Support for Heptonstall Festival!

The Rotary Club of Hebden Bridge has awarded a grant of £659.99 to Heptonstall Festival Community Interest Company to help fund essential health and safety equipment for the 2026 festival and future years. 

Heptonstall Festival is a free music and arts festival held every July in the historic hilltop village of Heptonstall, celebrating local talent, businesses and the unique character of the area. Entirely run by volunteers and strongly supported by local organisations, the festival now attracts more than 1,000 attendees and is firmly established as a highlight of the local cultural calendar. 

The event has grown significantly from its beginnings in 1970 as a small village fête into a multi‑venue day of live music, performance and arts spread across village spaces. This growth brings clear benefits for local traders and community groups but also increases demands on infrastructure and the need to manage safety carefully in a village of narrow streets and cobbled surfaces. 

The Rotary grant will help fund: 

• Replacement two‑way radios to improve communication between volunteer stewards, stage managers and organisers throughout the day.

• ​Road signage to support traffic management, pedestrian safety and access for residents and emergency services.

• Water weights to secure tents and gazebos safely in exposed locations.

• A heavy‑duty sack trolley to move equipment more safely and efficiently over cobbles and uneven ground.

These investments will directly support the festival’s plans for 2026, when it intends to broaden its artistic offer by adding visual arts and gallery spaces alongside music and performance, provided robust health and safety standards can be maintained. The organisers highlight the wider public benefit of the event through increased footfall for village businesses, opportunities for local artists and performers, and a welcoming, diverse community celebration open to all. 

The overall festival budget for the project is £16,039.99, with other funding sought from Arts Council England, the parish council, company reserves, fundraising events and individual supporters. The 2026 festival is planned for Saturday 4 July, with the Rotary‑funded equipment forming a key part of its safety and logistics plan. 

Since 2007, Rotary Club of Hebden Bridge has awarded well over £500,000 in grants to charities, community projects and good causes, made possible by major fundraising events such as the annual Easter Monday Duck Race and the Hebden Bridge Vintage Weekend. Supporting Heptonstall Festival aligns with Rotary’s aim to strengthen local communities, promote cultural life and enable volunteers to deliver safe, high‑quality events for residents and visitors across the Upper Calder Valley.

​Rotary Club of Hebden Bridge looks forward to seeing Heptonstall Festival continue to thrive as a free, inclusive celebration of village life, creativity and Yorkshire spirit, and is delighted to play a part in underpinning its future safety and sustainability

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