BEECHWORTH businesses are being urged to play a greater role in the town's Celtic Festival to help ensure its future.
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Pressure on the organising committee has prompted the festival's committee chairman Ross Lucas to seek assistance from traders in the town.
It was reported in the Ovens and Murray Advertiser earlier this month that the music-centred festival would not be held, but Mr Lucas said it would occur despite organisers facing a battle.
"It's fundraising, it's volunteers and getting support from the town, but it appears things are turning around somewhat," Mr Lucas said.
"It's worth $1.5 million to the community, so it's something businesses need to foster and support.
"Instead of one committee what I'm trying to is have a range of businesses running it and co-ordinating those businesses."
Mr Lucas said in practice this could involve hotels organising their own musical acts and the end to venues, such as the memorial hall and shire offices, which require more money and volunteers.
"I think we would continue with the parade and I'm trying to get Rotary to run the markets," Mr Lucas said of other popular activities that feature in the November festival.
"In the past Rotary has run markets in Queen Victoria Park and the Celtic Festival committee has run the markets in town."
The dramas surrounding the event are not the first time the 21-year-old festival has had a near-death experience.
It came near to folding in 2004, 2008 and 2011 before a crisis meeting in 2013 saw Mr Lucas take charge.
The Hotel Nicholas publican said burnout among committee members and differing views on issues such as venues and entertainment were factors in previous struggles.
Nevertheless, Mr Lucas is adamant about the prospects of the 2015 festival and the need for such events in the heritage town.
“It will proceed,” Mr Lucas said.
“I think people realise the importance of festivals to Beechworth.
“It’s not just the Celtic Festival, I’m sure if you talk to people with the Easter festival they would have trouble getting people involved.
“Beechworth will wither and die unless you have people come in and you’ve got to to have these events to get people coming through Beechworth.”
Mr Lucas will meet with businesses at an invited gathering on Thursday afternoon to discuss his plans for the festival.
