Westbury Festival is here!- Annual music and arts festival presents entertainment for everyone

FESTIVAL fortnight is here with a fantastic programme of live music, comedy, arts and crafts and much more. 

The annual music and arts festival which is now in its 12th year, will run from Friday 20th September to Sunday 6th October.

The festival will be opened by Bristol’s community choir ‘Renewal Gospel Choir’ on Saturday 21st September from 7pm-9pm at All Saints Church. And it will be closed by BAFTA -nominated TV Entertainer of the Year, Richard Digance on Saturday 5th October at the Laverton and on Sunday 6th October at All Saints Church for a final gathering to sing some of your favourite hymns. 

And in between is a line-up of over 50 events including the ever-popular comedy and supper night; a free ‘Heritage Walk around Westbury’; a talk and tasting at Westbury’s own brewery; a rhymtime for baby and toddlers in the library; talks, workshops; a quiz, sing alongs, live music, an introduction to spinning, poetry, a cyberjam, Songs of Praise hymn singing, an Old Westbury in Pictures talk and lots more.

And not forgetting the popular Little Lunch Music – a series of free concerts in All Saints Church featuring jazz, clarinet, flute and piano concerts, the Songbirds choir and Westbury Schools’ Concert.

A full round up of all the events can be found in our 4 page pullout in the centre of the paper, together with more news on page 9. 

“We’ve got an absolutely fantastic line-up this year with something for everyone,” said Festival chair Ian Cunningham. “It’s a jam-packed two weeks of top entertainment and we’re hoping local people will get to as many events as they can.

“Lots of the events are free, and ones where we are making a charge, we have done our best to make them very affordable. We are delighted to be told repeatedly that Westbury’s festival is impressive for a town of our size.”

Festival sponsors for this year are Westbury Town Council, Hills Waste Ltd, Elkins Ford, Lockheed Martin and HPH Commercial Property.

Tickets can be bought online on the website www.west buryfestival.org.uk, pop-up box office  at E.J.Crafts on Maristow Street from 9am-4.30pm Monday to Saturday, by phone 03336 664 466 via ticket source or from committee members. For a full list of programme events visit www. westburyfestival.org.uk or look out for a programme around the town which can be found at The Heritage Centre, The Laverton and the Library amongst other places.

Pictured: Renewal Gospel Choir and Richard Digance.