The Big Cheese

24th - 26th July 2009

Caerphilly

Friday 24th
6.15pm - Great Cheese Race
7pm - 10pm - Main Music Stage
10pm - Firework Display

Sat 25th & Sun 26th
from 11:00am - The Big Cheese Entertainment programme includes: Reenactment displays, musical entertainment, educational activities, food hall, craft stalls, activity marquee, Tommy Cooper tent, traditional funfair plus lots more.

For further info contact:
visitCaerphilly
 Telephone: (029) 2088 0011
E-mail: tourism@caerphilly.gov.uk

SPONSORING 'THE BIG CHEESE'

The Big Cheese is rapidly becoming a ‘must see’ attraction within the county borough from visitors near and far. Set in the shadows of Europe’s second largest Castle, The Big Cheese is a mixture of historical and contemporary street entertainment, living history encampments, funfair, live music and much more. Portraying the history, heritage and culture of Caerphilly, last year’s event attracted over 70,000 people from across the country.

Visitor numbers

One of the biggest draws of the weekend is the fact that it is a free event and with over 80,000 people expected at the 2009 event, a bigger entertainment programme is already being planned.

Excellence

For an event that is now in its 12th year, its success has been recognised by the Wales Tourist Board, short listing The Big Cheese for its Welsh Event of the Year award at its annual Tourism Awards Ceremony. In 2005 the event was also voted one of Europe’s top 50 best local festivities.

Research

From research carried out, we know that the event attracts a significant share of the family audience with 60% of visitors travelling as part of a family group and 42% of all visitors aged between 35 and 54. At the socio-economic level the event appeals to all sectors of the community attracting 50% ABC 1’s and 50% C 2DE’s.

In terms of customer satisfaction 98% of respondents rated the event either enjoyable or very enjoyable, a figure that reflects the good will and positive feeling generated by the event.

Promotion

The Big Cheese is advertised extensively in order to reach our target audiences. Again, our research indicates 63% of visitors came to the event as a consequence of the various communicational methods employed as part of the marketing strategy and advertising proposal.

Previous sponsors include:

  • Braces Bread
  • Bryn Meadows Golf and Country Hotel
  • Chris Horridge Wine Associates
  • Garren Lockers
  • Harmsworth Printing Ltd
  • The Market Place, Blackwood
  • Principality
  • Tesco
  • Unison
  • United Welsh Housing Association
  • Working Links

Available Sponsorship Packages

Overall Event Sponsor

Friday 24 July - Sunday 26 July 2009

The event is suitable for one overall sponsor that would benefit from all promotional campaigns devised for the event including TV and Radio advertising campaigns.

Sponsor Benefits:

  • Change the name of the event to incorporate the sponsors’ name / corporate identity in the title e.g. ‘The Big Cheese, sponsored by …….’
  • Sponsor’s name included on all promotional literature.
  • Ten invites to the Launch Reception.
  • On-site presence.
  • Dedicated Company Name and logo on the Programme.
  • Minimum of 10 Public Address Announcements.
  • On site branding at public entranceways.
  • Use of on-site hospitality suite.
  • Name included in advertising campaigns.
  • Editorial coverage in local and regional press.

Sponsorship Cost: £20,000

Promotional Opportunities Sponsor

May - July 2009

The Big Cheese event generates a £20,000 promotional campaign to promote the weekend event. An advertising schedule is available for value added opportunities to support the campaign through joint advertising.

Sponsor Benefits:

  • Four invites to the Launch Reception.
  • On-site presence.
  • Dedicated Company Name included in / on chosen advertising opportunity.

Sponsorship Cost: £1,000 - £5,000

Firework Display Sponsor

Friday 24 July 2009

Setting the scene for the opening of a family fun filled weekend of activity lies the opportunity to set the skies alight against the dramatic façade of Caerphilly Castle, with an audience of 10,000 visitors. The Friday Firework Display has now become a tradition of The Big Cheese to announce the weekend ahead and is enjoyed by young and old alike.

Sponsor Benefits:

  • Two invites to the Launch Reception.
  • Logo & name included on a minimum of 80,000 leaflets / flyers and 500 posters.
  • On-site Banner.
  • A minimum of 4 announcements over the Public Address system.
  • Incorporate sponsor’s name or logo into the display.

Sponsorship Cost: £2,500

Marquees

Friday 24 July - Sunday 26 July 2009

Throughout the site there are marquees which host a variety of events including a Horticultural Display, Welsh Folk Music Marquee and Food Hall promoting different attractions to suit individual tastes.

Available Marquees:

  • Community Safety Partnership Marquee
  • Country Marquee
  • Craft Marquee
  • Food and Cheese Market
  • Hospitality Marquee
  • Music Marquee
  • Outdoor Music Stage

Sponsor Benefits:

  • Two invites to the Launch Reception.
  • Logo / name included on a minimum of 80,000 leaflets / flyers and 500 posters.
  • On-site Banner up to a maximum size of 4m by 2m (Maximum of 2 banners per marquee).
  • Minimum of 8 Public Address Announcements.

Sponsorship Cost: £1,000 per marquee

The Great Cheese Race

Friday 24 July 2009

The Big Cheese Race has been a popular element of the Friday evening’s entertainment for 9 years.Racing around and through Caerphilly Castle is a spectacular sight to see as competitors take part in carrying a ‘truckle’ of cheese, dressed in an array of fancy dress costumes. Past celebrities starting the event include "Derek the Weather Man" from BBC Wales. The attendance figures indicate an audience of at least 3,000 people.

Sponsor Benefits:

  • Incorporate the sponsors’ name / corporate identity in the title e.g. The ‘………Great Cheese Race’.
  • Two invites to the Launch Reception.
  • Logo / name included on a minimum of 80,000 leaflets / flyers and 500 posters.
  • On-site Banner up to a maximum size of 4m by 2m (Maximum of 2 banners).
  • Logo or name on 500 posters distributed to Sports clubs, groups and associations.

Sponsorship Cost: £750

Re-enactment Village

Saturday 25 July - Sunday 26 July 2009

The historical setting of the event venue, with the magnificent Caerphilly Castle as a backdrop, lends itself beautifully to the groups who depicted life from Celtic times through to the Civil War. They encamp around the castle grounds, living as our forefathers did, for the whole weekend, performing regular displays in the main re-enactment display arena. The re-enactment village has become a major attraction of the event, one that all visitors want to see before they leave. This area can only be accessed through one route, sitting at the heart of the event site, an ideal location for branding opportunities.

Sponsor Benefits:

  • Two invites to the Launch Reception.
  • Logo / name included on a minimum of 80,000 event leaflets & flyers and 500 posters.
  • On-site Banner up to a maximum size of 2m by 0.8m.
  • Maximum of 4 banners on walkway entrances to the Re-Enactment village.
  • Minimum of 4 Public Address Announcements per day.

Sponsorship Cost: £2,000

Funfair

Friday 24 July - Sunday 26 July 2009

The traditional operated by Sayers Amusements offers a unique opportunity for sponsorship of individual rides ranging from the Ferris Wheel through to the much loved family orientated dodgem cars. The funfair rides are open from 11.00 a.m. until 9.30 p.m. each day of the weekend.

Sponsor Benefits:

  • Two invites to the Launch Reception.
  • On-site Banner up to a maximum size of 2m by 0.8m (Maximum of 1 banner per funfair ride).

Sponsorship Cost: £100 - £500

Free Funfair for Invited Special Needs Children

Friday 24 July 2009

The event commences on Friday afternoon with over 400 special needs children and their families attending an exclusive preview of the event two hours before the official opening.

Sponsor Benefits:

  • Two invites to the Launch Reception.
  • Logo / name included on 80,000 leaflets / flyers and 500 posters
  • On-site Banner up to a maximum size of 4m by 2m (Maximum of 2 banners at entrance to funfair).

Sponsorship Cost: £500

Sponsorship Notes

The above sponsorship packages are not exhaustive and if you would like to discuss the many opportunities for your company’s involvement at The Big Cheese, please do not hesitate to call the Festival Office on 01443 864339.

The event is funded by Caerphilly county borough council and the WAG and has in the past few years enjoyed the sponsorship of a number of companies and organisations including Capital Regional Tourism, Unison, Principality, United Welsh Housing Association, Jennifer Griffiths Recruitment, Tesco, Braces Bread, Lindsay Ford Solicitors to name but a few.

All on site banners offered as part of the sponsorship packages are specified as available space, the production of banners is the responsibility of the sponsor.

The dates listed indicate the period for which the set activity takes place.

There are concession agreements in place that prohibit the introduction of certain activities at the event such as catering and funfair. Please ring for further details or queries.