HARLESTON & WAVENEY FESTIVAL CELEBRATES ITS TENTH BIRTHDAY WITH EXCITING PROGRAMME OF ARTS, ENTERTAINMENT AND LOTS OF FAMILY FUN!

The Harleston & Waveney Arts Festival is this year celebrating a decade of bringing music, arts, culture and entertainment to the area – and this year’s programme is even better than ever to mark this special birthday.

The 10th annual Harleston & Waveney Arts Festival takes place around the town, and beyond, from 23rd – 30th August 2011, and includes plenty of free events for families.

The headline act this year is acclaimed Beatles tribute band ‘The Fab 4’ who bring their ‘The Fab4 Rock Your World’ show to Archbishop Sancroft High School, from 7.30pm on 25 August. This superb Nottingham based band is held in high regard by die-hard Beatles fans the length and breadth of Britain and are one of the world’s premier Beatles tribute bands.

Tickets are just £10 and proceeds from this event will be shared between The Festival and Harleston Rotary Club. They can be booked now through the Festival box office on 01379 851917 and 01379 852221.

The Festival boasts an impressive and unmissable line up of events including a Gardeners’ Question Time, a Harleston Big Draw Day, involving professional artists from ‘The Art Trail’ and an interview with Richard Mabey who is an acclaimed author of naturalist books. There is also a children’s chocolate making workshop, a free afternoon of kids’ entertainment with Mr Jugglefun, poetry, concerts, talks, workshops, film screenings, a weekend of live music and a family fun day.

The Festival opens on Tuesday 23 August at 7.30pm with an evening of John Betjeman at St John’s Church which includes readings and a film from the Norfolk Film Archive.

Festival-goers can also get involved from Saturday 23 July by helping to create some colourful bunting to brighten up the town during festival week. Everyone is welcome and all materials are provided at this free event, which takes place at the Library from 11am.

The Festival box office is now open for these and all other festival events on 01379 851917 and 01379 852221 and festival-goers are being advised to book early to ensure they don’t miss out.

Other events around the town during the week include guided walks, and talks plus a free music weekend at the Swan Hotel and a free family fun day on the Recreation Ground on Bank Holiday Monday (30 August), which will again include a flypast by The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight as a highlight of the day. The Festival is very grateful to the RAFA for arranging this.

Festival Chairman, Margaret Griffiths, commented: “We are delighted to be celebrating our 10th birthday and have once again put on a full and varied programme of events that offer something for everyone. Many of the events are free and offer great entertainment for the kids so pick up a programme and see what fun things you can get involved in.”

The Festival also launches its Friends scheme this year to help it continue to put on top quality events year on year. For £10 annual membership the Friends of Harleston & Waveney Festival help it to continue and will also receive additional benefits. To become a Friend contact Kerri on 01379 676695.

For more information see www.harlestonandwaveneyfestival.co.uk

Saturday, July 23rd from 11am
CREATIVE TIME FOR ALL THE FAMILY
Harleston Library
Come and be creative! We need some colourful bunting to brighten up the town during Festival week, so come and join in. All materials will be provided. Children must be accompanied.
Please contact library for further details
FREE EVENT

Tuesday, August 23rd 7.30pm
AN EVENING OF JOHN BETJAMIN
St John’s Church
This is an evening of two parts. The first part of the programme is made up of readings of Betjamin’s work performed by Brian Ellis. The second half is the screening of his film ‘A Passion for Churches’. Our thanks go to the Norfolk Film Archive for allowing us to screen this lovely old film.
TICKETS: £7.50

Wednesday, August 24th 12.30pm
A POETIC LUNCH WITH DEAN PARKIN
The Swan Hotel
We are delighted to welcome Dean Parkin of the Poetry Trust to speak at this lunchtime event. Dean is an experienced performer, participating in a number of radio programmes, while his one man show was premiered at the Edinburgh Festival in 2010.
TICKETS: £12.50 (including light lunch)

Wednesday, August 24th
Just Truffles
“Summer Fun” chocolate workshops for children aged 7+. Create a chocolate masterpiece to take home! The cost includes all materials, refreshments and guidance from CRB checked workshop leaders.
Booking is essential as there is a maximum 10 children per session.
The 1 hour long sessions start at 10.30; 13.30; and 15.30.
Please note – the workshops take place on the upper floor and there is no lift.
Cost: £7.50 per head. Tickets from Just Truffles(Church Street)

Wednesday August 24th 10am to 1pm
Children’s Entertainment in the Swan & Union Street
Come and meet Mr Jugglefun in the Swan. His entertainment features Magic, Juggling, Puppets, Comedy, Games, Balloon modelling and Music – everything needed for a wonderful time.
Kate Fisher will be demonstrating the art of pot making outside her shop in Union Street.
Come and have a go!
FREE EVENTS

Wednesday, August 24th 7.30pm
A GARDENERS’ QUESTION TIME
King George Hall
A panel of experts will answer your gardening questions.
The panel will be made up of Michael Bartlett (chairman), Terry Illsey, Heather Metcalf, Dee Palmer and a plant specialist from Blooms. Each panellist is an experienced and highly qualified gardener. Bring your gardening problems along and speak to the experts.
TICKETS: £5

Thursday, August 25th 10am to 12.00pm and 2pm to 4pm
HARLESTON’S BIG DRAW
Harleston Gallery
Artistic fun for the whole family. Professional artists from the Harleston Art Trail will guide and direct you to the best use of materials – paints, crayons and other media.
This event is open to all ages. However, children must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Places are limited, so please book the session which suits you best.
Tickets available from the Harleston Gallery in Old Market Place. ( 01379 855366)
FREE EVENT Refreshments available

Thursday, August 25th 2pm til 4pm
‘LAZY JACK’ – STORY WORKSHOP
Harleston Library
This is a family craft & story workshop on the theme ‘Lazy Jack’. There will be a guest storyteller and a storysack making workshop. Families will be able to take away their own complete storysack.
FREE EVENT but please obtain a ticket (available from the Box Office)

Thursday, August 25th 7.30pm
THE ‘FAB 4’ ROCK YOUR WORLD
Archbishop Sancroft High School
This superb Nottingham based band is held in high regard by die-hard Beatles fans the length and breadth of Britain. The Fab4 are one of the worlds premier Beatles tribute bands with an enviable talent for recreating that classic Beatles sound.
The Festival is delighted to join forces with the Harleston Rotary Club in promoting this event. The profits will be shared equally between the Festival and Rotary. (The latter are raising funds to help Archbishop Sancroft High School buy a mini- bus.)
TICKETS: £10.00

Friday August 26th 8pm – late
MUSIC WEEKEND BEGINS AT THE SWAN
The Festival’s famous free music weekend of blues, folk and pop begins this weekend. There will be a beer festival and great food available the whole weekend.
FREE EVENT

Saturday August 26th 11am – 4pm
St Johns Church
PHOTOGRAPHIC EXHIBITION – 10 Years of the Harleston & Waveney Festival
Professional photographer, Phil Burton, and the Diss Express come together to provide a cornucopia of delights which will bring back happy memories of our Festival since 2002.
FREE EVENT (Lunches available 12pm to 2pm)

Saturday, August 27th 12.30pm
King George Hall
RICHARD MABEY in conversation with Terence Blacker
Richard Mabey is a naturalist and author. He has been called by the Times ‘Britains greatest living nature writer’. Birds Britannica, written with Mark Cocker, has been described by the Sunday Times as ‘a national monument’. TICKETS: £5.00

Saturday August 27th 7.30pm
WINE AND BEER TASTING EVENING
The Old Coachhouse Starston
A convivial evening hosted by Adnams of Southwold.
Come and sample a selection of beers and wines suitable for a summers evening.
TICKETS: £7.50 (including finger buffet + tastings)

Saturday August 27th noon – late
MUSIC WEEKEND at the SWAN
The music starts in the car park from noon and features great local acts and a top regional covers band to get you dancing into the night.
FREE EVENT

Sunday August 28th 11am – 5pm
OPEN DAY
Prior’s Croft Barn
This is a superb collection of vintage wireless, gramophone and sound recording equipment. The theme this year is ‘tape recorders and magnetic recordings’, although wirelesses, wire recorder, early videos and film projectors (many of which will be working) will also be on view.

The FRIENDS OF NORFOLK DIALECT (F.O.N.D.) will also be represented at Prior’s Croft. All are welcome to find out about the workings of F.O.N.D. and to hear recordings made by them in the last 10 years.
FREE EVENT: Tea and coffee will be available on the terrace.
Prior’s Croft is situated on the main road in Withersdale Street. From Harleston, it is the second building on the left after the 30mph sign. Parking available – please drive in.

Sunday August 28th Noon – 6pm
MUSIC WEEKEND at the Swan
Begin the day with Jazz over lunch followed by a day of top musical entertainment until 6pm. More music will be available at the Cherry Tree from 8pm.
Get the full line up as it develops at www.myspace.com/harlestonfestival FREE EVENT


Sunday August 28th 2.30pm
HAUNTED HARLESTON
WITH GORDON LASCELLES
Following on our series of heritage walks with a difference, this year we invite you to come and experience more of the mysterious side of our town.
The walk will take about an hour. Meet in Broad Street outside the Church gate. Please wear sensible shoes.
FREE EVENT (but contributions will be warmly welcomed)


Sunday August 28th 6pm
HARLESTONS BIG SING
St John’s Church
Led by Canon Ivan Bailey The Festival Choir, which has come together especially for the occasion, will be conducted by David Randall. Organist : David Hillier
Come and join us for a while and enjoy a good sing of some of our favourite hymns old and new. The hymns will be interspersed with readings which capture a happy mood.
All are welcome.

Monday August 30th 11am – 5pm
FAMILY FUN DAY
A free family fun day at the Harleston Recreation Ground where there will be vintage cars, tractors and military vehicles. Events in the arena will include Morris dancing, whacky races and kickboxing demonstrations. There will also be stalls, BBQ, bar, a car boot sale and bouncy castles and much else besides.
We are very fortunate in that we once again have a flypast by The Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. We may also receive a visit from an RAF Sea King helicopter. Both of these are dependent on weather and operational availability. The Festival is grateful to the RAFA for arranging this.
FREE EVENT