Potwalloping Festival 2010

The Westward Ho! Potwalloping Festival is a FREE annual three day community event being held this year from Saturday 29th to Monday 31st May on the putting green at Westward Ho!, Bideford in Devon.

History

The Festival is a celebration of the old "Potwalloping" tradition dating back to the late 1800's where the community came together to restore the historic pebble ridge and to picnic together when the work was one.

Line-up

Maybe Naked, Idle Worriers and son's band of Blue Sky Pandemic, Dambuskers, The Midnight Toys, Tequila Rockin Bird, Falling Apart, Zamba, Ian Hudson & Friends (this band has an ex Edgar Broughton Band, ex Big Country and ex Snatch band member in it!), Sherrys Singing Club, Jax, The Drop, Basils Blues Band, and Wilderland. Programmes are now on sale at £1 including a free prize draw they provide info on the day and time that these bands will play. br />

Entertainment

The festival has daily events and attractions including arena displays, events, arts & craft stalls in the marquee, outside stalls and family rides and attractions on the green and promenade. The Country Life Brewery offer real ale beer in the marquee (always popular) where there is live music played every night.

This years' Potwalloping line-up has many 'new' family-friendly events and participants confirmed as taking part. These include Samba DX, Dance Fit Belly dancing, Dog Agility with Devon Dogs, Jays Angels Majorettes, Ready Steady Cook (part of the Baptist Church Potwalloping programme of events), and Westward Ho! Youth Club who will be organising activities for families and young people at the clubhouse.

The Potwalloping Family Variety Show and Potwalloping Bingo are both 'new' to the programme and will be taking place in the Kingsley Hall. Members of the audience will be able to enjoy good old-fashioned variety show entertainment provided to them by entertainers of all ages, talents and abilities whilst the popular game of bingo will give participants the opportunity to win money whilst getting their 'eyes down'. Refreshments will be available at both events.

The charity fundraising Potwalloping Open Gardens is taking place again this year after a couple of years break.

The modern-day Potwalloping Festival is run by community volunteers as a 'not for profit' group and the family friendly event boosts the local economy, supports local good causes and charities by both fund-raising at the event. The performers provide their services at no charge thereby enabling the festival to be a FREE event for all. The finance required to put the festival on is raised by donations, stall charges and programme advertising and sales. Programmes giving a full timetable of events will be available via local outlets early in May at £1 each.

Parking & Facilities

Village facilities available include several car parks close by, toilets and showers, refreshment facilities, shops, a daily lifeguard service during the main bathing season (May - September) and deck chair hire during the summer months. Both the car parks and the toilets provide facilities for disabled users. A dog exercise area is also provided with restrictions in the Blue Flag area.

Camping

Braddicks Holiday Centre has a small camp site plus Westward Ho! has new Youth Hostel - Manorville Hostel, Fosketh Hill. Tel: 01237 479766. A newly converted modern self catering hostel next to the church overlooking the village -£15 pppn and + 1 x double ensuite room @ £40. There are also a number of hotels, and guest houses in Westward Ho!.

More info

For more information, see the Potwalloping Festival website.

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