Final preparations put in place for Horsham’s ‘Sparks in the Park’

The afternoon of fun takes place between 12 noon and 5pm on Sunday July 28 in Horsham Park and offers free entry to all as well as free parking across the town centre.

Whilst the weather is never a certainty, the organising team guarantee plenty of sporting fun, live music, dance, creative workshops, mascot mayhem, circus skills and tasty refreshments.

In a first for the increasingly popular park event, the emergency services and partners will be coming together to promote community safety within the Horsham district at the event.

There will be a wealth of things to see and do, providing a unique insight into the work of the emergency services.

Whilst there will be lots of fun to be had, the teams will also be raising awareness of the important work carried out by the emergency services and highlighting what can be done to combat community safety issues in the Horsham district.

The ‘Dromos Festival’ is also new this year and not to be missed, offering a diverse range of live music acts, theatre performances, dance workshops and a whole host of family activities. For further details on the programme, visit the Dromos Festival website.

The Horsham district is fortunate to have such a wealth of creative talent within it and some of the best artists have been cherry picked so that visitors can enjoy live entertainment from local community groups and bands on the main stage all afternoon.

The Sports and Activity Zone is a major part of the event programme with Horsham District Council coordinating the involvement of a number of local clubs and groups.

These include Horsham Sparrows FC, Horsham Table Tennis Club, Horsham Hawks Basketball Club, Horsham Tennis Club, SEMKA Karate, Horsham Youth Cycling Club, Horsham Rounders Club, Stool Ball England, Horsham Volleyball Club, Nordic walking instructor Linda Edwards, and a bowls road show.

The Set4Success consortium, which raises and distributes money to support local talented young sports people to achieve their dreams, will also be occupying a pitch.

Visit The Children’s Trust Activity Zone to witness, amongst much mascot mayhem, a tug of war and an attempt at a new UK Record for the longest Mascot Conga.

Younger children will enjoy the Active Play Zone which will include inflatable fun, soft play, clowning and magic, whilst older children can look forward to the thrills provided by Bensons Fun Fair, trampolining, skate jam, Kapow Wrestling and the excitement of Zorbing!

Bensons Funfair will be open in Horsham Park from Thursday July 25 through to late on Sunday 28 July.

The Rotary Club of Horsham and other charities will be on site providing traditional games and activities while raising money for local good causes. In addition, volunteers from several local visitor attractions and community groups will be in the park offering displays, stalls and activities for all.

For teenagers, local award-winning driving school, Stay Safe, which is also one of the event sponsors, will be offering a special driving experience for anyone over the age of 14.

This driving experience will be a unique opportunity for young people to find out what it is like behind the wheel of a real car, trying their hand at precision manoeuvres in a safe and controlled environment while discovering just how important it is to think and react quickly and sensibly while they are in the driving seat.

Horsham District Council is working in partnership with young Horsham Skate Park users towards the organisation of this year’s Horsham Skate Jam - the annual BMX, in-line, and skateboarding competition.

The event takes place on the same day as Sparks in the Park and runs from 11am - 8pm, providing children and young adults from across the district with the opportunity to compete in the sport they love, as well as encourage people to take up the different sports.

Competition entry for Horsham Skate Jam is £5 and all profit made from the event is put back into the skate park for future improvements and repairs. For more information search for ‘Horsham Skatepark’ on Facebook or call Sam Richardson on 07588 895764.

For further information about Sparks in the Park, visit its website, email Horsham District Council at [email protected] or telephone 01403 215279.