HORSHAM ENGLISH FESTIVAL
_rdax_180x115.jpg)
A special festival celebrating all things English took place on Saturday 9 May in Horsham Town Centre featuring a medieval market with local food and drink and crafts, dance, music, historical exhibitions, children’s entertainments and promotions around the town.
Based around the well established Day of Dance (now in its fantastic 17th year) and organised by the local Broadwood Morris Men, the Day of Dance is an invitational event which regularly attracts 10 or more ‘sides’ which display at locations across Horsham Town Centre. The dance teams mostly perform traditional English dances such as Morris (Cotswold, North West and Border), Step Clog and Sword. Also, Scottish and Appalachian dances are regularly featured. One of the main features of the day is the Carfax Ceilidh (Bandstand Barn dance) which enables members of the public to join in the dancing.
Ye Olde Local Produce Market
Saturday’s market goes all medieval with additional stalls featuring local brewers and cider makers, a hogroast and traditional cockles and whelks. Topping this all off, there will be many businesses around the town offering free samples of English fayre and a range of promotions and special offers.
Family Entertainment
For children of all ages there will be two dragon workshops at Horsham Museum and a Kidz Stuff magical experience and balloon making. You may also come across Sir Lupin of Pipwithers, a sad knight who has lost his horse! For those who like a spot of traditional travel there is also a chance to take a free ride on an open top bus courtesy of Southdown Historic Vehicles.
Horsham Museum
Look out for a new fun and free-to-enter trail around Horsham Museum that explores fascinating facts and artefacts that bring the Englishness of Horsham's past to life.
The town will be supporting the British Red Cross on the day.
What’s On:
| Time | Event |
|---|---|
| 9am to 3.30pm | Ye Olde Local Produce Market (Carfax) |
| 9am to 5pm | British Red Cross display and traditional musical organ (Carfax) and collections around town |
| 10am to 5pm | Horsham Museum (The Causeway): - New Nature Depicted Gallery and an English History Trail. Last chance to see Sussex Artists Display |
| 10am to 4pm | Kidz Stuff 2009 (Carfax) – The English Festival Custard Pie Throwing trials |
| 10am to 4pm | Horsham Marbles Open Tournament and display (The Forum) Fun for all ages to join in |
| 10.30am | Broadwood Day of Dance, Morris Dancers procession starts from Shelley Fountain, Bishopric and proceeds through West Street to Bandstand, Carfax |
| 10.45am | Massed Morris display around Bandstand, Carfax |
| 11am to 12noon | Free Dragon Costume, Song and Dance Workshops with Root and Branch Theatre Company, Horsham Museum |
| 11:00am - 1pm | Mercury FM, Carfax |
| 11am - 2pm | Pelotas Productions Juggling – Open workshop for all ages, (The Forum) |
| 11am - 2:30pm | Morris dancing displays and Local folk music, locations around the town: Carfax, East Street, Piries Place, Park Place, Market Square, Shelley Fountain - Bishopric, West Street |
| 11am – 3pm | Free Southdown Historic open top bus rides around Horsham Town Centre, from Carfax Bandstand (Donations to The British Red Cross) |
| 11am to 3pm | Sir Lupin of Pipwithers, Medieval Stilt walker (Strolling) |
| 12noon to 2.30pm | Dragon Walkabout Entertainment, Carfax, Market Square, East Street |
| 2.30pm – 3.30pm | Free Dragon Costume, Song and Dance Workshops with Root and Branch Theatre Company, Horsham Museum |
| 3pm to 4.30pm | Carfax Ceilidh (pronounced kaylee) (Barn dance) – Public welcome to join in |
For further details telephone (01403) 215386 or email: leisure@horsham.gov.uk.
Other Horsham Festivals
Details about other festivals and outdoor events in Horsham town centre throughout the year are available online.