Characteristics of the audience for ‘events’ at a heritage site

Abstract

This paper reports a case study of the characteristics of visitors to special ‘events’ (in this case historical re-enactments) at a heritage site (Caerphilly Castle) in South Wales. By comparing the characteristics of visitors on event and non-event days it was apparent that the events had particular appeal to local people and were successful at encouraging repeat visits. However, in terms of sociodemographic characteristics, visitors on event days were similar to those on non-event days, and there was no evidence that events at the castle were broadening the market and attracting those groups (particularly manual workers and young people) who were under-represented at such sites. Neither did the events have any particular appeal to families. Visitors to events enjoyed their visit, stayed longer than average and showed greater support for costumed interpreters than those on non-event days. Moreover, despite claims that re-enactments have little educational value, a large proportion of event days visitors considered that they had learned something from their visit.