Off the rails Skate festival postponed for second year
NAILSEA’S annual skate festival has been postponed for the second year running due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The event, which attracts hundreds of skaters, scooter riders and skateboarders from across the Bristol area, was due to take place at the town’s skatepark on July 3.
But due to the delay in the lifting of Government lockdown restrictions, organisers say they feel they can not go ahead safety.
The festival, organised by the Nailsea Skatepark Project, has been running in the town for the past 18 years.
Nailsea Skatepark Project spokesman Phil Williams said: “We had planned to run the festival on July 3 on the assumption that all the lockdown restrictions would have been lifted by that point.
“However due to the delay in the lockdown lifting we didn’t feel we could run the event safely.
“It is very disappointing for all the competitors and all the friends and family which enjoy the event too.
“We are hoping however, if restrictions lift as planned next month, to try and reschedule the event to another date later this summer or in the autumn.”
Last year the festival was held online due to the government lockdown.
Competitors were asked to send in video clips of them performing their tricks and stunts for judging.
This year a makeover of the skate park, at Millennium Park, will take place instead of the festival.
Volunteers are being sought to help out with a litter pick of the site and to help clean off graffiti and repaint some of the walls.
“We wanted to do something positive on the date of the planned skate festival so thought we would give the site some love ready for when we can go ahead with the event again,” said Mr Williams.
The original skatepark was opened in 2001 with the first skate festival held in 2002.
Following a successful fundraising campaign led by the Nailsea Skatepark Project, a new park was built in 2016.
The clean up of the skatepark on July 3 will run from 8am to 11.30am. To volunteer and get involved can contact