Grassington’s 30th anniversary festival came to a rousing end on Saturday night as a full moon shone over the twinkling lights of the specially constructed Fairy Ring on Elbolton Hill.

The Proclaimers brought the house down with their finale of 500 Miles after a set which included all their greatest hits, including Let’s Get Married – dedicated to one of the festival audience who used it as a marriage proposal. Unfortunately the festival organisers never found out whether the person concerned said yes or not – if anyone knows please tell the Herald!

The festival fortnight has been hailed as a huge success, with concerts and events as varied as you could get.

From the wondrous classical piano playing of Steven Osborne to off-the-wall comedy from Ross Noble, there was something for everyone.

And the audiences flocked to Grassington in record numbers.

Bryony Pritchard, visual arts director said: “The atmosphere has been so wonderful this year, whether it was to do with the sunshine or whether people just needed their spirits lifting during this period of economic gloom and doom, but everyone who came to the festival definitely came to enjoy themselves”

And festival director Amelia Vyvyan said: “We’d really like to pass on our thanks to all our incredible volunteers who gave up so much of their time to help.

“This year we had about 90 people volunteering in different ways, from stewarding, to working behind the bar or in the kitchens and car parking, to helping backstage and with the electrics. The festival could not run without them and we are extremely grateful.”

The festival organisers are for the most part voluntary, with some of them taking two weeks holiday or unpaid leave from work to make the festival happen.

Grassington Festival is a non-profit making charity and, without title sponsors Skipton Building Society and support, both financial and in kind, from other businesses, it could not be the success it is.

“It really is wonderful how our local business community back the festival. We hope that our sponsors get real pleasure from seeing the looks on people’s faces at the events they have supported, as it is down to them that the festival happens,” said Amelia.

Anyone interested in supporting the festival next year should contact the organisers via the website grassington-festival.org.uk.

They are now having a well earned few weeks of rest before the planning for 2011 starts in earnest.