Western extravaganza draws crowd to Welshpool country music festival
Music fans from far and wide descended on Welshpool for the town's annual country music festival – and helped raise £12,000 for charity.
The three-day event was staged on the former showfield in Powis Castle grounds for the 26th event. And delighted organisers have revealed £12,000 has been brought in for the Welshpool-based charity Heulwen Trust.
Hundreds of people turned out in country and western clothing for the event, which saw 13 music acts take to the stage. The opening of the show saw the traditional Western charge down the bank with 66 "westerners" in traditional costume and guns blazing.
Off stage, visitors were challenged to a fast draw competition by Doug Perry and there were plenty of activities for children including a bouncy castle, face painting and pony rides.
Organiser Rozanne Corfield said: "It was an absolutely fantastic weekend. All the committee and volunteers worked so hard but it was well worth it. We think we raised about £12,000.
"We had 300 caravans and tents staying on the site and a lot of new people came who hadn't been before. It costs over £30,000 per year to run the boats, and our main source of funding is the annual country and western music festival. We are privileged that the Earl of Powis allows us the use of the Powis Castle showfield."
The Heulwen Trust, which was formed in 1985, is a charity whose aim is to provide free trips along the Montgomery Canal for the disabled. The trust operates two purpose-built narrowboats to cater for the special needs of passengers, manned by trained volunteers.
And the boats were offering visitors free trips over the weekend to allow them to see where all the money goes from this fundraising event.
