>May Events / Events in Norfolk and Suffolk May 20, 2013

From Britten to condoms

Whether you’re into folk music or Benjamin Britten, rambling or condoms, this year’s Aylsham Festival has something to offer! The Festival’s overall theme is ‘Paths and Patterns’ but the title scarcely covers the multitude of events being staged over the five days from 23rd to 28th May.

Starting this Thursday, 23rd May, the opening day’s main attraction is a ceilidh in Aylsham Town Hall, starting at 6pm and going on to 10.00. Music will be provided by well-known Norfolk band Shinanikins, with caller George making sure you get the steps right if you decide to dance

Poetry and walking – but not necessarily at the same time – are on the menu for Friday while on Saturday, Festival goers can catch a regular shuttle bus, available by arrangement with Aylsham Care Trust, from the town to Blickling Hall where there will be a craft, vintage and plant fair.

Model train and Scalextric enthusiasts will be catered for on Sunday in the Town Hall where there will also be an all-day café, courtesy of Slow Food Aylsham.

The entertainment continues on Monday when well known local auctioneer Martin Fox will be relating some of his experiences in his entertaining talk titled ‘Condoms to Coffins. This talk is free and will be in the Town Hall at midday. Professor Tim Bliss will follow Martin Fox at 2pm with a talk on ‘Memory’ (there’s a small charge for this one) while in the evening, the much-acclaimed play ‘The Canada Boys’ will be performed in the Town Hall by the East Theatre Company.

Rounding off the Festival on Tuesday 28th, this time in Aylsham Parish Church, will be the internationally renowned Britten Sinfonia, performing music by Mozart, Debussy, Ravel and of course, Benjamin Britten.

In between all of these events will be a series of walks and rambles, a flower festival, weaving and a specially-arranged train ride, complete with cream tea. In fact, the whole five days of the Festival will be packed with things to do, many of them free, some with a small charge to cover costs. All the detail is at www.aylshamfestival.co.uk where you can also buy tickets.

Aylsham Festival is a not-for-profit event whose patron is Norfolk-born Sir Paul Nurse, President of the Royal Society and a Nobel Prize winner.