Lichfield Festival market day gets a new sponsor

Lichfield Festival's popular market day is to get a new name and new backing for 2012, with the announcement that Florette UK, the bagged salad specialist which has its UK headquarters at Fradley Business Park, Lichfield, is to become its major sponsor.

The Florette Festival Market will take place on Saturday, July 7, and celebrate local arts and crafts, produce and performers.

The Cathedral Close, Dam Street and around Minster Pool will once again be brimming with artistic flair, as over 150 stalls are set up featuring local artists and crafts people selling handmade goods from jewellery to pottery and paintings, woodcarving and stained glass.

Entertainers including Lichfield Concert Band, Walsall Operatic Society and Sutton Coldfield Rock Choir will be performing, and visitors will have an opportunity to try the finest local food and drink suppliers, including Lichfield Brewery, Halfpenny Green Vineyard, Coulter Lane Fruit Farm, Cannock Dairy ice cream and BeezNeez Honey.

There will also be a range of participatory activities enabling visitors to try their hand at things arty and crafty.

Neil Sanderson, Managing Director at Florette, commented: "The Festival Market is a great local event that really showcases the best the community has to offer. The whole team at Florette is looking forward to the 7 July and we'll be there to show our support – and sample some of the delights!"

Lichfield Festival Director, Fiona Stuart, said: "There is a real feel-good factor to our market day, and that is also what Florette is all about. We are looking forward to a day of arts and crafts with freshness and crunch!"

The Florette Festival Market is just one event in the 2012 Lichfield Festival's calendar, which will take place from July 5-15.

Lichfield Literature Festival runs from September 30-October 7, 2012.