Start of the Sevenoaks Summer Festival 2019 is now just weeks away

by Festival Chairman – Ray Russell

THE Festival Fair on Saturday, 22 June, will be packed with lively music, entertainment and activities that are sure to appeal to all ages and tastes (see details on pages 6 – 11 of the Festival brochure).

Spread across Bligh’s Meadow, The Shambles, The Drive Methodist Church and the Vine Gardens, Festival Fair runs from 10am to 5pm and includes entertainment for children, including the very young, as well as the young-at-heart, and most of it is free, thanks to generous sponsorship from Bligh’s Meadow, Kent County Council, ArchiLab7, Hamptons International, NFU Mutual and Solefield School.

Highlights include:

Close up magic from Chris Wood in Blighs Meadow

Bligh’s Meadow:

Youth & Community Music Stage – performances from local schools and youth groups, including the Kent Youth Jazz Orchestra
Walkabout & Street Theatre – close-up magic from Chris Wood, knockabout from Juggle-it All, this year including a Giant Balloon show.
Clocktower jazz & rock – Strings ‘n’ Things, Singing Nation, Skiffle Express, Lonnigan Brothers Trio and Lewis Project.
Outside The Black Boy & Nonna Cappuccini’s – music from Underriver Village Choir, Green Street Blues, Jean Bentley’s Band, Sue Rivers Quintet and Agent Boogaloo

The Shambles:

PP The Clown
Nursery Rhyme Singalong
Punch & Judy shows
Sevenoaks Ukulele Orchestra

Colourscape returns to The Vine

Vine Gardens:

Colourscape returns by popular demand, admission £5, children 12 and under £2.50
Painting for Fun – free activity designed for children

Drive Methodist Church:

Interactive Puppet Shows for children sponsored by Warners Solicitors. Whispering Smith, Snow Grey, Goldifox. Admission £5, tickets from Festival Box Office via sevenoaksfestival.org.uk

Elsewhere during the day:

Sevenoaks Society’s Heritage Exhibition in Sevenoaks Library’s Kaleidoscope has its first airing starting at 9am
Kippington St Mary’s floral celebration of Bible colours
Blues With Bottle Club present Blues in the Afternoon in The Anchor, London Road, featuring Robin Bibi and Alan Glen.

The Elektra Violin Duo will be performing in Kippington St Mary’s church, Sevenoaks

Evening entertainment features:

Sevenoaks 3 Arts Festival Prizewinners’ Concert in the Ship Theatre, Walthamstow Hall
The Faithbuilders Chorale’s Amish-Mennonite Choir from Pennsylvania presents a capella choral music from across America in St Luke’s Church
The Elektra Violin Duo perform their unique arrangements of the World’s best-loved music in Kippington St Mary’s church

Join the Sevenoaks Ramblers for a walk in the North Downs on Sunday 23 June

Entertainment and activities continue on Sunday,23 June, beginning at 10am with Sevenoaks Ramblers short walk in the North Downs, and the 10.15am Festival Eucharist Service at St Luke’s Church, Eardley Road, followed by a 30 minutes organ recital at noon.

The afternoon sees Darent Valley Youth Music open the Town Council’s series of Vine Bandstand concerts, while evening concerts feature the Primavera Chamber Ensemble in the Baron’s Hall, Penshurst Place and The Tallis Scholars at Sevenoaks School’s Pamoja Hall.

On Monday, 24 June, there is the first of a series of morning and afternoon workshops delivered by Colourscape in the Weald Heights Care Home.

The music of Stevie Wonder is the evening highlight in Some Kinda Wonderful with Noel McCalla & Derek Nash at the Stag Theatre.

Full details of events are in the Festival 2019 brochure available for free from Stag, Waitrose and various other outlets in Sevenoaks and surrounding towns and villages. You can also view an online version on the Sevenoaks Summer festival website, which also has links to the box offices for all ticketed events: www.sevenoaksfestival.org.uk