Gargoyle comes alive in Wallsend

29-JUN-09

Issued by: Duncan Bennett

A living gargoyle will be one of the more unusual sights at the Wallsend Festival next weekend.

The blue creature is just one of the street entertainment acts at this year's festival, which takes place on Saturday 4 July between 10am and 4pm.

It has previously been seen at high profile events ranging from Edinburgh's Hogmanay Torchlight Procession to the launch of J.K.Rowling's book, Harry Potter and the Half-blood Prince.

The ninth Wallsend Festival is organised by Wallsend Festival Association and supported by a number of other organisations, including North Tyneside Council.

In the lead-up to the festival, Wallsend and District Choral Society will join with a choir from Burnside Business and Enterprise College to present their annual Festival Concert, at the College at 7pm on Wednesday 1 July. Tickets are £4 and available from the college reception or members of the choir.

On Friday 3 July the North Tyneside Festival of Steel Bands will take place at Wallsend Memorial Hall.

The best of school steel bands will join together to form the biggest-ever school steel band in the north east with over 80 players coming together. Free tickets are available from dave@steelbandsnorth.org.uk

Meanwhile Cloud Nine Theatre Company will be staging their popular 30-minute comedy 'Bingo!' each lunchtime at 12.30pm from Tuesday to Saturday at Wallsend Library. For more information TEL: 200 6968 or e-mailwallsend.library@northtyneside.gov.uk

Festival highlights on Saturday 4 July include:

- Live music and craft market and workshops outside the Forum shopping centre
- High Street East, which will be closed to traffic for the day, will feature street entertainment, a climbing wall, fairground rides, lots of static displays and much more
- 'Names set in Stone' exhibition at Segedunum Roman Fort where you can 'pop in for a pound'. Admission is free to people aged 16 and under
- A display of vintage cars provided by the Pre War Austin Owner's Club at Alexandra Street car park.

For festival news visit www.wallsendfestival.org

ENDS