Thatcham Festival of Arts and Leisure starts today (Sat)

The town mayor will officially open the 11th festival on the Broadway Green at 10am

THIS year's Thatcham Festival of Arts and Leisure kicks off today (8).

Mayor Lee Dillon will open the 11th festival on Broadway Green at 10am, launching the start of more than 60 activities for people to enjoy over nine days.

Day one will include a food fair at the Parish Hall, Chapel Street, with local companies holding demonstrations including Delicious Dial A Cake at 11.30am, The Pampered Chef at 12.30pm and Papadam Express at 1.30pm.

The art and craft fair will return to St Mary's Church, at which visitors can speak to members from craft groups in the area, purchase items, discover a little of the town's past with Thatcham Historical Society and view Thatcham historian Malcolm Langford's collection of artefacts.

Various stalls will fill the Broadway Green, the Sing for Fun choir will be performing at the Kingsland Centre, Thatcham classic car show will be held on Dunstan Green, and in the evening, there will be a roller disco for 11 to 16-year-olds at Kennet Leisure Centre.

On Sunday, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust is hosting two events – a seven-mile walk and a family exploration day at Bowdown Wood.

Highlights during the rest of the week include Monday evening's charity fashion show, Tuesday's singing for beginners with Let's Sing, Wednesday's word wizardry session for children and Thursday's Watership Cantabile concert.

On Friday evening there will be a quiz at the Burdwood Community Centre, Wheelers Green Way or watch Cold Brass Band's concert at the Baptist Church in Wheelers Green Way.

The second week kicks off on Saturday with green activities at the Nature Discovery Centre, THATfestivalGIG featuring local youth bands at Moorside Community Centre and Kennet Amateur Theatrical Society providing an evening of 1960s Radio entertainment.

On Sunday there will be a kids craft event at the Frank Hutchings Community Hall and to finish the festival a special production of the early English opera Dido and Aeneas will be performed at St Mary's Church, Thatcham by Newbury Chamber Choir, a full orchestra of professional and amateur musicians and soloists including David Stephenson and Val MacFarlane.

For the full programme of events, click on the link below.

For full coverage of the first week of the festival, see next week's Thatcham News.