Thousands expected at heritagesite festival

THE Saltaire Festival is expected to draw thousands of visitors to the World Heritage Site this month.

The annual showcase of music, drama, art and crafts, exhibitions, markets and entertainment will run from Thursday next week until Sunday, September 19.

Among the region’s talent at this year’s event are author and Yorkshire Post columnist Gervase Phinn, who will bring his reminiscences about his school days to the United Reformed Church on Friday next week , and actor and director Barrie Rutter, who will be staging his one-man show at Salts Mill on Sunday, September 12.

The theme of this year’s festival is AireBorne, celebrating the Aire Valley and the surrounding area.

Bradford’s Peace Artistes will mark the city’s continental connections in a performance with their German counterparts IG Blech, and the City of Film is hosting a special programme for Saltaire.

The festival committee’s chairman, Ros Garside, said: “We try really hard each year to seek out local talent – and thankfully we have so much to choose from.

“This year’s programme has some exciting additions – a comedy night straight from the Edinburgh Fringe and a Yorkshire food fair – as well as popular regulars including the open houses, makers’ fair and more free music than you can shake a drumstick at on the Piazza Stage.

“The festival ball on September 10, this year taking the theme Swingtime on Aire, is always a highlight and the 2010 schools’ celebration will be the biggest and most ambitious yet.”

On Thursday, September 16, primary schools from the area helped by professional actors and musicians, will take villagers and visitors back to the Victorian heyday of Saltaire

Tickets for events are available on www.saltairefestival.co.uk, as well as from local outlets and Bradford Visitor Information Centre.

Volunteers are needed to help with the festival – contact volunteer co-ordinator Susan Hinchcliffe on 07971 562628 or visit the website.