Tuesday, 27 August 2013

Blackshaw Head Village Fete

(And see below for Blackshaw Head's 'Celebrate 2013')

Spectacular Bradford-based band The Peace Artistes will be bringing their own special brand of music ("rocking with rhythm and pulsating with passion") to the local hill-tops this Saturday (31st August) as they play Blackshaw Head Village Fete from 1.30pm onwards.

Fete organisers are trusting that the weather will be fine so that they can perform outside, as the 14-strong ensemble of brass, woodwind and percussion may find it a bit cosy in the beer tent on a stage usually occupied by a four or five piece combo!

The fete also features the Blackshaw Head Fell Run, the fiercely contested produce competition, and numerous stalls and sideshows on the field, as well as schools art and local history exhibitions, children's activities, and lunches and teas in the adjoining Blackshaw Head Chapel.

Buses run to Blackshaw Head from Hebden Bridge at 10 past the hour, and return from outside the fete field at just before half past.

Blackshaw Head 'Celebrate 2013'

There's a busy week ahead for the good people of Blackshaw Head as Saturday's Village Fete is followed by "Celebrate 2013", an annual week of activities which the local church organises to provide the community with opportunities to get together and enjoy themselves.

The week kicks off on Monday morning (2nd Sept) with a coffee morning in Blackshaw Head Chapel from 10-12, offering  chance to view the schools art and local history exhibitions for those who were too busy during the fete.

On Tuesday the action moves to the local pub The New Delight at 7.45 pm for a pub quiz, whilst the little ones are catered for on Wednesday with a "tots' tea party" in the chapel garden from 1.30 to 3.

A new venture this year is Thursday's "Life And Soul Show" at 7.30. This is a multi-media exploration, at the chapel, in a cafe setting, of things we all can do to support the needs of others, from food banks and 'suspended coffees' to fair trade and water aid.

Friday's perennially popular Beetle Drive for all the family at 7 is followed on Saturday by a Youth Activity Day featuring the Methodist Church's BusOasis and Football cage, as well as live music, computer games and food and drink, for young people aged eight and above. This runs from 2 till 6.

Roger Munday, one of the organisers of Celebrate 2013, told the HebWeb, "We began with Celebrate 1999, and every year since we have seen people come together for a variety of activities. This is an important part of supporting the community, as the scattered nature of the area means that opportunities for neighbours to bump into each other are limited. The Village Fete and then Celebrate Week provide meeting places where people can get to know their neighbours."