Wiveliscombe businesses are getting right behind the 10 Parishes Festival that starts next Saturday, with community and arts events happening everywhere from brewery to café to pub, and local shops specially opening as people flock to the town for the Street Market and Carnival on Sunday Sept 8.
Hundreds of visitors are also expected to tour exhibition venues throughout Wiveliscombe and its nine surrounding parishes from this weekend until Sunday September 15, as artists and craftspeople throw open their homes or team up in interesting and unusual venues.
“The 10 Parishes Festival is a hugely important part of our cultural life here in Taunton Deane and is one of the best ways that we have of making sure the visual and performing arts are celebrated across this rural part of our district. It’s also a very helpful boost to the local economy as well as being great fun for all those involved,“ said Taunton Mayor, Cllr Libby Lisgo, who judges Sunday’s carnival parade.
Cotleigh Brewery on Ford Road in Wiveliscombe, is joining in the Festival with an exhibition of The Brewing History of Wiveliscombe- with memorabilia from the town’s rich brewing history and tastings from Cotleigh Brewery and Exmoor Ales.
It will also house an exciting video installation show by Philip D. Moore called The Seed, The Farmer and The Machine. He is a member of Forkbeard Fantasy, the theatre and film company which has been touring shows and special events since the mid-1970s.
The Bear Inn Skittle Alley will take on a very different lease of life during the Festival, with exhibitions by a group of talented painters and photographers, while This Is Moorish, the popular restaurant-café, will host six artists plus a special evening of Poetry and Pizza.
The Orangery at Nynehead Court Residential Home, near Wellington, has been set aside for a highly varied exhibition of nine artists, sculptors, glass makers and more.
For full details about the Festival visit the online guide at http://2013.10parishesfestival.org.uk/ or printed Guides are available at Wiveliscombe Community Office at 01984 624777, email communityoffice@wiveliscombe.com, also follow on Twitter and Facebook.