Barnsley Council’s Arts and Events Team has been recognised as the Best Council Events Team at the National Outdoor Events Association awards.

The well-deserved accolade comes following a fantastic year of free events for all the family in Barnsley, which has brought in over 4.5 million people into Barnsley town centre from May-November 2022.

The first large event of the year saw the Flavours Food Festival move to the town centre for the first time, as visitors experienced flavours from Italy to Asia at the wide range of street food vendors in The Glass Works square.

June then saw the return of the popular Twisted Festival of Natural Art which consisted of a Fantastical Beasts trail and a giant lion sand sculpture as part of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

Barnsley Council’s Events Team were far from finished there, as the town enjoyed the Big Weekend in July.

The spectacular three-day event saw cycle races, Barnsley Pride and the first Brassed On! festival, featuring the world-famous Grimethorpe Colliery Band, held across the town centre.

The final large event of 2022 capped off the year in style as Barnsley Bright Nights brought an estimated footfall increase of 17,000 people in the town centre.

Cllr Robert Frost, Cabinet Spokesperson for Regeneration and Culture, said: “This award is so well-deserved for our hard-working, innovative arts and events team. The events they’ve created across Barnsley this year have been nothing less than spectacular. People from all over the region have come to enjoy our brilliant town centre, whilst spending time with their friends and family, and being entertained.”

On top of this, the Arts and Events team also delivered fashion shows in April, Dancing Town in August, pumpkin carving workshops during Halloween, as well as supporting a range of other events across the Barnsley borough throughout the year.