Thousands of visitors made their way to Margate this weekend (Saturday 19 and Sunday 20) to celebrate Kent’s biggest air and land festival, Margate’s Big Event.
Despite the worst weather in the event’s history, more than 30,000 people still turned out to enjoy a full programme of thrilling aerial displays over Palm Bay. They included the first UK performance of 2010 by the Red Arrows and a spectacular 70th anniversary commemoration of the Battle of Britain. Margate was only the second venue to play host to this event.
The flying programme remained mainly largely unscathed by the weather, with only the Spitfire unable to fly during the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight on the Saturday and the Red Arrows having to make minor adjustments to their show on the Saturday.
Complementing the action in the air were entertainers and street performers on the ground, along with a fun fair with white knuckle rides and children’s attractions, food and drink village, fully licensed bars and helicopter rides. Torrential rain failed to put a dampener on the Saturday night concert by the Magic of the Beatles or the thrilling fireworks display that ended that day’s programme of entertainment.
Sunday brought better weather by the afternoon, with an increase in crowds, compared to the day before. Visitors came from as far afield as Germany and Scotland to enjoy the action over the weekend.
Cabinet Member for Environmental Services, Cllr. Martin Wise, said: “I would like to say a big thank you to all our visitors and exhibitors, along with the council staff who worked so hard to put on the event, all of whom braved the elements at Margate's Big Event this year. It was great to see so many people enjoying what was a fantastic event in true British spirit! There were thousands of people visiting from all over the South East, and some for the first time, so it was wonderful to see so many new faces coming to Thanet. Despite the appalling weather we encountered, the crowds who joined us were still treated to a packed bill of entertainment both in the air and on the ground. We have been really lucky in the past few years to have enjoyed such wonderful weather for Margate’s Big Event and so I'm pleased that, even though it rained on both days, so many people turned out to support the event."
Monday 21 June 2010
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How good to hear the Big Event getting the plaudits it deserves rather than being rubbished as on Mark Nottingham's blog.
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