Arts Fresco is this Sunday
FROM the sublime to the ridiculous, a host of intriguing street artists are gearing up for this Sunday's free eye-catching Arts Fresco extravaganza.
Now in its ninth year, the annual festival sees thousands of visitors throng the town's streets to watch an array of open-air performances from international and UK-based street performers.
The largest event of its kind in the East Midlands, it has grown into a festival which last year attracted an estimated 25,000 visitors.
The Arts Fresco committee has again booked another fascinating line-up to entertain the crowds with quirky titles such as Skate Naked, Octopus Ocean, Bread and Butter, Lord of the Bins and Bruce Airhead.
One of the main attractions this year is a life-sized steel elephant from the Emergency Exit Arts company. The self-propelled, 12ft-tall beast runs on wheels and has its own PA system and electric motor.
Aside from dozens of roaming acts in the High Street, The Square and the town's side streets, there will also be a Brazilian drumming workshop with a collective performance, a Capoeira workshop offering all ages a chance to sample the Brazilian traditional dance and a youth theatre workshop giving youngsters aged between six and 14 the chance to express themselves through dressing-up and fun games.
One intriguing act this year by Bicycle Ballet is giving Harborough cyclists a chance to be in an Arts Fresco show. The group uses fast-paced contemporary choreography with its bikes to create a spectacle of striking imagery and comedy. Its Dance of Cycling performances at 1.30 and 3pm will involve many Harborough people who will be undergoing training on the morning of the event.
Two spectacular parades will be travelling through the town centre at 12.45pm and 4.15pm. At the head of the parade will be a giant mechanical elephant followed by the Dhol Enforcement Agency playing Indian dhol drums.
The main roads will be closed to traffic, making the town centre a pedestrianised zone for the day.
Committee members had a final meeting on Monday to go through some last-minute preparations. Extra professional stewards have been hired this year to make sure the high volume of people can enjoy the performances safely.
Hazel Cook, chairman of the Arts Fresco committee, said: "With 27 shows for people to enjoy – all of them free - Arts Fresco will have something for everybody to enjoy. It looks set to be a truly memorable day for the town so make sure you come along and are a part of it. Last year's line-up was a difficult one to top, but we think that we might just achieve it this year."
Meanwhile, Harborough shop owners are being urged to make the most of the influx of visitors.
Last year, organisers estimate there were about 25,000 spectators in the town for the festival, making it the biggest single event in the town's calendar.
However, because it was on a Sunday afternoon, many of the town's shops remained closed.
Mrs Cook said: "Whilst not all shops opened last year, the ones that did reported bumper takings. Any establishment offering food does particularly well.
"In addition, it makes sense for shops to think about using vouchers, offers and flyers to encourage visitors to come back another day to their premises. Used properly, many retailers could find Arts Fresco acts as a springboard for Christmas trade."
The organisers thanked their sponsors Joules Clothing and the Arts Council for making the event possible. The action gets underway at midday and finishes at 5pm.
To submit your photos of the event, email the Mail's newsdesk at alex.blackwell@harboroughmail.co.uk.
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Weather for Harborough
Monday 21 May 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 8 C to 17 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
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