District Dispatch - 4 July 2023
With the sun shining and the summer holidays in sight, there is plenty to look forward to over the coming months. As the new Cabinet Member for Culture and Events, I thought it would be worth giving you a flavour of some of the many events and activities on offer throughout the district this summer.
We are so lucky to live in such a beautiful place, that not only offers numerous attractions and activities, but also delivers so many incredible events that everyone can get involved with.
On Sunday 9 July, from 10am until 4pm, the council's popular Summer Street Party will return to the city centre. The event will offer a day of family-friendly activities and entertainment, an array of local food vendors and competitions, and giveaways from city businesses.
The event is being held in conjunction with Cross, Market & More, a mixed street market celebrating local designers, makers and producers. We are working with Chichester Business Improvement District to deliver this event, which will also give visitors the chance to browse shops and businesses - from unique and independent stores to major brands. Bringing these two events together means that we can offer even more vibrant stalls and entertainment for visitors to experience, showcasing the range of talent we have in our area, from entrepreneurs and dancers, to singers, artists and more. As well as stalls and entertainment, there will also be plenty of activities for children to enjoy, including face painting, a live magic act and a carousel. We cannot wait to welcome people back to this fantastic event, where there is something for everyone. Also, don't forget Chichester's Farmers' Market, which takes place between 9am and 2pm on the first and third Friday of each month in East Street in the city centre. For more information you can visit our Farmers' Market webpage.
The Petworth Festival will also be holding a range of events from 11-29 July, including music, talks, and theatre performances - there is so much going on. It's worth having a look at the full programme to appreciate the range of events on offer by visiting Petworth Festival's what's on page (opens new window).
There's then the Stansted Summer Festival taking place on 15 July to 16 July, from 10am-6pm daily. This is a weekend of family fun and entertainment, with events, re-enactments, vendors and delicious food and drinks. Booking is required and so it's worth visiting the Stansted Park Summer Festival webpage (opens new window) for more information.
In Midhurst, the Artisan Makers and Vintage Fair is taking place on Saturday 22 July from 10am until 4pm in the Market Square. This is the perfect opportunity to pick up homeware, antiques and artisan products. Between 1 and 31 August, the town will also be running MADhurst. This is an arts festival featuring a huge variety of music, comedy and theatre performances. The annual Summer Street Party will also be taking place in Midhurst's Old Town on Saturday 26 August from 11am until 3pm, offering a day of music, stalls, fairground rides and much more.
In August, the Loxwood Joust will be returning on 5-6 and 12-13 August from 10am until 6pm. This is a spectacular immersive medieval and jousting festival. You can find out more through the Loxwood Joust website (opens new window).
Make sure that you don't miss 'The Magic of Middle-earth' exhibition at our Novium Museum. This launched earlier this year and will run until 24 September. This exciting exhibition is dedicated to the incredible fantasy worlds brought to life by J.R.R Tolkien and the generations of creators his writing has influenced.
Our magazine 'initiatives' will be hitting your doormats from 10 July and includes many more events and activities taking place across the summer. We also list events at our website on our What's On page and you can sign up to our monthly email newsletter.
Have a wonderful summer!
Best Wishes
Cllr Jess Brown-Fuller
Cabinet Member for Culture and Events at Chichester District Council
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