Clitheroe Festival Weekend!

Clitheroe presented events for all throughout the town: music, arts, beer festival, 1940s themed activities and military vehicles plus fairground fun in two action packed days on the Castle grounds.

A brief report of the weekend.

Our third festival weekend arrived and everyone was focused on the weather. The forecast was not good and indeed it turned out to be a very wet and windy weekend but did this dampen our enthusiasm? Not one bit. At noon on Friday the CAMRA beer festival kicked off with a record number of beers and 3Bs Stokers Slake taking the prize for the winning ale. Music was provided by the Cheating Hearts who also did a spell on Saturday afternoon leading up to the star turn of the weekend The Witnesses from Manchester.

Further up the main street at the Swan & Royal, Ribble Valley Jazz and Blues Club had Atlanta Roots with their own unique blend of many standard Blues numbers whilst down on Lowergate Key Street was hosting a number of younger, more experimental bands organised by Wicked Pickle Promotions.

The New Inn hosted folk groups on Friday and Saturday afternoon with Saturday being given over to a number of alternative music groups from Manchester, and a young singer, Holly Ann from the States.

Highlight of the week was at the Grand where the Swing Commanders played to a packed house. It was great to see that there was room for dancing with many of the dancers benefiting from the Swing Dance Workshop held earlier that afternoon.

The crowds on the streets of Clitheroe were royally entertained on Saturday with street performers, including the giant dragon, Veronica who managed to get her nose into everything. The busking competition attracted over fifteen hopefuls with a number of local youngsters taking part.

At the Swan & Royal another highlight of the festival was the 1940s look-alike competition. You can see photos of this elsewhere within the web site. There was more live entertainment at the Pendle Hotel Chatburn who had a Jazz band on the Saturday and Irish music on Sunday. The Post House Hotel hosted a Lancashire afternoon whilst people had lunch.

The Castle Fields were busy on both days with music on at the Bandstand and a fine display of Military Vehicles on the field itself.

The Clitheroe Cycle Club departed from the field for a five mile ride out to Bashall Barn and Waddington and last but not least a combined group of Guides raised over £170 for Charity by providing refreshments at the United Reform Church, Moor Lane for people who had come in to see the Sheepfest drawings by pupils from schools across the Ribble Valley.

Well done Clitheroe and thank-you to all the sponsors and raffle prize givers.