Visual Arts Features

It may not be beside the seaside, and is at least 50 miles from being beside the sea, but that's not stopping Bradford on Avon from throwing its very own Beach Party…

Yes it's that time of year again when Bradford on Avon braces itself for the 'Happening'. It's an event which, in the past, has not only seen the town centre transformed into a lawned garden (complete with water feature) but grassed over with a roaming flock of grazing sheep as well.

Old fashioned helter skelter

And this year, it seems, is no exception...

In fact in a first for the town, and in a first for festival organisers, Bradford on Avon is to become Bradford-on-Sea and to be installed with it's very own stretch of sandy beach... a beach which will literally be trucked into town just in time for the launch of the town's annual Arts Festival on Sunday September 16th.

Set up, in the library car park in Bridge Street, the Bradford on Avon town beach may be ocean-less but is still promising to serve up all the ice-cream eating, coconut shying and sand castling of the true seaside.

Plus with a traditional old-fashioned helter skelter, a pier, flying birds, giant bubble blowing and Bradford on Sea rock.. who's going to be complaining that the beach is sea-free.

Running from 9:00 am to early evening, on Sunday 16th September, there'll be no excuses not to get a bit of sand between your toes and if you want to take home more than just a bit… organisers will be giving all the sand away to anyone who wants it.

Where else can you head for a beach party, 50 miles inland, where you also get to take the beach home with you afterwards?

Rest of the Fest

Seaside aside... the 10 day arts festival, this year, is again serving up everything and than some on the theme of 'Wish You Were Here'.

Sunflower River Glow

On the line-up, this year, there's: 'Sculpture by Candlelight'; 'Vegging Out' (with cooking demos and food samplings); a Reggae Night; a Blues Night; singing workshops; a literary quiz; talks by authors; a feature film plus a feast in the Tithe Barn.

And, to round it all off, at dusk there's the traditional launch of a flotilla of sunflowers and candles in the traditional 'Sunflower Float'.

It is, as in previous years, an arts festival that you are well advised to only tackle with the complimentary brochure.

For the rest of the line-up of this year's 10 day arts festival click on the link below...

Bradford on Avon Arts Festival 2007 runs from Friday 14th September through to Sunday 23rd September, 2007. For more information and ticket details call the Tourist Information Centre on 01225 865 797.