Alrewas Arts Festival

IF YOU are planning a trip along the Trent & Mersey Canal in late August, Alrewas would be a good stopping point.

From 25th August to 1st September, the village will be staging a week-long arts festival, starting off with an arts and crafts street market on the opening Saturday followed by a ceilidh at the village hall in the evening.

Moor in the village

Bank Holiday Monday, August 27, will be Music Monday with a variety of bands and musicians playing at pubs and clubs throughout the village from noon until midnight. Art and photographic exhibitions will be open to the public throughout the week and it will be a good opportunity for canal boats, displaying and selling crafts, to moor up in the village.

Every day, morning, afternoon and evening, a whole range of art and craft workshops will be run at various venues around the village, ranging from roses and castles canal art and photography to water colours and wood turning.

Under canal bridges

New this year is a graffiti art project involving local youngsters under one of the canal bridges, so watch out for it as you pass. All the classes are totally free and visitors are welcome, though numbers are limited.

There will also be a variety of entertainment on offer, including a folk breakfast, lunchtime concerts, drama, dance, comedy, storytelling, poetry performances and daily morning films for youngsters. There will be big art events and some woolly surprises.

Lantern parade and fireworks

The festival will end with a twilight lantern parade, firework display and a grand finale open-air concert on the village playing field, featuring some great bands, ranging from jazz to hard rock.

There is no charge and all are welcome.