Thousands Enjoy Horsham’s Sparks In The Park Event
27 Jul 2010
Enjoying record numbers of visitors, Horsham’s Sparks In the Park was a resounding success as thousands of people celebrated the London 2012 Open Weekend at a free summer spectacular on Sunday 25th July in Horsham Park.
After a damp start, the sun finally shone throughout the afternoon, helping visitors to enjoy a wide variety of free activities including an It's a Knockout fun competition, carnival and music workshops, live music and dance, circus skills workshops, children's entertainers, and free stalls and activities from local attractions including Amberley Museum and Heritage Centre, RSPB Pulborough Brooks, Warnham Nature Reserve and the Rotary Club of Horsham who were on hand offering traditional games and activities raising money for local good causes. Hundreds of youngsters also flocked to enjoy Bensons Funfair in the Park, open from Friday afternoon for the whole weekend.
Energy was high in the Sports Zone where over 10 different sporting activities were on offer for people to try, from golf and table tennis to urban rebounding and dodgeball, organised by the Council’s Leisure Link team and thanks to local clubs including Stoolball England, SEMKA Karate, Horsham Basketball Club, Horsham Sparrows GFC and Horsham Tennis Club. Free open days were also on offer at the adjoining Pavilions in The Park and the Horsham Park Bowls Club.
One of the key highlights of the day was the One World Carnival; an energetic, colourful and flamboyant carnival procession through Horsham Park with 95 fantastic costumes! Throughout the afternoon visitors could take part in workshops making colourful flags for the parade, joining in samba workshops and decorating a giant carnival cube. Key within the carnival procession was the Blue Touch Paper section made of customers of the Strawford Centre, Horsham. The Blue Touch Paper project brings disabled and non disabled people together to plan, share skills and make top quality carnival in an accessible way so that everybody can take part. www.btpcarnival.co.uk.
The Strawford crew had been involved in every aspect of the carnival process including designing, making and dyeing the costumes, make up design and actually wearing the costumes in the procession. The Horsham Carnival was the first outing for the new costumes which were based on the themes of West Sussex, freedom, inclusion and imagination and marks the start of an exciting phase of the project as it heads towards the London 2012 Games. Other costumes in the procession were from the Kinetika Spectacle Collection.
Sarah Hogben, Marketing and Events Manager for Horsham District Council said: “I am absolutely delighted with the success of Sparks In The Park. After the last couple of years of rainy events it was a treat to see thousands of people in the Park enjoying such a wide range of family entertainment in the sunshine, most of which was free. The event was part of the countrywide London 2012 Open Weekend when the nation was encouraged to ‘Take Part’ in the two year count down to the London 2012 Games. With so many different sporting opportunities, the It’s a Knockout challenge, creative workshops and a spectacular and flamboyant carnival procession and more, we have certainly set the standard for future Open Weekend events across the County. In these difficult financial times free events such as this are vital in boosting community spirit, encouraging participation in sports and arts activities and bringing families together.”
Sparks In the Park was organised by Horsham District Council.
Contact:leisure@horsham.gov.uk