Wimborne Minster, Dorset is once again home to the annual folk festival when the town comes alive to the colour and spectacle of dancers and musicians tempting locals and visitors
Wimborne Folk Festival is one of the most popular and respected events in the South of England with a reputation for a brilliant weekend of dance displays from teams from around the country and for concerts with some of the major professional Irish, Scottish & English names on the acoustic music scene today.
We have over 45 dance teams confirmed for this year already with many new to Wimborne. The Allendale Community Centre is the venue for the weekend’s afternoon and evening concerts with over 20 amazing acts to entertain you.
Friday will see the opening procession from Park Lane by the local teams at 7.30pm finishing in the Corn Market with a dance display from each of the participating teams that have processed.
With their first visit to the South of the country, the award winning Scottish fiddler Rua Macmillan and his band will be headlining the Friday opening concert
Saturday dance displays in the town will start at 10.30am finish at 5pm with the Grand Procession from Park Lane starting at 2.30pm Lots of fabulous craft market stalls will be in various areas in the town and outside the Allendale Centre and at the rear of The Olive Branch
Children entertainers Ticklish Allsorts and Krazy Kev will be entertaining the young & old around the town and outside the Allendale Centre all day Saturday & Sunday.
With 2 Saturday evening concert venues Wimborne Festival welcomes the return of the superb band CARA from Germany playing Celtic songs & tunes and firm favourite Jez Lowe each headlining the eve concerts.
Sunday from 10.30am until 5pm will see the huge street market incorporating many local charity stalls throughout the centre of Wimborne together with the Morris and Appalachian dancing in the streets and in the Corn Market.
Sunday closing evening concert finishes with, from Ireland, the awesome band Lunasa – the hottest traditional Irish band on the planet!
You can dance the evenings away Friday & Saturday with Ceilidh bands Bursledon Village Band (Fri) and All Blacked Up (Sat)
From Friday through to late Sunday night there are concerts, ceilidhs, dance displays, festival folk club open stage, English & Irish music sessions, song sessions, workshops (including the very popular Appalachian & Irish Set Dance classes) and Craft & Charity Street Market stalls throughout the town. There’s stuff for the kids too and the nearby festival campsite makes it easy to do the whole weekend.
Published on 15 May 2012 by Wayne Feltham
