A NEW competition has been launched as part of this year’s Falmouth Spring Festival.

Businesses in in the town are invited to take part in a window display contest as a way of engaging with the festivities and celebrating the arrival of spring.

The festival, organised by Falmouth BID and sponsored by the University of Exeter, is an early season celebration of our coast, community and culture.

Retailers in the town are encouraged to get creative – and perhaps a little bit competitive – by dressing up their windows along a spring theme – think yellows, greens, floral patterns and daffodils.

The judging panel, comprising Falmouth Mayor Cllr Grenville Chappel, Steve Smith, editor of the Falmouth Packet and Naomi Morant from the Falmouth Town Team, are sure that they will have a tough decision to make when selecting their top three displays.

Naomi said: “Falmouth is renowned for its creative buzz and community spirit, so we are really excited to see what our innovative local businesses are going to come up with for the new competition.

"The judges will be looking for imagination, colour and originality, so do get designing."

Falmouth BID has teamed up with some local partners who have donated prizes for the window display contest.

The three prizes up for grabs are a £50 Seasalt voucher, afternoon tea for two at The Greenbank Hotel and dinner for two at Rick Stein’s Fish, Falmouth.

To enter, businesses should ensure that their window displays are ready for the all-important judging on Thursday, March 14, the first day of the Falmouth Spring Festival, with designs needing to stay in place for the duration of the event from March 14-24.

Businesses are encouraged to get in touch with Naomi, who is co-ordinating entries, via naomi@falmouth.co.uk to confirm participation.

Falmouth BID thanked Seasalt, Rick Stein’s Fish Falmouth and The Greenbank Hotel for their support, as well as the judges.

Funded and organised by the Falmouth Business Improvement District (BID) and sponsored by the University of Exeter, the Falmouth Spring Festival is the first main event on the town's events calendar.

Celebrating Falmouth’s coast and culture through a host of music, dance, sporting events, walks and ‘spring clean’ activities, the festival takes place at numerous venues across the town.

The festival also has a strong community ethos with schools, businesses, volunteer groups and charities all involved and working in partnership with the Falmouth BID to celebrate and conserve Falmouth’s special environment in as many innovative ways as possible.

Other festival highlights include:

Thursday, March 14 – Paint the Town Yellow Day

Friday, March 15, Saturday, March 16 and Sunday, March 17 – Spring Clean Days and free rockpooling on Castle Beach

Sunday, March 17 – free games and fitness on The Moor

March 18 to 22 – free Science in the Pub

March 23 and 24 – March Falmouth Spring Flower Show

Throughout festival – guided walks programme

The full Falmouth Spring Festival schedule and guide can be viewed and downloaded online at www.falmouth.co.uk.