Fun for all the family (From Stroud News and Journal)

Fun for all the family

A FUN-filled range of events will take place in Nailsworth next week for the town's 20th annual festival, which takes place from Saturday, April 26 to Monday, May 5.

Celebrations will kick off with an open day on Saturday when many activities will be free of charge.

Mostly held around the Mortimer Gardens and bus station, they will include open-air music by a gypsy ensemble, traditional bagpipes, an accordion, a double bass, Nailsworth Community Choir and Nailsworth Silver Band.

Nailsworth Farmers' Market will run from 9am to 4pm. There will also be mime, juggling, story telling and a parade of giants and steam engines.

Members of the public are invited to join the parade with a decorated bike or other wheeled vehicle.

Education workers from Bristol Zoo will bring along examples of 'unexpected visitors' that travel to the UK in packing cases and plant pots.

There will be street theatre entitled 'Nailsworth in a Nutshell' and a children's performance of the 'Sea Adventure'.

In the evening a concert by Zum will combine Eastern European gypsy fiddle tradition with Argentinian tango, klezmer, bluegrass and bebop.

The Flies on the Wall Youth Theatre will present 'One for the Road', written by Lucy Heywood and directed by Jo Bousfield.

Sunday will see with two more performances by the theatre group as well as talks on WH Davies, by author Barbara Hooper, and on stained glass at Chartres Cathedral by Graham Inns.

The rest of the week will bring 'Tales of Hidden Bulgaria', a celebration of Easter through singing, dancing and stories, on Thursday; acoustic music from the Bill Jones Trio; chamber works inspired by the British countryside by the Lichnowsky Piano Trio and a new music and comedy show by Richard Goldsmith and Richard Reason.

Visitors can also enjoy craft workshops at Ruskin Mill, exhibitions and a flower festival.

For more information or a programme contact Sue Reed on 01453 833472.

To become a friend of the festival call Maureen Embrey on 01453 750236.