Thatcham Festival of Arts & Leisure 2011
Oct 04
Saturday 8th October – Sunday 16th October
Thatcham Mayor, Cllr. Lee Dillon, accompanied by Town Councillors will open the 11th Thatcham Festival of Arts & Leisure on the Broadway Green. This year there are over 60 activities for people to enjoy over 9 days.
The Launch Day includes a Food Fair in the Parish Hall with local companies hosting demonstrations including Delicious Dial A Cake at 11.30, The Pampered Chef at 12.30 and Papadam Express at 1.30.
The popular Art & Craft fair will return to St Mary’s Church where visitors can speak to members from the many craft groups in the area, purchase items, discover a little of Thatcham’s past from Thatcham Historical Society and view Malcolm Langford’s collection of historical artefacts from Pre-history through to Roman times. Various stalls will fill the Broadway Green; the Old Bluecoat School will host an art exhibition; and the Thatcham Classic Car Show will be on Dunstan Green.
During the Saturday evening there will be a Roller Skating Disco for 11- 16 year olds at Kennet Leisure Centre, Thatcham Neighbourhood Action Group has kindly assisted Thatcham Town Council in funding the two sessions which will run from 7-8pm and 8-9pm.
On Sunday 9th October Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust are hosting two events a 7 mile walk and a Family Exploration Day at Bowdown Wood.
Highlights during 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 join up with friends and enter a team into the quiz at the Burdwood Community Centre or enjoy Cold Brass Band’s concert at the Baptist Church.
The second weekend of the Festival is as busy as the first with activities on Saturday at the Nature Discovery Centre, THATfestivalGIG featuring local youth bands at Moorside Community Centre and Kennet Amateur Theatrical Society providing a hilarious evening of 1960s Radio entertainment. On Sunday there will be hours of fun at the Kids Craft event at the Frank Hutchings Community Hall. To finish the Festival a special production of the early English opera Dido & Aeneas will be performed at St Mary’s Church, Thatcham with Newbury Chamber Choir, a full orchestra of professional and amateur musicians and soloists including David Stephenson and Val MacFarlane.
