Holmfirth Arts Festival is back as a live event for 2021

Holmfirth Arts Festival will return as a live event on the streets of Holmfirth and in its venues, from 17-19 September 2021.
With something for all ages including a contemporary circus company with an extraordinary aerial show, a flying astronaut, Yorkshire brass from Hade Edge Band, a triple bill of comedy and lots of street performance, much of it f Pay as You Decide.

There will be an extensive community engagement programme to include a History of Holmfirth Parade, Carbon Capture Sculpture in the Community and Art in the Woods.

Highlights include a trio of comedians, starring Kieran Hodgson supported by Pete Sellwood and Seeta Wrightson on the Saturday night at Holmfirth Civic Hall.
There will also be a special new beautiful visual musical theatre show. Khoogi will be performed by Kauser Mukthar.
It is for adults and families drawing on Pakistani musical and oral folklore to tell the story of growing up as a first generation immigrant in the UK in the 1980s.
Hade Edge Band and Biscuit Head and the Biscuit Badgers and Mambo Jambo also perform live music over the weekend.
Street performers include Urban Astronaut by Highly Sprung Theatre, Garden of Delights by Urban Circus Angels, The Whale by Circo Rumbaba, percussion by Banda Na Rua and HD9 Community Brass.

Bev Adams, festival director, said: “We are excited about producing a live event and are working with Kirklees Council to present a socially distanced festival where needed.

"If you already know Holmfirth and the Holme Valley, the festival is an opportunity to see it a little differently. If you’ve not yet discovered this beautiful part of Yorkshire then September is the perfect time to join us.

"We invite local schools, families and community groups of all ages, cultures and abilities to get involved in the projects which will take place in advance of the festival with lots of workshops for community groups and schools in early September.”

The History of Holmfirth Parade, which will happen on Sunday 19 September from 2pm, is an opportunity for people to work with professional artists to create a parade that charts the history of Holmfirth from its agricultural roots to the present day.

Art in the Woods is creating an art trail for installation at Earthworks - New Mill Community Garden Project and Carbon Capture Sculpture is an opportunity to create living willow sculptures which will firstly be installed as part of Art in the Woods and then returned to communities for them to nurture permanently.

Last year's festival was presented as an online event over three nights, due to Coronavirus restrictions. Performances were filmed in advance and also performed live online, attracting an audience of 48,000 from around the world.

Groups wishing to participate in parade preparation and take part in the parade should visit www.holmfirthartsfestiva.co.uk/participate or email Tony Wade at tony@edgelandsarts.co.uk for more information.

More details at www.holmfirthartsfestival.co.uk

For more information visit http://www.holmfirthartsfestival.co.uk/