A FULL DAY of entertainment is planned to celebrate the re-opening of Simmons Park and round off Okehampton Arts and Music Festival on July 20 — and the best news is it's free!
In keeping with the park's Edwardian heritage Okehampton Town Council has decided to hold an Edwardian Fete and is looking for groups in the community to come together and help the day go with a bang.
When the fete closes, the 'Party in the Park' kicks off, taking partygoers through until way after dark with some of the best bands and live acts that have ever graced a stage in Okehampton.
Since securing a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund to return one of Okehampton's jewels, Simmons Park, to its Edwardian splendour, work has been carrying on at quite a pace and is now almost complete.
Community arts organisation the Wren Trust has been asked by the town council to co-ordinate the re-dedication event, and has planned a wide variety of entertainment and displays based on what would have happened at a traditional fete of the period, such as the very event held to celebrate the original opening of the park in 1907.
The organisers would like to see everyone from the community there for the day and are asking anyone who can help with entertainment, sideshows and displays to get in touch with ideas, even if they are of a more modern persuasion.
'We are hoping that there will be such sideshows as swing boats and other period fair rides, traditional sweets and drinks, archery displays, five-a-side competitions, three-legged races, donkey rides and Punch and Judy shows,' said Wren Trust community development worker Dave Goodwin.
'On top of this there will be rural arts and craft displays, music from the town band, a procession through the town, singers and bands up on stage, street entertainers and much, much more.'
Local groups and businesses will also be able to have a stall and promote their organisations and activities and letters are being sent out to many community groups, organisations and businesses asking for help with the day and offering spaces for displays.
'If any groups do not receive a letter then we are asking them to contact us as soon as possible if they have any ideas and think they would like to be involved,' added Dave.
The Wren Trust can be contacted on 01837 53754 or email:
[email protected]">[email protected] or alternatively pop into the St James Street office.
Acts lined up for Party in the Park include Tamla Motown tribute act Band of Gold, Zimbabwe rhythm group Chimanimani, who went down a storm two years ago, Okehampton's Hard Place Band and the Okehampton College Big Band.