Garstang Arts & Music Festival

Nearly 15 years later, the Arts and Music Festival in Garstang is still successfully running.

It is held annually, for one weekend in August, ending on the Bank Holiday Saturday. The festival is an explosion of colour and sound, promising something for everyone from open air concerts to street entertainment and performers, to dancers, brass bands and musical workshops.

Embracing the artistic side of the festival, festival-goers can participate in a variety of activities including poetry recitations and readings, garden tours, crafts, workshops and, of course, those famous Garstang markets.

The Garstang Arts and Music Festival draws crowds and performers from all over the country, from as close as Morecambe and Liverpool and as far as London.

Previous performers at the event have included members of philharmonic orchestras, jazz and folk bands and choral societies. A series of exhibitions are also held around Garstang during the festival in local galleries. Another popular aspect of the festival is the Arts Trail, which allows you to wander through the town spotting the work of local artists on display in shop windows.

Arts Trail leaflets can be picked up in local shops or at the Arts Centre. You may also want to get involved in the Arts Quiz, a quiz testing your knowledge on subjects such as art, music and literature. Prizes will be awarded!

Other activities on offer during the 2010 Arts and Music Festival included a Decorate a Muffin workshop, a Craft and Collectors Fair, a soprano saxophonist concert, an exhibition of live-painting by local artists and a wine tasting event. Of course, there was so much more such as drum lessons and Fairtrade stalls, a clogging concert, folk band performances and painting classes. There were card design workshops, children’s craft activities, as well as an exhibition of craft handiwork and an origami demonstration.

The Garstang Arts and Music Festival is more than just a time to sit back and enjoy the musical and artistic musings of other people. At the festival, you will be encouraged to try your hand at a variety of tasks and artistic experiences, some of which you may have never attempted.

The festival provides a fun and inspiring environment to challenge you to learn something new or to pick up a long-forgotten hobby or passion and revisit it in the company of like-minded individuals. There is always something exciting happening at the Garstang Arts and Music Festival, and there is always something for every member of your family.

The festival is held in Garstang’s town centre and admission to the festival is free, although some of the events require the purchasing of tickets. Tickets can be purchased from the Garstang Discovery Centre on High Street.

Festival events are held between 10 a.m. and 9 p.m. each day of the festival. Garstang is a Lancashire market town nestled between Preston and Lancaster just off the M6. For further details on the 2011 Garstang Arts and Music Festival, please contact the Tourist Information Center at 01995 602125 or the Garstang Arts Centre at 01995 606648.