Marchfest is pleased to announce that Nelson City Council has agreed once again to provide sponsorship funding, delivered through the Nelson Events Marketing and Development Programme (NEMDP), which is intended to help develop distinct events that will bring economic benefits to Nelson City by attracting visitors in the shoulder and off peak seasons.

Bill Findlater, Chair of the NEMDP and CEO of Nelson Regional Economic Development Agency, announced on October 28th that MarchFest has been awarded sponsorship funding for their 2012 event which is going to expand to a two day festival with the second day having a focus for beer aficionados.

Surveys carried out at the 2011 event indicated that 42% of visitors attended from outside the Nelson Tasman region with 89% of those attending “mainly for MarchFest”. “This indicates that MarchFest has a strong draw and unique offering and fits well with the region’s burgeoning craft beer industry” said Mr Findlater.

Co-organiser of MarchFest, Mic Dover said “The continued support for Marchfest by Nelson City Council, the EDA and Nelson Tasman Tourism has warmed the cockles of our pints. We look forward to a fifth successful Marchfest - last year, the council sponsorship money helped us solve the queuing problems of 2010 and this year we will be improving yet more aspects of this unique event. As the only beer festival in New Zealand that promotes local craft beers by commissioning brand new beers and ciders from the region's craft brewers, we will continue to doodle Nelson's name on the beer mat of national and international beer consciousness."