. It also took Visit Lancashire’s Tourism Awards, Large Event of the Year.

The festival in May featured included outdoor performances, innovations in science and technology and art installations alongside the finest in food, drink and handmade design.

Now organisers are inviting artists and manufacturers from major manufacturers to home makers and their ‘Front Room Factories’, to get involved in the 2019 event.

For more details of the event and how you can get involved, visit www.festivalofmaking.co.uk