Horsham English Festival

Around 200 MORRIS men and women, a hark back to the 1960s, and a medieval market are just three of the highlights of the English Festival, set to take place in Horsham on Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 May.

The English Festival will build on the success of last year’s event with Saturday containing a traditional blend of a medieval version of the Carfax local produce and crafts market, music and the Broadwood Morris Day of Dance around the town.

The Broadwood Morris Day of Dance will feature dance teams from all over the South East demonstrating various traditional dance styles, from English Morris dancing to Appalachian dancing and Scottish Highland dancing.

The Day of Dance will start with the dance teams processing from Horsham’s Shelley Fountain to the bandstand in the Carfax, and then touring the town centre at various locations before meeting at the bandstand for a massed dancing display, culminating with the Carfax Ceilidh.

Around midday on Saturday a celebration of the newly re-launched Shelley Fountain will take place at the fountain in the Bishopric area of town, with performance contributions expected from Broadwood Morris and local Rainbows. The poet Shelley himself, or more likely a lookalike, may even make an appearance.

This year’s English Festival has expanded to include Sunday, with a complete change of pace to a 60s and 70s themed day as well as free parking available in Swan Walk Shopping Centre car park.

The day will feature a recreation of the classic Horsham bus services of the 60s and 70s to local towns and villages by Southdown Historic Vehicles, an English Classic Car Show organised by The Rotary Club of Horsham and a programme of 60s and 70s music from community groups produced by Voice from the Coal Shed, with plenty of opportunities for participation. Get out those 60s and 70s outfits and be prepared to have a good old sing-a-long and a great time.

Journey back in time to the 60s and 70s with a ride on an historic Southdowns Bus as they recreate some of the original routes across the Horsham District. The routes will include:

Bus Service number 117
(First bus departs Horsham and Henfield at 10am)
Henfield High Street – Cowfold Village Hall – Mannings Heath Dun Horse Pub – Horsham Carfax.

Bus Service number 202
(First bus departs Southwater & Horsham at 10.30am)
Horsham Carfax – Southwater Cripplegate Corner

Bus Service number 69
(First bus departs Horsham and Billingshurst at 11am)
Billingshurst High Street – BBH Shelley Arms - Horsham Carfax

Bus Service number 80
(First bus departs Steyning and Horsham at 11.30am)
Steyning - Horsham (Route stops TBC)

For an added touch of nostalgia, why not hop on an open top bus (courtesy of Southdown Historic Vehicles) from the Carfax and travel to Hop Oast to see a fascinating display of vintage Sussex buses?

Buses leave between 11am and 3pm at 15 and 45 minutes past each hour.

All rides and exhibitions are free but donations to the Southdowns Historic Vehicles Group are welcome. Visit www.southdownhistoric.co.uk for more information on the group.

More information on details of the Horsham English Festival will be made available next week so keep an eye out for updates.

Horsham English Festival is organised by Horsham District Council and partners.