New Mills Festival is even bigger and better this year and will be the highlight of September for the town. The 2008 programme is packed full of an exciting variety of events including music, sport, comedy, film and, of course, the famous Lantern Procession. The theme for the Festival this year is ‘Think Green’ which organisers hope will be the inspiration for everyone who wants to make a lantern.

The first Festival event is the showing of a film noir classic at the Town Hall on Saturday 6th. There will be refreshement available, price is £3.50 or £3.00 Students or under 18's. All who come will be given a free 30 day membership to New Mills Cinema Club with the entrance fee!

Annual membership is also available. Contact details

Serena Harper-Devereaux 01663 741 340 or email thirtyframespersec@yahoo.co.uk

On Friday 12th September all are welcome to the first of the lantern making workshops which continue throughout the Festival. Saturday 13th will be a big day for the town with a variety of events on offer. There is a not-to-be-missed Fun Day on Newtown Rec with activities for all the family. This will be followed in the evening with an X-factor style event giving an opportunity for those budding stars out there to dust off their talent. There will also be the opportunity to go to the first of the ‘Light the Torrs workshops’ where ideas for fire silhouettes and sculptures can be developed. The Allotment Society are hosting another very popular Open Day. If you are thinking of growing your own vegetables this is a great opportunity to pick up some handy gardening tips. St James’ Church and Arts Centre are holding open days on the Saturday and Sunday and showing the amazing one-woman show ‘Pretty Witty Nell’ on the Saturday evening.

Providence United Reformed Church are hosting two events; a service of thanksgiving with hymns led by New Mills’ own Tim Hawkins and an organ recital by the well known BBC organist Gordon Stewart. Other musical events include ‘A Meditation on the Saints’ at St George’s Church and closing the Festival on the final Sunday will be the High Peak Orchestra with Last Night of the Proms at the Art Theatre.

As well as the musical evening, St George’s Church are giving an open invitation to join them for cheese and wine, to the Friends of St George’s Inaugural General Meeting and to the Flower Festival which runs from Thursday 18th to Sunday 22nd. Revival Church are hosting New Mills’ first international Film Festival with green themed films and opportunities for discussion. All the churches in New Mills are opening their doors for ‘Come and See’ events which span the Festival and will give the opportunity for people to visit the historic buildings and to meet members of the congregation.

For outdoor types there will be another popular Sports Day at the Cricket Club with a 20/20 cricket challenge match between New Mills and Hayfield, Fun Run and a selection of moderate to strenuous walks including an “Autumn Watch” nature walk through Goytside Meadows with John Hawksford. On the final Saturday New Mills Town Hall hosts the popular Chrysanthemum and Dahlia show and blooms will be on sale from 5p.m.

The popular wacky races event will be held again in High Lea park which is the culmination of go-kart making workshops held throughout the Summer at the Youth Club. Young people will also be showing their musical talents at the High School Band Night which will include the ever popular band ‘Stand Out Riot’.

Ali’s Café plays host to two special theme nights, one Arabian Night and one Mexican with music and authentic food. Pit your wits at the Royal Oak’s Festival Quiz night, join in the whist drive at the Volunteer Centre and laugh your socks off at top comics at Chalker’s Comedy Night.

Come early for the ever popular local history talk by Derek Brumhead and Ken Rangeley entitled ‘Kinder reservoir and railway’ at the Town Hall and on another evening a talk by Martin Doughty exploring his family history entitled ‘Who do I think I am?’ at St James’ Church and Arts Centre. New Mill’s Wives are hosting a topical evening on the subject of recycling and environmental issues. There will also be the opportunity at New Mills library to bring and swap a book and to share poetry on the ‘Think Green’ Theme. Any budding local poets can submit their own green themed work to the library at any time during the Festival to be displayed on National Poetry Day on 9th October.

High Peak Community Arts are opening up their hand-built yurt and turning it into a Camera Obscura for the day – a unique experience not to be missed. There will also be the opportunity to visit the library to see an exhibition of the progress of the Torrs Hydro Project. There will be a presentation and discussion about the project, which is the first community run and community funded hydro electric scheme, at Revival Church.

As ever the Festival is working closely with the local schools and each school will have the opportunity to visit ‘Wasteworks’ in Manchester - the Co-operative’s own recycling initiative. New Mills School and Sixth Form Centre will once again be displaying artwork by pupils from the school at various locations in the town.

During the Festival fortnight, lantern making workshops will be held at New Mills Town Hall with a team of trained helpers available. A minimum of two sessions will be needed to complete a lantern which can be proudly carried at the Lantern Procession on Saturday 27th September. The procession culminates in a stunning firework display at Newtown Recreation Ground.

For more information on any of the above events contact 01663 744907 or visit www.newmillfestival.com. A full New Mills Festival programme will be available in August from the library or the Heritage Centre.

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