Firm backing for 50-plus festival

8:27am Wednesday 20th September 2006

BUSINESSES are throwing themselves behind York's second festival for the over-50s.

The York 50+Festival, which features dozens of events including a food and drink day and an Olympic-style sports event, starts on Saturday and runs until Sunday, October 1.

Three city centre retail outlets have become involved in the event this year.

Browns department store, in Davygate, is offering A Touch Of Colour cosmetics advice all week at three of its counters.

"This is a chance for customers to try a new younger look for their eyes, cheeks, lips or foundation, and receive a nice little discount and some samples with every purchase," said saleswoman Jane Eaglesfield, adding that four make-up firms, Clarins, Elizabeth Arden, Estee Lauder and Yves Saint Laurent, would be involved.

Gillies Fabrics in Peter Lane, off Market Street, York, is running five sewing workshops, with the first on Tuesday, from 10am until 4pm, involving making a crazy patchwork wall hanging, said store manager Zoe Barnes.

She said there would be two classes next Friday; wrist art pin cushion making, from 10am to noon, and, from 1pm to 4pm, making a fiasco purse. The following day there will be a class, from 10am to noon, to teach how to make a free-machine embroidery purse and another from 1pm to 4pm about the making of sashiko coasters.

"We provide all the equipment and materials for the courses using the latest technology," she said.

"All people do is pay for the class and attend."

Costs range from £15 to £50. For further information, phone 01904 626244.

Meanwhile, Signatures in Fossgate is offering a pen evaluation day on Wednesday September 27. "This is a bit like Antiques Roadshow," said shop partner, Mike Lewandowski.

"What people may not be aware is that older pens can be quite valuable in their own right, depending on their condition. Most old pens have solid gold nibs worth £30, £40 or £50 in gold value alone."

Festival organiser Sue Lister said she was delighted businesses were getting involved in the festival.

She said: "Let's hope that customers will flock to their doors so that business booms during the 50+ Festival and their participation is a great success. Then, hopefully, many more businesses will be interested in participating next year and the year after that."