Festivals and Events for 2011
Its time to get your party shoes polished, because 2011 is a year full of festivals and events in West Berkshire
NEWBURY is in for a bumper year of events and festivals, despite the Waterways Festival being cancelled due to calendar clashes.
The organisers of the Waterways Festival decided to cancel this year's festival, which would have been held in June, when they realised that its normal June date would be too close to the Newbury Carnival.
The Newbury branch secretary of the Kennet and Avon Canal Trust, who organises the event, Graham Smith, said: “We were worried that the people of Newbury would suffer from event fatigue so close to the carnival.”
The last time the festival had skipped a year was in 2003.
Mr Smith said: “We hope to spend a bit more time looking for inspiration and maybe come back revived next year.”
But despite the loss of the Waterways Festival, there are still plenty to look forward to this year.
The pancake race will get the year off to a running start and will again take place in the Market Place on Shrove Tuesday, which falls on March 8.
No time to catch your breath, though, because hot on its heels is the Crafty Craft Race on May 2.
From May 7 to 21 its time to forget all about the cold weather and welcome spring with Newbury Spring Festival.
By the time summer rolls around, its time to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Newbury coat.
To mark the occasion, Kennet Valley Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers will attempt to again make a coat in one day, using the same old methods.
Two sheep, 30 carders, 50 spinners and 10 weavers will all play their part as the coat takes shape in Victoria Park.
The theme for this year's Newbury Carnival, which takes place on Sunday July 10, is Going for Gold.
Entries for the carnival parade is already open and the event has Facebook and Twitter accounts for those who just can't wait for the fun to get started.
This is followed by the Royal County of Berkshire Show, held on September 17 and 18.
And finally, the year is closed off with yet another Halloween Hullabaloo and the Christmas light switch-ons.
