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2 September, 2010
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Published: 25 September, 2009
THE Blas Festival has lived up to its reputation as the fastest growing festival in the UK by showing an increase in ticket sales of 25 per cent. Thousands attended its cultural events of music and Gaelic across the Highland region with half of them selling out and 80 per cent of all available seats taken.
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The festival, a key part of the Homecoming Scotland celebrations in the Highlands, was staged in over 40 venues ranging from village halls to Eden Court Theatre and Inverness Airport earlier this month. Blas, in partnership with Highland Council, also delivered a schools and community programme for over 4000 young people in the region, taking the festival's audience to over 11,000 people. "We are absolutely delighted with these attendances for the fifth Blas Festival," festival director Donna MacRae said. "It proves that the people of the Highlands and visitors from overseas want to experience Highland culture. Given these stricken economic times it is a particularly impressive performance. We have delivered exciting events which the public have supported in their thousands and we have provided real value for money. "Added to the success of our schools and community programme we have educated, informed and of course, entertained. We are incredibly grateful to our sponsors for their support. They are to be congratulated for their foresight and commitment, not least of these being the Highland Council who provide funding, expertise, advice and belief. "We are already planning for 2010 and intend to do even better in attracting yet more people to the Highlands and our fantastic culture." Councillor Michael Foxley, Leader of the administration with Highland Council commented: "Blas is going from strength to strength with great concerts attracting packed audiences. "These results show the festival is going in the right direction and that we are right to give it our support. It is a superb showcase for what the region has to offer and could act as a role model for providing an effective and indigenous festival to widespread communities." 
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