A host of new family festivals lined up for town

FROM fire breathers to stilt walkers and even an appearance or two from the Wicked Witch of Warwickshire, can be expected at some of the new upcoming Stratford markets and festivals.

Four new markets and two new festivals are set to hit the town’s streets over the next few months, including a Wonderland Summer Festival and two Halloween events in the autumn.

Organised by LSD Promotions, the first of the events is called Summer on Henley Street, which is an eight-week series of Thursday markets between 10am-5pm from 12th July until 30th August. Next in the line-up is the Wonderland Summer Festival, a three-day event from Tuesday, 7th August, to 9th August, 10am-5pm, at Waterside and in Bancroft Gardens.

It will include amateur performers and actors from Stratford College and a variety of local drama academies, who will be on site in Wonderland character.

People can also expect to see stilt walkers and fire breathers, all themed as characters from Wonderland.

There will also be the chance for people to sit down at the Mad Hatters table to drink tea with the march hare, play croquet on the lawn with the duchess and the evil queen of hearts, play giant chess with the Cheshire cat, and wander through the mirror maze.

Linda McGillicuddy, director of LSD Promotions said: “These festivals are designed to bring joy and entertainment to families through dramatic performance, giving children and adults a chance to join in the magical, mysterious world of Wonderland.”

On Friday, 14th September people can enjoy the Make or Bake It event in Henley Street. Between 10am-5pm the market event will offer a variety of handmade and home-produced goods, unique jewellery, specialist clothing, perfumes and candles, homemade pies, artisan tea and coffee, wooden carvings, pottery and glass, artwork, gourmet street food, clay-work, chalkboards and homemade cakes.

Then on 5th October, specialist artisan cheese, wine and spice vendors will fill Henley Street for the Cheese, Wine and Spice Market, from 10am-5pm.

A three-day All Hallows family event will hit Stratford over the half term school break.

The Waterside Fright Festival will be held between 10am-6pm from Tuesday, 30th October to Thursday, 1st November. Fire breathers and evil characters on stilts will be on the Waterside grounds.

The event also offers Trick or Treating for children in the Witch of Warwickshire’s cavern and a fortune teller’s tent.

Market stalls will have traders dressed in Halloween costume plus lanterns, pumpkins and other Halloween themed items for sale.

All things chocolate can also be found at a special Chocolate and Prosecco Mystical Market held at Halloween on Henley Street from 10am-5pm.

The specialised market will offer chocolate brownies, cakes, truffles, cookies, chocolate ice cream, chocolate cheese, chocolate marshmallows, chocolate scones, fudge, chocolate bath products, flapjacks, hot chocolate, and chocolate puddings.

A wide range of street food and drinks will be on offer from Prosecco, to the Gin waggons, wine gazebos, cocktail bars, craft beers and hot chocolate liqueurs.