ROLL UP, roll up to this year’s circus-themed Art in the Park Festival in Jephson Gardens.
More than 150 artists and designers will be creating, demonstrating and selling their work during the free weekend event in the Leamington park on August 5 and 6.
The town’s legendary Victorian elephant trainer Sam Lockhart is the inspiration behind this year’s theme, and visitors can expect lots of juggling, plate-spinning and general clowning around.
Event organiser Carole Sleight said: “This year we have even more artists and activities to engage, entertain and surprise visitors.
“Over 200 residents have made dazzling upcycled flowers to decorate the railway station and gates to Jephson Gardens, and Coventry creative duo ‘Julia and Sarah’ will be creating a live hoop mania installation.”
Motionhouse Youth and Leamington & Warwickshire Academy of Dance will have a spring in their step around the clock tower, while musicians will also be tuning up to provide entertainment throughout the weekend.
Other festival activities include workshops, yoga and Indian drumming.
There will be plenty of tasty treats on offer too, with ice cream from Swirls and a pop-up gin and rum ‘palace’.
Warwick-based technology company Telent are the headline sponsors this year, with BID Leamington, Warwick District Council, the Leamington Studio Artists and a host of local businesses also supporting the festival.
Stephanie Kerr, executive director of BID Leamington, said: “This is the fourth Art in the Park and the festival continues to go from strength to strength.
“The festival is part of the town’s ‘Summer of Fun’ with a host of activities taking place over the coming months and culminating in the Royal Leamington Spa Food and Drink Festival in September.”
A procession of drummers will open the festival at 10am on the Saturday with circus-inspired tunes. The festival runs 10am to 6pm on both days.
