Horsham English Festival is far out: 8 and 9 May
04 May 2010
THE addition of 60s and 70s Sunday to this year’s English Festival in Horsham is sure to be a groovy way of finishing the weekend.
This year’s English Festival has expanded to include Sunday 9 May, with a complete change of pace to a 60s and 70s themed day as well as free parking across Horsham town centre.
The day will include 60s and 70s music from Voice from the Coal Shed from 11am until 4pm as well as the chance to enjoy free rides on the classic green Southdown bus services of the 60s and 70s to local towns and villages across the Horsham District by Southdown Historic Vehicles.
There’s also an English classic car show in the Carfax organised by The Rotary Club of Horsham.
The English Festival will build on the success of last year’s event and on the first day, Saturday 8 May, there will be a traditional blend including the Broadwood Morris Day of Dance, a medieval version of the Carfax local produce and crafts market, as well as music.
The Broadwood Morris Day of Dance will feature dance teams from all over the South East demonstrating various traditional dance styles, from English Morris dancing to Appalachian dancing and Scottish Highland dancing.
Around midday on Saturday, a celebration of the newly re-launched Shelley Fountain will take place at the fountain in the Bishopric area of town, with performance contributions expected from Broadwood Morris and local Rainbows. Broadwood Morris poet, Jim Farr, will be reciting Percy Bysshe Shelley.
Sunday’s nostalgic journey:
Thanks to Southdown Historic Vehicles there will be the chance to enjoy a nostalgic journey on the green liveried Southdown buses as they recreate some of the original routes across the Horsham District. Journeys are free and will take place between 10-4pm with routes to include:
- Bus service number 117
(First bus departs Horsham and Henfield at 10am)
Henfield High Street – Cowfold Village Hall – Mannings Heath Dun Horse Pub – Horsham Carfax.
- Bus service number 202
(First bus departs Southwater and Horsham at 10.30am)
Horsham Carfax – Southwater Cripplegate Corner
- Bus service number 69
(First bus departs Horsham and Billingshurst at 11am)
Billingshurst High Street – Broadbridge Heath Shelley Arms - Horsham Carfax, Horsham
- Bus service number 80
(First bus departs Steyning and Horsham at 11.30am)
Steyning - Horsham (Route stops to be confirmed)
For an added touch of nostalgia, why not hop on an open top bus from Horsham’s Carfax and travel to Hop Oast (2 miles south of Horsham town centre on the Worthing Road) to see a fascinating display of vintage Sussex buses? Transport and entry to the exhibition is free.
Buses leave for Hop Oast between 10.15am and 4pm at 15 and 45 minutes past each hour (the last bus leaves the Carfax at 3.15pm).
All rides and exhibitions are free but donations to the Southdowns Historic Vehicles Group are welcome. Visit www.southdownhistoric.co.uk for more information on the group.
To really get that vibe going, ‘Step Back in Time Sunday’, produced by Voice from the Coal Shed takes place from 11am until 4pm.
A psychedelic feast of music that has influenced English culture from the 60s and 70s, the programme will include pop, divas rock, musicals, film scores, and girls and boys born to be wild! Performances will be scattered throughout Horsham town centre in three locations - Shelley Fountain, the Carfax and in East Street.
Confirmed local groups include Divas Undaunted, The Pleasure Singers, Southwater Junior School, Coal Shed Rock (Horsham’s first rock choir), Cantatrice and special guest star - all the way from Memphis, West Sussex, the American legend ‘ELVIS’!
So get out those 60s and 70s outfits and be prepared to have a good old sing-a-long and a great time.
Horsham English Festival is organised by Horsham District Council and partners.
For more information look on the Horsham English Festival pages
Ends
CONTACT: Richard Morris, Communications Manager
Email richard.morris@horsham.gov.uk