A BIGGER and even better Haslemere Festival 2017 is promised with a packed programme of events kicking off in the middle of May and lasting for three weeks.
Launching the treats in store to a packed hall of guests at the Royal School last Friday, committee chairman Hamish Donaldson said: “We are here to make very exciting things happen.”
Thanking the 20 sponsors and all those responsible for staging so many entertainments, Haslemere Mayor Sharan Abeysundara said: “I am overwhelmed by how much Hamish and his amazing team do for our town.
“It’s up to us to spread the word. Haslemere has a long history of supporting and promoting the arts.
“Thanks for keeping that tradition so vibrantly alive.”
This year’s festival will also help promote the town’s high-profile Haslemere Hogs project. Supporters of the limited edition of 60 life-sized fibreglass painted pigs will help raise money for the mayor’s four nominated charities.
A mini-hog fest was on show at the festival launch, including Gruffalo Hog, an artistic tour-de-force by Steve Grigsby, head of art at Stepping Stones School, Hindhead, which sponsored a pig inspired by Mr Donaldson’s famous daughter-in-law, Gruffalo author Julia Donaldson.
In further nods to the hogs, the festival opens with a two-day pop-up restaurant, ‘Grunters’, serving up porky delights created by the town gastronomic society ‘La Confrerie de le Queue du Cochon’.
Haslemere Town Band start the proceedings on a high note with a concert on Friday, May 12, and Haslemere Museums hosts an outdoor screening of ‘Grease’ the 1970s musical starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John.
By popular demand the festival’s Little Lumpy Cycle Sportive goes up a gear on Sunday, May 14, and Haslemere’s Bumpy Triathlon on Sunday, June 4 rounds off the sporting fun.
The 2017 anniversary talks by eminent speakers include ‘The Battle of Waterloo: A Turning Point in World History’ on May 16, ‘Lawrence of Arabia and the Great Arab Revolt Project’ on May 19, counting down to pioneering navigational clockmaker John Harrison’s talk on May 26.
Musical highlights include a Opera South concert on May 13, and four days later a collaboration between award-winning composer Alissa Firsova and The Tippett Quartet. The final of the Haslemere String Competition takes place on May 18, and Tony Jacobs and the Tuxedo Jazz Orchestra appear on May 26.
Haslemere MP Jeremy Hunt, the Conservative Government’s Health Secretary, will discuss Brexit and its impact both nationally and locally on May 19.
Meanwhile Gruffalo author Julia Donaldson will present ‘The Giant Jumperee and others stories’ on Bank Holiday Monday on May 29.
The town will be packed for Haslemere Classic Car Show, which also features a vintage-stye fete, kids entertainment and a host of stalls on May 28
• For full information go to www.haslemere festival. org.uk