LIVE music and community togetherness gave Saltash a welcome buzz as the town came together and came alive at SaltFest 2021.

Organisers think it was the first live festival event of its size to be staged in the South West since the pandemic – and there had been some nervousness about how things would go, said volunteer and town councillor Hilary Frank.

But in the end fears dissolved and made way for a great feeling at watching people enjoy themselves and regain some sense of normality.

Stalls from a range of clubs and groups were spaced out along Fore Street, and it was the welcome chance after many months for organisations to meet and talk to residents, and put some much-needed coins in the coffers, said Hilary.

Meanwhile at Longstone Park, a stage was set up for live bands and singers all the way through from 12noon to the exuberant final act at 10pm.

Co-organiser Hilary Frank said that she and the team were feeling “exhausted but exhilarated” after the event.

“I was a bit nervous about this one, I didn’t know whether we would have thousands of people or one man and his dog, and I wasn’t sure how people would react to coming out after lockdown,” she said.

“We put extra security on, but it wasn’t needed. Actually people just wanted to get out there and see each other and it was a lovely family atmosphere, it all went so smoothly.”

Many of the bands that played and the stage crew commented that they wanted to come back again next year as the crowd had been so lovely, Hilary added.

A wonderful and unexpected part of the day came when a wedding party arrived to the Social Club in Fore Street.

“The road was shut and they weren’t sure how they were going to get to their reception, but we arranged for them to park in a side street and escorted them through.

“The acapella group Grace Notes sang to them and we threw confetti!”

Thanks to the support from people in Saltash who bought raffle tickets to fund the event, SaltFest is now in a good position, and it seems that local people will be keen to see the festival become part of the calendar.