The Frome Children’s Festival, a one-day free fun Sunday, gifted to the young people of the town every summer by local family support charity, Purple Elephant, is on its way with over 40 activities already planned.
The festival will be held on Sunday 23rd July from 10am to 4pm. Organisers Purple Elephant, said, “Old favourites will be at the festival, including a fully-accessible zip wire spanning the river, joined with exciting new, events such as Olivier-winning Little Bulb Theatre company who will entertain families with their stunning performances of Four Seasons, described as a ‘love letter to nature’.
“With accessibility high on the agenda and a something-for-everyone approach, we have arranged for glitter tattoos and face-painting as well as create-a -bee-hotel or make a terrarium! Included in the no-charge offerings will be a sensory room experience, free wrap-&-roll refreshments and food from partners, Fair Frome, and a scavenger hunt plus a dedicated storytelling area and a Frome Toy Library visit for teeny tiny Fromies.
“Older and teenage tastes have been taken into account too, of course. The vital input, opinion, hard work and talent of Frome children and young people has been integral to shaping the event itself as well as designing the posters and flyers. Their chosen theme this year is Climate Change, and they will be living out the important messages and lessons for all of us by running their own recycling, reuse and nature-led activities as well as inviting others to join them in the Teen-Tent at Bass Beatz silent disco and to sip mocktails at the bar, served by Journeyman Frome, a national charity dedicated to supporting teenage boys.”
The multisite festival, which also offers craft workshops, a photo booth, a mini cinema, den-building and pond-dipping, starts inside The Cheese and Grain main hall and music studio, via multi-sports in the Market car park area with boccia & basketball on offer; it then runs along the river by Welshmill woods and into Welshmill park where there will be BMX action and professional guidance on the pump-track – bring your bike.
There will be the opportunity to join in mural-painting as well as dance, magic and puppets performances throughout the day including inclusive, accessible dance sessions from the fabulous Flamingo Chicks team and a dazzling, daring, singalong Don Quixote show from Wild Words Theatre company.
And organisers are delighted to announce that, for the first time, visiting the town this year, world-traveller, coming to Frome direct from Glastonbury Festival, will be Gusita the Giant Tyre Turtle. Created by Felicity Jones and No Time To Waste Arts, this eco-aware sculpture, built from old tyres, allows children to play inside its fishing-net and plastic-filled belly, highlighting the important discussions to be had around pollution in our oceans, particularly from single-use plastic items.
“The free Frome Children’s Festival is the perfect start to the school summer holiday, thanks to Arts Council England, Frome Town Council, the Rotary Clubs of Frome, Selwood Housing, Green and Healthy Frome, the Postcode Lottery, Fair Frome and sponsors Café La Strada and Catherine Court Dentistry,” added Purple Elephant.
“However, in a world where, even for funders and generous businesses, money is become increasingly hard to access during difficult times, we at Purple Elephant charity, who provide year-round family and child support services, are asking anyone who can, to give a donation of £5 per person to ensure the festival returns for its 10th birthday next year.”
Booking is not required but for more details or to contact the organisers, go to www.PurpleElephant.org.uk
You can bring the Frome Children’s Festival back next year and help disadvantaged families in Frome by supporting all Purple Elephant year-round charity’s specialised services by texting ELEPHANT 5 (or ELEPHANT 10, 20. 50 or 100) to 70480.
