The Essential Guide Magazine Lymm - Nov/Dec 14 | Page 36

Essential Feature Winter Warmers Lymm Village is gearing up for its traditional Dickensian Festival on Saturday Dec 13th. With any luck the festivities will be accompanied by frosty air and flakes of snow. But organisers of next year’s Lymm Festival will want to turn people’s minds to warmer days ahead. They will be hosting a stall where people can get advance information on next summer’s festival, which will run from June 18-28 2015. But you don’t have to wait for next summer to enjoy Lymm Festival events. At the Dickensian stall tickets will be on sale for two Winter Warmer events. BBC Radio 4 star comedian Arthur Smith brings his one-man show “At Your Service” to the Statham Lodge Hotel on Sunday Feb 1st. He will be followed by one of the region’s finest acoustic musicians, Pete Price, at Lymm Golf Club on March 7th. 36 and Roger McGough. The Parish Council have always supported the Festival but around 2001 it became an organisation in its own right. Local pubs and church halls were used but also some of the delightful venues the village has to offer. Lymm Hall has been the venue for people to take a picnic and listen to a summer concert. Leckonby Cottage hosted Art in the Garden for many years; this is now held at Lane End Gardens. Growing support for the festival encouraged organisers to put on events throughout the year as Winter Warmers. Robert Powell is just one of the stars to feature along with popular film nights for young and old alike. For the last two years the festival has culminated in the Lymm Historic Transport Day which has brought thousands of extra visitors to the Bridgewater Canal and May Queen Field. The Lymm Festival is now an established part of the North Cheshire cultural scene. It all came from an idea by local councillor Ian Marks, who is still The festival is going from strength to chairman of the Festival. It started as a strength because of the support of the showcase for local talent but as time has public and hard work by hundreds of passed regional and national performers volunteers. have been showcased. Recent examples Written by Lauren include Mark Radcliffe, Stuart Maconie& Penketh Chapelford SandersHeath & Appleton Nine issues in Culcheth Lymm Great Sankey Stockton Thewlwall, Grappenhall & Latchford Birchwood Lowton & Golborne Newton-le-Willows