One of the largest annual arts festivals in the Harrogate district is set to get underway.
Feva, the festival of entertainment and visual arts, takes place at a host of venues in Knaresborough from August 12 to 21.
Supported by Knaresborough Town Council, Harrogate Borough Council, Knaresborough Lions and Piccadilly Motors, this will be its 26th year.
The festival traditionally ends with the free picnic in the park in the grounds of Knaresborough House on the final Saturday.
The picnic is due to take place this year but there will also be a folk festival the following day. Street entertainers will perform in Knaresborough throughout the festival.
Headline acts include saxophonist Snake Davis (pictured above), who will be appearing with his Alligator Shoes band at King James’s School on August 16.
A new feature this year is a children’s art day.
About 40 events will take place at more than 20 venues over the 10 days.
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Many shops decorate their windows pink in support of the arts event.
Gwen Lloyd, chairperson of the committee for Feva, which is a not-for-profit organisation run by volunteers, said:
“The whole ethos of Feva is that it’s a community festival run for the community.
“It encompasses the whole of the town and we try to ensure there are lots of free events.”
Yorkshire Life Aquatic performed dry land synchronised swimming last year.
Tickets for Knaresborough FEVA festival have gone on sale after the committee decided next month’s event will go ahead.
The festival of entertainment and visual arts, which is taking place for the 25th time, will feature the likes of poet Simon Armitage, singer-songwriter Jez Lowe and the musician Snake Davis.
Shops have begun decorating their windows in the pink theme in preparation for 10 days of arts at multiple Knaresborough venues.
Planning was delayed this year due to the uncertainty surrounding the lifting of covid restrictions but Gwen Lloyd, the FEVA chairperson, said the committee was now working hard on making it happen.
The event, from August 13 to 22, will feature indoor and outdoor events, including numerous workshops for all ages and hobbies, as well as the much-loved Picnic in the Park.
Picnic in the Park, which is being held on August 21, normally attracts about 450 people to the grounds of Knaresborough House for a free afternoon of music. DJ Trev is among this year’s acts.
To celebrate the 25th festival, a special event will be held in the grounds of Henshaws Arts and Craft Centre at which some 300 people will enjoy music.
Yorkshire Life Aquatic, the dry land synchronised swimmers, will be performing.
The street performers on Market Place will include a Punch and Judy act, jesters and dry land synchronised swimmers will be performing.
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Ms Lloyd said:
“It’s been months of planning, of course it’s nerve wracking because normally tickets are nearly sold out at this point but we have had to wait for lockdown announcements. I’m sure it’ll be a huge success.”
The festival programme is available here.