Photos by Frank Leppard
Delighted crowds lined the town in Broadstairs for the return of Folk Week’s opening parade.
Hooden horses, morris dancers, giants and Clarence the dragon were among those to walk the stretch from Pierremont Hall, down the high street, along the Promenade to finish at the Bandstand where there was live music.
The folk week runs until August 12.
There is entertainment with 16 Arena concerts, 35 acoustic sessions, 13 ceilidhs and dances, 70 workshops, 21 free family shows, a craft and music fair and more than 180 free pub gigs.
The concert venue is at the Festival Arena in the Memorial Recreation Ground, next to Broadstairs train station. This is where all the headline acts appear.
The new Folk Week Dance venue is the Sarah Thorne Theatre in Fordoun Road and Victoria Gardens will host the craft and music fair, which has free entry, and will be open from August 6-12,10am -9pm daily.
The bandstand hosts the ever-popular – and free- Hobby Horse Club with the madcap Hooden Horses and Clarence the Dragon, as well as Morris dance displays and music every evening.
Organiser Jo Tuffs said: “We’ve had an absolutely amazing weekend. A sell-out crowd cheered our opening concert with Lindisfarne to the rafters, there’s wall to wall music in the pubs, the craft and music fair is packed with happy customers-not to mention our cliff-top bar.
“The opening parade danced down the High street with Morris men aplenty and there’s still another 5 sunny days to go. Another sell-out concert tonight too with the wonderful Spooky Men’s Chorale. Lots more workshops, fantastic ceilidh bands at the Sarah Thorne Theatre and a full campsite!
“After a year’s hard work of our committee and all our volunteers, it’s great to see it all coming together in a fantastic festival!”
The Folk Week Box Office will be at the Festival Arena, Memorial Rec: August 4, 1pm – 3pm and August 5-12, from 10am to 10pm.
There are more details and online booking on the website at www.broadstairsfolkweek.org.uk.
