Mainstage a successful finale for Crawley Festival

Saturday 18 June sees the culmination of the Festival with Mainstage in the Memorial Gardens. Pic Steve Robards SR1617638 SUS-160620-124152001

As well as musical entertainment, there were art, dance and DJ skills workshops, a children’s play area, street theatre, aspects of healthy lifestyle.

There was a bouncy castle, craft, food and beer stalls and also the ever popular Cultural Kitchen which was an opportunity to see prepared and then to eat different foods from around the world.

Crawley Festival committee chairman Bob Burgess said: “The whole week went very well. Despite the possible inclement weather both the Sunday (June 12) and Saturday for the two big events, the rain held off for the most part and an enjoyable time was had by all. I was talking to the director of the event, Tony, and he thought both events we very good. High Street Live numbers were down on previous years, but weather was not so good.

Saturday 18 June sees the culmination of the Festival with Mainstage in the Memorial Gardens. Pic Steve Robards SR1617659 SUS-160620-124216001

“The numbers for Mainstage were good and we have a varied programme for people to take part in.

“The big selling point, mainly High Street Live, is that they are both free. People are literally surprised it’s free.

“A very good addition to Mainstage this year was a train ride. The guys who were doing it were non stop.

“They were just picking up, going round and dropping off and they were doing that all afternoon. It was very popular with lots of adults and children.

Saturday 18 June sees the culmination of the Festival with Mainstage in the Memorial Gardens. Pic Steve Robards SR1617661 SUS-160620-124055001

Carrying the strapline ‘For Crawley, By Crawley’, the event was the culmination of a week of activities celebrating the musical and creative talent Crawley has to offer.

Earlier highlights included High Street Live last Sunday, a lunchtime concert in St John’s Church on Monday and a joint performance by Weald Choir and the Concordia Singers of ‘The Armed Man’ by Karl Jenkins and Haydn’s ‘Mass in a Time of War’ on Saturday evening.

Bob said: “The concert of the Silver Birch singers and guys called ‘Les Onions’ in St John’s Church was very enjoyable. The church must have been two-thirds full.

“We always try to showcase Crawley groups. Crawley comes first.”

As the organisers recover from a very busy week, thoughts are already turning to next year. Bob said they hope to give schools the opportunity to get more involved by moving it towards the end of June, early July out of the exam period.