>September Events / Art & Theatre / Events in Norfolk and Suffolk / Tourist Attractions Norfolk and Suffolk September 4, 2016
From Bunting and Bangles to Ducks and Divas – Crafts @ Kirstead 2016 has something for everyone!
Crafts @ Kirstead, one of the region’s largest artisan craft fairs, promises to be bigger and better this year when it opens its gates to the public over the weekend of the 10th and 11th September.
The event has come a long way since the two organisers, Lesley Fish and Jane Williams, held their first fund-raising craft fair five years ago in the grounds of Sisland Tithe Barn. This year, over 80 of East Anglia’s finest artisan producers and makers will be exhibiting and selling their work during the two-day festival which is being held at Homestead Nurseries in Kirstead.
The 2016 fair showcases a huge variety of talent. Craftwork includes pottery created by the talented Andrea Young from her Wattlefield studio; hallmarked silver jewellery produced by Norfolk jeweller, Fiona Johnson; wooden bird-tables and garden planters made by Maurice Morris-Newton from Framingham Earl, who has previously supplied Queen Elizabeth II with garden furniture at Sandringham and Paul Williams, the Neatishead woodturner, whose food-safe boards grace the restaurants of top London chefs.
Award-winning marmalade-maker, Ali Barwick from Loddon, will be selling her selection of preserves including the world’s best Seville Orange Marmalade. Other food producers include Jane Graham from Gressenhall with her wonderful fruit and alcohol infusions and Kate Lyons – creator of Pudd’Eng, a superb range of traditional, English desserts.
With plenty happening throughout the weekend, you are sure to find something to entertain you. Bring your dog along and enter the “Canines @ Kirstead” Dog Show (kindly sponsored by K9 Capers) which takes place on Saturday together with an entertaining display of Dog Agility. Entries start from 10am, and with classes ranging from “Best Pedigree” to “The Dog the Judge Would Like to Take Home”, you are sure to find an entry to suit your pooch! BBC’s “Look East” presenter, Susie Fowler-Watt, has agreed to the onerous task of judging the Dog Show later on Saturday afternoon!
On Sunday 11th September a Douglas C-47 Dakota from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight based at RAF Coningsby, will be making a flypast over the Craft Fair (time to be confirmed). The wonderful Broadbeat Choir will be making a welcome return and performing some of their songs and a finale to the weekend will be performed by the fantastic Loddon Brass Band.
This year, the charities benefiting are Nelson’s Journey, Macmillan Cancer Support and The Sheffield Children’s Hospital and it’s hoped that each will receive in excess of the £1,100 per charity raised in 2015.
Both parking and entry to the event is free and a variety of food and refreshments will be available throughout the weekend including a menu created especially for the event by The Bistro Express in Sisland, afternoon teas by Jay B Bakes@The Café, Brooke, a range of beers brewed by The Why Not Brewery and a hog roast from MB Catering based at The Kings Head in Brooke.
From bunting and bangles to ducks and divas, there is something for everyone and we look forward to seeing you there.
Crafts @ Kirstead is open both days from 10.00am until 4.00pm. For further information, please call (01508) 520520.
