Thousands set to flock to Earlsdon Festival

[dutchman]

Thousands of people are expected to join one of Coventry’s most popular festivals later this month raising cash for good causes in the city.



The 19th annual Earlsdon Festival takes place in Earlsdon Street and surrounding roads, from Monday April 30 until Sunday May 6.

Temporary road closures will be in place from 7am until 6.30pm in Moor Street, Providence Street and Earlsdon Street.

For the first time since the original festival in 1978, there will be fringe festival events including talks by Dave Moorcroft and Glyn Tromans on their highs and lows of being an Olympian. It will take place on April 30 at the Criterion Theatre from 7.30pm.

Rising stars The Ripps will be playing at The Albany Club, Earlsdon Street, on Friday May 4 at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £5 each.

There will be a fashion show and pampering session at The Albany Club on May 2 at 7.30pm.

Rising local band, The Tones, who supported The Specials at their Ricoh Arena gig in October last year, will be performing at The Old Clarence pub, Earlsdon Avenue North, from 7.30pm on Saturday May 5.

http://www.earlsdon-festival.org.uk/

[dutchman]

Family fun day ay Earlsdon's Old Clarence pub



A FAMILY fun day is being held at a Coventry pub on Saturday as part of the Earlsdon Festival.
Foxy Bingo: £10 Free on Your First Deposit

The Old Clarence, in Earlsdon Avenue North, is putting on a car wash, bouncy castle, sumo suits, stalls and live music.

Money raised will go to the Mercia MS Therapy Centre.

[dutchman]

Weather woe fails to dampen spirits at Earlsdon Festival



THE rain didn’t dampen the spirits of the hundreds of people who turned out for the Earlsdon Festival on Bank Holiday Monday.

Umbrellas of all shapes and sizes lined Earlsdon Street as people enjoyed the community spirit of the annual festival.

Wendy Brown, of Westbury Road, Chapelfields, had walked down to the festival with her granddaughter Sienna Rose, aged five.

She said: “We come to Earlsdon regularly because it is one of our favourite areas so we thought we would have a day out today.

“The rain nearly stopped us coming but I’m glad we came out. It’s like a big street party.”

Mark Hopkins from Broomfield Place, Earlsdon, stepped out in the rain with his twin daughters Esther and Jemima, aged six.


Esther Hopkins

“Well it wasn’t the weather that brought us here today,” he said.

“We have seen a bit of singing and dancing at the Criterion Theatre and will probably end the day in the dry at the library.”

This year’s festival saw seven days of celebrations in the area with it ending on a high with the traditional May Day festival yesterday.

Visitors to the event, which has been running since 1978, saw stalls selling a range of sweet treats and hot foods, bric-a-brac, antiques, plants and clothes.

Children from local schools also performed songs at the Criterion Theatre in Berkeley Road South.

Geoff Booth from Earlsdon, who visited the festival for the first time with his family, said: “We have not been to the festival before but the fact it is out on the street and there’s no traffic here, everyone is all together for the day and it is a lovely atmosphere.”


Julia, Bianca, 7, and Geoff Booth.

Throughout the day there was also a fun play bus for youngsters to enjoy and they also had the chance to wear a firefighter’s helmet and sit in a fire engine thanks to officers from West Midlands Fire Service.

Entertaining the crowds on the street were morris dancers as well as Earlsdon resident Barry Patterson, who was dressed as the wild man of the woods.

Steve Taylor (pictired right), who runs Antiques of Earlsdon, put up a stall outside his shop.

“Surprisingly, there has been a lot of people around today considering the wet weather,” he said.

“I’m sure the rain must have put some people off but closing the road to vehicles this year has been much better and it has been much more family-orientated with the play bus and children’s entertainment.

“A lot of expense has gone into arranging the festival this year but I think it has all been worth it.

“There has been really good community spirit.”