Star comment: A vintage summer of events

The Shrewsbury Folk Festival and Shrewsbury Fields Forever music festival both expect to pump a cool £1 million each into the coffers.

The Shrewsbury Food Festival will generate at least £500,000 in June.

Numerous events across Shropshire and Mid-Wales are planned for spring, summer and autumn – each bringing an opportunity to celebrate the diversity of our beautiful region, as well as much-needed revenues for local businesses.

Programmes of events have mushroomed in recent years. In the case of Shrewsbury, for instance, there is now a half marathon, closed circuit bicycle race, food festival, The Busk and much more besides. Young entrepreneurs have caught on to the idea that many of us like to spend the warmer months having fun outdoors – their events cater to just such a need.

But they do more than that. Established events like the Eisteddfod and Shrewsbury Flower Show and newer events, like those in Shrewsbury, help to showcase the best our county has to offer. They give locals the chance to participate in exciting activities but also get tongues wagging around the UK.

The rise of popular events in Shropshire and Mid-Wales means the region is no longer considered a quiet backwater, it is now viewed on the national stage as a vibrant, go-getting, colourful region. The creative, sporting and commercial of the region's residents are given a platform.

As the region strives to develop its burgeoning tourist industry, such activities serve as a pull-factor to those who might otherwise select such regions as the Lake District, Devon and Cornwall or the Cotswolds.

Of course, Shropshire and Mid-Wales has much more to offer than cultural enrichment. It's exceptional restaurants, first rate guest houses and hotels, idyllic countryside and highly developed tourist infrastructure also bring more visitors to the region.

Such events cater to all tastes. The forthcoming Ironbridge Half Marathon, for instance, has attracted more than 600 runners. They will help to donate much-needed funds for local charities. Other local events also have a strong community theme.

It promises to be a vintage spring and summer.