PHENOMENAL! is the only way to describe this year's Hatherleigh Festival. At least 600 people filled the Square on Saturday night to witness the Black Eagles' superb acrobatic show and dance to the Five Furious Fish.
The acts came from as far away as Tanzania and the audience came from far and wide, including Japan. All the events were well attended and over half sold out completely. The sun miraculously shone as the crowds lingered in the Square soaking up the electric atmosphere.
The exhibitions were visually stunning and all the artists sold their work. Dominic Welch from Chagford made dramatic impact with his beautiful tactile stone sculpture, while Yvette Martin from Thorndon Cross worked on a seven-foot figure made from hazel twigs. The diversity of the artists who work from watercolour to granite gave everyone a selection of the amazing talent living in Devon.
The two big nights, comedy night and The hkippers were both justifiably sell outs as were the superb classical quartet Izumi and concert pianist Ron Abramski.
The festival's aim is to bring to town acts and events that would otherwise be unavailable to see here, but it would also not have been the same without the highly entertaining rendition of A Midsummer Nights Dream by the Hatherleigh players or the big talents of the school choir.
So much hard work is put into the festival and the organisers have expressed a big thank-you to everyone involved and local business sponsors and funders who included Lloyds TSB and the Lottery with help from the CVS and West DEN.
Hatherleigh Festival annual meeting is on September 6 at 8pm in the Old School and next year's dates are July 11 to the 14.
Music played a big part in the festival — pictured below are some of the acts who provided entertainment for the 'Sunday Pub Lunch' with music and good food in the town's three pubs. Above (centre pictures) is the gospel choir.
Above right is West Country artist Daphne Cartwright with her exhibition of paintings and top left is environmental artist Yvette Martin, from Thorndon Cross, with her sculpture in the beer garden of the Tally Ho!