More than 85 events planned for fun-packed Hurst Festival

This year’s celebration promises to bigger and better than ever with popular and classical music, arts and crafts, comedy, literature, film, theatre, kids’ workshops and country pursuits. The festival runs until Saturday, October 1. Super Saturday Hurst Festival opens with a village-wide party called Super Saturday in a nod to this year’s Olympics. This will start Rio-style with Brighton’s Barulho Samba band leading a parade up the High Street to a range of activities (like Human Table Football) on the Recreation Ground. The Treasured Transport parade will include all manner of vintage vehicles. Super Saturday ends with an ’80s night at the Village Centre with DJ Mark Fellowes. Music One of this year’s musical highlights will be renowned composer and Hurstpierpoint resident Fraser Trainer as part of Between The Notes, a genre defying collaboration with acclaimed cellist Matthew Barley. They will offer extraordinary improvisations in the Hurstpierpoint Players Theatre. Ensemble Reza perform as an octet in Holy Trinity Church and guitar maestro Richard Durrant will play in Sayers Common Church. Concluding the festival in rousing fashion are two very different musical experiences. Holy Trinity Church welcomes All Souls Orchestra and Choir for a concert where the whole audience can sing their favourite hymns. At the Village Centre the final night party will be kicked off by Sussex singing sensation Kieran Murray who recently played with Jamiroquai. The Reform Club, fronted by former Liberal Democrat Minister Norman Baker, take the headline spot for a session of good old British rock ’n’ roll. Kids The children of Hurstpierpoint have plenty to look forward to with a show by one of the UK’s best magicians Max Somerset. Max is known to many as the star of his own hit Sky One show, Max Magic. Budding performers can also take part in the Create Space to Dance and Record a Track workshops at St Lawrence Primary School. Battle of the Somme Centenary 2016 sees the centenary of the Battle of the Somme and several events mark the occasion. Holy Trinity Church will be transformed by Reflections, a free art exhibition featuring glass art by Elizabeth Lamont, memorial war poetry by writer Vanessa Gebbie, sculpture by Helen-Mary Skelton and artwork by residents at The Dene, as well as photography by Rev. Jane Willis. Hurstpierpoint Open Studios A core part of the 2016 programme is Hurstpierpoint Open Studios, which takes place over the first two weekends of the festival. This year sees 18 artists open their studios to the community, showcasing jewellery making, sculpture, textile craft, photography, painting and stained glass art. For tickets and the full programme of events visit www.hurstfestival.org. Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live. Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be among the first to know what’s going on. 1 Make our website your homepage 2 Like our Facebook page 3 Follow us on Twitter 4 Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here. And do share with your family and friends – so they don’t miss out! Be part of it.