TICKETS for this year’s Twyford Festival have just gone on sale.
The annual event offers three weeks of great entertainment for all ages, with activities including the Donkey Derby, a beer festival and sporting events.
It launches on Friday, May 27, with Friday Night Live at the Twyford Palladium, a comedy night featuring gags from Tucker, impressionist Danny Postjill and comedy jugglers Steve and Jay Rawlings. Also on the bill will be circus-style cabaret act Inspiral and contortionist Orissa Kelly. She will wow audiences with her unique handstand foot archery act.
Sport forms the main focus for the opening weekend, with a five-a-side football tournament planned for Saturday, May 28, and a triathlon and tennis tournament on the Sunday. A disco takes place on Saturday, with Twyford’s Got Talent shows on Sunday evening.
Bank Holiday Monday sees several big events take place – a colour run, family sports day, a cricket match between Twyford and Knowl Hill and a teddy bears picnic take place in the day, followed by a classical concert in the evening.
On Tuesday, May 31 there is a poker night, while Wednesday, June 1 is given over to a treasure hunt, golf tournament and a comedy night.
Bingo and a junior golf tournament is the fun for Thursday, June 2.
Music is the focus for Friday, June 3 and Saturday, June 4. The first night sees The Wurzels perform, while the second is band day with Jesus Jones headlining.
The annual donkey derby takes place on King George V memorial field on Sunday, June 5, bringing to an end the first fortnight of fun.
Twyford and Ruscombe Theatre Group will perform a stage adaptation of the popular BBC TV sitcom ‘Allo ‘Allo from Thursday, June 9 to Saturday, June 11, while the closing event is the now annual Twyford Beer Festival, offering a fusion of real ales and ciders and live music.
There will also be darts and snooker tournaments taking place.
The majority of events take place in a special marquee that will be erected in garden of the Duke of Wellington pub in Twyford’s High Street.
Last year, the event raised £45,000 for local and national charities.
Paul Williams, who helps organise the event working with the Twyford Village Partnership, said: “It’s a fantastic event and ticket sales for this year are going really well.
“We’re looking to appeal to everyone and there are more sports events this year. Having a junior triathlon is a first for the village. There’s some great line-ups for the evenings too.
“Over the course of the two weeks, we expect some 4,500-5,000 people will take part across all events.”
Mr Williams organises the festival with a team of volunteers including his wife Karen who helps book the acts. One that she’s booked is indie band Jesus Jones, who will headline the band day.
“I was a big Jesus Jones fan back in the 90s,” Mr Williams says.
For more details or to book tickets, log on to www.twyfest.co.uk .
