2018 events...​

This information is left to give an idea of our programme.

St. George’s Day Celebrations
Saturday April 21st   

Children's Workshop    Town Hall 9.30 am

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Children will create their own costumes and a dragon to take part in the Toast  to St. George.

Accompanied children only, 6 to 10 years old.

Toast to St. George     Market Street 10.30 am - 12 noon

We welcome again Ragged and Old Morris, Malmesbury Morris and Waterley Bottom Mummers to entertain you.

The Town Mayor together with the Town Crier will propose the toast to our patron saint at 11 am. 

Coffee and cakes available in the Town Hall.

Art Exhibition Preview
Friday April 27th   Civic Centre  8.00 pm

Our new Patron, Ali Vowles, will declare the Festival open at this preview of artists’ work.  Join the local artists to view the paintings and enjoy a glass of wine.

Art Exhibition
Saturday April 28th   Civic Centre 10.00 am - 4.30 pm

Come and view the exhibition of local artists' work at your leisure.

Concert by Wotton and District Silver Band
Saturday April 28th   St Mary's Parish Church  7.30 pm

Wotton’s award winning Silver Band will be joined by guest cornet soloist Tom Hutchinson, principal cornet player of world class Cory Band and Professor of Cornet at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. In 2017 the Band achieved their best ever success while competing in the West of England Area Championships First Section.

Art Exhibition
Sunday April 29th   Civic Centre   10.00 am - 4.00 pm

A last chance to view the exhibition of local artists' work.

Poetry&Music
Sunday April 29th   Baptist Church  Rope Walk   3.00 pm

Justine Tomlinson, Laurence Kempton & Juliet Tomlinson will play a lively selection of classical string trios by Vivaldi, Haydn, Mozart and others, interwoven with poetry read by Rosie Bailey.

A Teetotal Pub Crawl - A Totally Different Outing
Monday April 30th   Heritage Centre  6.45 pm

Join David Baird from the Heritage Centre on a walking tour to see where you can, or could, buy a pint in Wotton under Edge. Finishes close to two hostelries for you to quench your thirst.

Booking essential - the walk was very popular last year and numbers are limited.

Charles Causley Film Evening
Presented by UTE in collaboration with Wotton Arts Festival.
Tuesday May 1st  Under the Edge Arts, The Chipping  7.30 - 11.30 pm

Last year was the centenary of the birth of the poet Charles Causley. The artist and film maker, Jane Darke, has made a full length film about his life and she will introduce it tonight.  The film was shown in a shorter version on BBC4 last year.  The film features many of his best poems, some set to music by his distant relation Jim Causley.   Jim, who appears in the film, will sing some of his settings of Charles’ poems tonight.

The film includes archive footage of Causley and interviews with poets who respect his work such as Simon Armitage, Roger McGough and Andrew Motion. There are also memories from people who knew him well, Mike Shepherd of Kneehigh, co-workers and friends in his home town and stories of his experiences during World War II while in the Navy.

Licensed Bar

Please note that tickets for this event will be available from Fish Out of Water, Long Street, and the Heritage Centre, The Chipping


Turning the Tables
Wednesday May 2nd   Blue Coat School 7.30 pm

In a change to Turning the Tables Mark Pasco is invited to interview Rev’d Canon Iain Marchant, retired priest and Navy Captain, and Peter Roberts (Pete the Print) of Clarendon Press, about their lives and share with us their favourite music.

Schools' Concert
Thursday May 3rd   St \Mary's Parish Church 6.30 pm

Once again young musicians from local primary schools and Katherine Lady Berkeley School combine to enjoy making music together.

A British Meal
Thursday May 3rd   The Edge Café  8.00 pm

Come and join us for a traditional British meal. Bring your own wine.
Booking essential in advance only at The Edge Café, Long Street.

The Great East Window in Gloucester Cathedral
Wotton under Edge Historical Society
Friday May 4th   Civic Centre  7.30 pm​ 

In the 1350s the Great East Window was created as the crowning achievement in the transformation of the abbey into a suitable setting for the royal tomb of Edward II.

Richard Cann will bring us insights into the window and reveal often unobserved details. By using his excellent photographs he will reconstruct some of the features lost over the centuries.

Photography Competition - "Hidden Gloucestershire"
Saturday May 5th   Under the Edge Arts, The Chipping 10.30 am - 4.00 pm

Last year saw the successful introduction of the Photography Competition as part of the Festival. 
All photographs entered in the competition will be displayed at Under the Edge Arts.  There will be three age classes and the winner of each class will be awarded a prize of £25. A picture may be selected to appear in 2019 Wotton Calendar.

The winners will be announced at 11.am on the Saturday

Festival Concert - Bristol Ensemble
Saturday May 5th   St Mary’s Parish Church 7.30 pm

Roger Huckle leads the Bristol Ensemble in a concert of popular Baroque music including Bach’s 4th Brandenburg Concerto, and double Concerto for violin and oboe, Handel’s Arrival of the Queen of Sheba and Gabriel’s Oboe.

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Joining them in a piece for clarinet and strings will be Wotton young musician, Katie Jenner, who is studying at the Birmingham Conservatoire.

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Photography Competition - "Hidden Gloucestershire"
Sunday May 6th   Under the Edge Arts, The Chipping 10.30 am - 4.00 pm

A final chance to see the photographs in this year's competition, and to see the winners pictures.

Band on the Hill
Sunday May 6th   Wotton Hill 11.00 am​

​Come and join Wotton and District Silver Band as they play their traditional programme of hymns and marches for Band Sunday.

Coffee and cookies will be available.

Festival Service
Sunday May 6th   St Mary’s Parish Church 6.00 pm 

The Service, lead by Rev. Canon Rob Axford, will draw the Festival to a close.

Marking a double centenary year of the end of WWI and votes for women, the theme will
be about progress and moving on, with musical contributions from the Parish Church Choir.