By Jill Stocks
The long-anticipated Horsforth Festival takes place in Horsforth Hall Park from midday to 8pm this Saturday, 27 June and this is your essential guide to what’s going on.
The festival is free entry and will offer a mixture of stalls, entertainment, activities and food and drink, from local organisations and businesses, with something for all ages.
Bring your camping chairs or picnic blankets, and don’t forget your sunscreen and water, and enjoy all of the activities that showcase the best of Horsforth.
If music is your thing then you will definitely be in the right place. Local artists and bands make up the day’s programme for the main stage with a DJ set kicking off proceedings at 12pm.
Horsforth Music Centre musicians are up first at 1pm. The music centre provides a place for people of all abilities who love music to learn, sing and play, through the 80 classes, choirs or bands that are based there, with people of all abilities welcome to take part and the festival is a chance to see what they do in action.
Local artist Craig Brauns who many will know from his gigs in venues in Horsforth as well as across Leeds, Bradford and beyond, takes the stage at 2pm with crowd pleasing classic and modern hits.
LS18 Rocks is a community organisation that provides learning opportunities and experience for musicians of all ages at grassroots level. They will be on stage at 3pm.
At 4pm Drum Machine drumming collective bring their audio visual drum and bass and techno experience to Horsforth and at 5pm The Lowells, a four-piece roots-rock, folk, and country band, bring their sound to Hall Park.
The headline act is The State of Georgia who round proceedings off with the final set from 6:15pm to 7:30pm. Fronted by Georgia Jakubiak The State of Georgia are a 7 piece alternative synth pop band inspired by Kate Bush, Haim and Aurora, who have been featured on BBC Six Music. Georgia is also the bassist in The Research, an indie-pop band who recently reformed and have achieved chart success. Her voice has also featured on Grey’s Anatomy.
Lots of local organisations will be represented at the festival including Dementia Friendly Horsforth, Horsforth Choral Society, Horsforth Town Council, Animal Ark Aid, Horsforth Town of Sanctuary and Friends of Hall Park. It’s a great opportunity to find out more about what these organisations do in the community and how you could get involved.
Horsforth Churches Together will have their own tent on Saturday with a host of activities for all ages including Sumo wrestling between 4:30pm and 7pm! There will be a tots tent with fun activities for little ones, kids singalong music sessions throughout the day and giant games for kids of all ages to play.
Horsforth Walk Of Art will present the Card Bored Carnival making carnival masks and you can have your portrait painted. Whilst you’re there you can also ask them all about the activities on the upcoming Walk of Art weekend.
MHA Horsforth Communities bottle tombola will be raising funds for their work in the community and is also a great chance to find out about joining in with their varied programme of activities for over 55’s.
Horsforth is also home to a number of successful businesses, large and small, and many will be represented at the festival offering an opportunity to buy all sorts of goodies including art, jewellery, party supplies, handmade clay creations, concrete homeware and sweets.
You can even speak to the Horsforth English Tutor about private tuition or why not visit the Althams stall. Have a go on the Hook-A-Duck and guess the weight of the suitcase whilst you discuss your holiday plans with the Town Street travel agents.
If you’re feeling a bit more active why not join in with Zumba in the park. There are two thirty minute family friendly sessions at 2pm and 3pm, led by Kelly from KMG Dance Fitness.
And if you have kids who are budding athletes The Kids Olympics run from 1.30pm to 5pm with egg and spoon, archery, running events and much more.
After all that you will probably be hungry and there are plenty of food options available to suit all palettes. Popular local Mexican cafe bar Hooleos, who are also one of the sponsors of the festival, will bring their unique offering alongside much loved Town Street venue Truly Scrummy and New Road Side favourite Pookys Deli.
189 Temptations Caribbean food, Chris Hog Roast, Country Markets traditional refreshments, Ameens Indian and Fisk and Co speciality coffee and snacks ensure that there’s plenty of choice for all tastes.
Thirsty? The Old Kings Arms will be there with a fully stocked bar of beers, wines and spirits and Horsforth Brewery will be showcasing beers brewed right in the heart of Horsforth.
The event is organised by Horsforth Town Team and Horsforth City Councillors with funding from City Councillors and the Outer North West Community Committee and sponsored by local businesses Bartletts, Tudor International Freight, Leeds Bradford Airport and Hooleos.
For up to date information on Horsforth Festival follow the Horsforth Town Team facebook page.
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