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45th Morpeth Northumbrian Gathering
Continuing Northumberland’s traditions
13th
April to 15th April 2012
Over 50 indoor and
outdoor events for families, folkies and friends from far
and wide. Special “A Good Sport” events celebrate local
sporting heritage and Charles II, inspired by Morpeth’s
historic Olympic Games (1870-1958) and the return of the
town coat of arms, previously granted 350 years ago by the
Merry Monarch.
Friday evening’s concert features music and dance from
Charles II’s time followed by songs and tunes commemorating
legendary racehorses, rowers and athletes, with Johnny
Handle leading the grand finale singing of the Blaydon
Races, marking the anthem’s 150th anniversary.
During Saturday
morning’s pageant look out for the twin themes on banners
and costumes, then stay on for the “Muckle Day” of living
history, rapper and clog dancing, puppets, dialect,
have-a-go workshops, pub music, performing competitions and
storyteller’s garden. The Winners’ Concert, headlined by
Benny Graham, is followed by the ever-popular barn dance
with Fiddler’s Elbow.
Re-enactments include Saturday and Sunday’s 17th century
skirmish, while on all 3 days local produce and crafts can
be found on the Market Place stalls and in the Town Hall
exhibition. The final evening is given over to a talk and
archive films on our sporting heritage.
With a number of special events and anniversaries coming up
in 2012, the 45th Morpeth Northumbrian Gathering, the annual
festival of regional traditions, will celebrate “A Good
Sport” with twin themes - local sporting heritage and music
and dance of Charles II’s era.
Full
programme
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