Cash shortages could send Monifieth Medieval Fair back to the Dark Ages.
The fair, which has been an annual event in the town for almost 20 years, has previously benefited from community grants bestowed from the council.
But with the event now needing to become self-sustainable, organisers are now fundraising to ensure future fairs can take place.
Organising committee member Sheena Cochrane said although this year’s event will definitely go ahead, a reserve needs to be built up to ensure the fair can return next year.
She said: “It’s not necessary to raise the full amount for the year – we are well into the preparations for staging it and we do have a back up fund but if we use that then we will have nothing left for next year.
“The overall cost each year is about £3,000, which keeps down the cost for stallholders and keeps it free to attend.
“We don’t want to start charging people and for them to begin to think it’s not worth their while.
“We do really need the money because if we don’t raise £2,000 then it would jeopardise the future of the event.
“We want to keep growing.”
This year’s event is due to take place on Sunday August 12.
Last year around 2,000 people attended the event, which featured medieval re-enactments as well as a host of other attractions.
Donations can be made via an online funding page.
On the website, committee member Derek Uchman writes: “Monifieth’s Medieval Fair has become a regular fixture in the town’s calendar with hundreds of folk from the town and further afield attending.”
“Entry to the event has always been free, and the organising committee is determined to keep it that way.
“However, the fair costs upwards of £3000 to stage, with a substantial amount of equipment needing to be hired, such as marquees, generators and sound equipment, as well as the cost of first aiders, policing, transport, security, publicity and insurance.
“This money has to be fundraised,” Mr Uchman continued.
The Angus Community Grant Scheme now runs as a scheme that offers up to £1250 in matched funding to groups who raise money through the Crowdfund Angus website.
An Angus Council spokesman said: “The Community Grant Scheme operates and successfully supports a wide range of local groups, charities and projects as we highlighted earlier this month.
“In the last year (April ’17 to March ’18) a total of 32 campaigns appeared on Crowdfund Angus, raising a total of £110,872. In all, 21 of those campaigns were eligible for match funding from the Angus Community Grant Scheme and received a combined £24,250. The overall total raised since the launch of Crowdfund Angus in 2015 is £190,958.
“We have not been contacted by the organising committee of this event as yet this year, but are pleased to hear that their fundraising campaign is underway. We look forward to hearing from them and to seeing how we might be able to support them this time around.”
