ONE of the biggest-ever events in Wheathampstead’s history is coming to the village this weekend.

Sunday’s World Comes To Wheathampstead travel, holidays, tourism and culture event is one of the largest days out in the county after the Herts Show, and will be welcoming visitors from around the south of England and exhibitors from around the globe.

Organised by the Wheathampstead for Enterprising Business (WEB) local business group, W2W has attracted an international selection of travel organisations, government tourist offices, travel agents, hotels and food and drink organisations, and up to 5,000 visitors are expected to descend upon the village on the day.

The event aims to provide a flavour of the different countries with presentations, slide and photo shows, music and dance, discussions and the chance to taste the food and drink of different nations.

There will be eight marquees containing stands representing all the continents of the world and of course many Hertfordshire and Wheathampstead businesses.

As the Herts Advertiser goes to press the organisers continue to receive enquiries for exhibition stand space and are sourcing large gazebos to fit everyone in.

Each marquee represents a country or continent and supports a specific charity. Local businesses will be selling goods and services and two garages have exciting competitions.

Citro�n dealer Slip End Garage is raising money for Hatfield-based charity Home Start by giving visitors the chance to win a new C1 car for a fiver in a roll the dice competition. Lancaster Land Rover Welwyn is providing two Land Rover off-road experiences each worth �160 in another competition.

Peter Vezey, marketing consultant for the event said: “When WEB developed this idea in February our long-term goal was to put the beautiful Roman town of Wheathampstead on the world arena – ambitious but almost possible. This has been achieved with W2W in its first year, next year we will be bussing in the crowds!

“We are staggered at the support and interest from the travel and leisure industry around the world. The Herts Advertiser and Radio Verulam have given us tremendous support, which has been a great help.

“There is an enormous amount of work by a small team but the only major task left is fixing fine weather.”

A live programme of events will take place throughout the day, starting from 11am, and will include genuine Sega dancers and Masai and Zulu warriors performing in the arena, Sri Lankan dancers, Morris Men, a talk on the Zulu and Boer Wars by a world expert on the conflicts and music from a local jazz saxophonist.

There will be teas and cakes for sale in the village hall, a fully licensed bar, an ice cream stall, Indian and Chinese dishes and tasty barbecued food from Mark, the Wheathampstead butcher on the bridge.

Ten visitors to the World Comes To Wheathampstead event will share a holiday and travel jackpot of �22,000 in a free-to-enter draw taking place in the main arena at 4.30pm.

The main prize is two economy flights to Johannesburg in South Africa, plus two nights at Chitwa Chitwa luxury five-star game lodge in Kruger National Park, one night at the Cornerstone Lodge in Pretoria, and a two-night luxury train journey on Rovos Rail from Pretoria to Cape Town, worth more than �5,000 in total.

Other prizes are for accommodation only and exclude flights, transfers and park fees, but include holidays in Natal, South Africa, Kenya and Namibia.

For full details of the event and information on how local businesses can join WEB visit www.wheathampstead.org.uk