PREPARATIONS are already underway for the 25th anniversary Dartmoor Folk Festival which will take place on August 9,10 and 11 this year.
At the annual meeting of the festival association recently, chairman Jason Rice promised some added attractions at the special anniversary event and thanked everyone who had helped make last year's festival a great success.
Artists booked to date include John Kirkpatrick, Jane and Amanda Threlfall, Heart of Oak, Bill Jones, Pete White, Dr Sunshine, Judy Cook, The Yetties and Betty and Norman MacDonald.
Mr Rice praised the Dartmoor Pixie Band, who supported the festival last year by organising benefit dances, despite many of these being cancelled due to the foot and mouth crisis. The band would be back performing at the festival in August.
'I would like to thank the residents of South Zeal who put up with an increase in traffic during the weekend,' he said.
'We had very few hitches and I have received a number of favourable comments from those who attended.'
The official opening by South West NFU regional director Anthony Gibson, assisted by the Wag from Widecombe Tony Beard had been a 'memorable' part of the festival, he said.
Despite a lack of income due to the foot and mouth crisis, the festival was able to maintain itself and Mr Rice said this was part due to the work of grants officer Alan Quick.
On March 9 at South Zeal Victory Hall, the Cornwall Songwriters' Production 'The Cry of Tin' will be performed again because the event had sold out at last year's festival.
To book tickets or to find out more about the 2002 folk festival contact Jane White on 01837 840102.