Ashfield District Council has a summer of events and activities planned to welcome people back into town centres.

The council received £114,000 from the government’s Welcome Back Fund and part of this funding will be used on a timetable of events and attractions throughout summer.

Every month there will be a Table Top Sale in all three town centres – Sutton, Kirkby and Hucknall –  and until September there will be a Plant Market in Sutton. Alongside these special markets, the funding is being used to provide special exhibitions, such as birds of prey and vintage buses.

Following on from the success of Ashfield Virtual Art Fest, organised and produced by local resident Claire Finn, the council will be installing art around the district for residents and visitors to enjoy. The artwork ranges from children’s drawings to paintings by local artists, and will be displayed throughout summer until winter.

The council has also planned relaxing live music on every Thursday evening in Hucknall during August. Summer Strings will bring string quartets and trios to the pedestrianised High Street to play a range of music, from 6pm – 9pm.

Hucknall will also be home to Ashfield’s first ever Food and Drink Festival in August, with more than 20 stalls filling the High Street with tasty street food, artisan produce, chef demonstrations, and craft beers and ciders.

The funding will also be used to promote a safe and welcoming environment for visitors, and to respond to the medium-term impact of Covid-19 on the High Street.

Coun Jason Zadrozny, council leader, said: “It is fantastic that after such a long and isolating 18 months, we can start to plan events and activities again that will bring the whole community together. The Welcome Back Funding has allowed us to try out new events, such as Summer Strings and the first ever Food and Drink Festival.

“It is set to be an exciting few months and as our town centres start filling up again it is great to give everyone events to look forward to. We want to create buzzing and welcoming town centres once again to aid the high street in recovering after the pandemic.”