Festival of the Moon, organised by Visit Newbury and the Corn Exchange, begins today
The Moon has landed in Newbury town centre.
The highly anticipated Festival of the Moon begins today (Tuesday) and it features a three-week programme of more than 100 lunar-inspired family and community events taking place across the town.
The festival’s centre-piece is UK artist Luke Jerram’s installation Museum of the Moon, which is currently suspended in the Corn Exchange auditorium.
A six-metre diameter, 1:600,000 scale internally-lit sculpture, Museum of the Moon is an accurate facsimile of the Earth’s only natural satellite.
Made using NASA images, the art installation is accompanied by a surround sound composition by BAFTA-winning composer Dan Jones.
Corn Exchange director Jessica Jhundoo-Evans said: “It’s incredibly impressive, amazing and awe-inspiring. I’ve just walked in and seen it for the first time.
“I’m really excited to be working with Visit Newbury and hopefully thousands of people will come and see it over the next three weeks.”
Festival of the Moon, organised by the Newbury Business Improvement District (BID), also known as Visit Newbury, lasts from August 15 until September 3 and features a massive variety of different events and activities.
These include educational talks, health sessions such as yoga and tai chi under the Moon, lunar-themed markets and art workshops.
Festival listings can be viewed on the Visit Newbury website at https://visitnewbury.org.uk/festival-of-the-moon/
Newbury BID chairman and The Catherine Wheel landlord Warwick Heskins said: “The whole point of [the festival] is to drive footfall into Newbury.
“There are 30,000 tickets available to come see the Museum of the Moon, plus over 100 separate events all round town, so just think about the extra number of visitors that’s going to bring into Newbury.
“If everyone who comes in pops into a restaurant, a coffee shop, goes into the shops beforehand, the extra income this will bring in to the Newbury economy will be fantastic.”
