PLANS are well advanced for this year's Gunnislake Festival, which takes place from Wednesday, July 30 until Saturday, August 2. In an effort to introduce something new each year, the organising committee has invited along a team of Vikings, in full gear, who will recreate the Battle of Hingston Down in 838. This will take place on the Saturday when bands such as Yorkie, Turnpike and the Jumping Out Jazz Men will provide a variety of musical entertainment whilst those attending are perusing the many stalls and attractions in the centre of the village. There will be lots for the children to be kept fully occupied as well. The popular history exhibition in the public hall will this year feature World War One 100 years after its start and will show how the village was affected. This will be open on the Friday and Saturday, while the Festival Group of Artists' Annual Exhibition will take place in St Ann's Church Hall over the four days of the Festival. Artists of the thespian kind will be performing on the Saturday afternoon as the Gunnislake Local Amateur Dramatic Society (GLAD) will again entertain in a special mini-show. Graeme Spink will show his film 'The Tamar Valley – Reflections in Time' in the public hall on the Wednesday while a concert of sacred music performed by the Callington Singers will attract many to St Ann's Church on the Friday evening. Ahead of the festival — July 26 — Kate Threlfall, who has just written a book on the subject, will lead a walk on 'Shops and Shopkeepers of Gunnislake' starting in the car park at 7pm. The scarecrows will once again make their appearance in and around Gunnislake leading up to and over the festival period and a Challenge Trophy will be awarded for the best one. The four local hostelries will be providing their own entertainment and music so obtain a programme nearer the time from Gunnislake Post Office and full details of all the 'goings on' will be included. A prize quiz will also soon be available from all retail outlets in the village. The organisers may be contacted through secretary Jean Day on [email protected]">[email protected] or chairperson, Gill Pengelly at the Buccaneer 01822 833752.