Celebrating the past, present and future of Lindfield

After 18 months of planning by a dedicated group of trustees and committee members, now comes the moment of truth... Will this year’s festival be bigger and better than ever? This year’s directors Esther Featherstone, Marian Cameron and Lorna Falkner really hope the public think so. There is so much going on over the weekend. At the last count there were more than 90 different events over four days. Lindfield Arts Festival have taken the words “arts festival” and turned them into meaning an extravagance of arts, crafts, drama, music, food, drink, dance, writing, story telling, fashion, photography and so much more. The directors this year are passionate about making the festival affordable for everyone so there are plenty of free events and the workshops start from just 50p. One of the highlights of the weekend will be a Toploader concert at 8pm on Saturday, September 13, on Lindfield Common. Guitarist Dan Hipgrave (a Lindfield resident) along with lead singer Joe, bassist Matt and drummer Rob are set to dazzle festival goers. Organisers hope that the atmosphere will be electrifying as the village will see more than 1,000 people gather to appreciate the local chart topping band. Tickets have been selling like hotcakes as fans from across Sussex look forward to welcoming the group, who shot to fame in the late 1990s with hits including Dancing in the Moonlight and Time of My Life. The audience that night can expect to hear the familiar hits mixed with some of the band’s new material. Other highlights to look out for this year The Affordable Arts and Crafts Fayre provides a showcase for local amateur and professional artists and craftspeople to display and sell their arts and crafts to the local community. There will be live music of all genres from classical to country, as well as dance workshops and performances covering tap, fitsteps, flamenco, ballet and burlesque. Children can take part in drama classes, hula hoop workshops and creative writing workshops where they can learn how books are written and published. There will also be a fashion show and a fabulous new play by the Barefoot Players written especially for the festival. If this has wetted your appetite for the arts in all its glorious forms, the programme and tickets for all events (including Toploader) are available online at www.lindfieldartsfestival.com and in SWALK on Lindfield High Street. Any tickets left over on the day will be available to be purchased on the door of the venues just before the workshop or performance starts. For more information please feel free to email the organisers at enquiries@lindfieldartsfestival.com.