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Strabane Fair Day 2011
TIMES PAST AT STRABANE FAIR DAY
20th June 2011
Council’s Annual Civic Event Strabane Fair kicks off on Friday evening 24th June at 7.15pm in the Alley Theatre with launch of the Strabane Uncovered CD which highlights the talent of local musicians. This is the final project supported by the North West Cluster Special European Union Programme Peace III funding. Running alongside the launch at 8pm is the finale of the Sounds like Summer bands competition.
This year the Strabane Fair day will take a more nostalgic theme- we are travelling back in time to the early1900’s and our castle street will come alive with re-enactments facilitated by the Ulster American Folk Park .We hope that you will come along to support and encourage the various professional and community showcases taking place in Castle Street, the Courtyard and the Canal Basin throughout the day. We would be delighted if people would get into character and dress in Victorian costume and there will be spot prizes for best dressed character on the day.
Workshops have been on going in the various schools and the children will be performing short pieces on the street and in the Canal basin through out the afternoon. All the children have been enthusiastic in practising their new skills in music or dance routines, so please come along and show your support. A number of workshops took place during the district in the Spring, funded under the SEUBP Peace III, so there will be performance and demonstrations from these throughout the Saturday afternoon.
On Saturday the Farmer’s market will operate from the Canal Basin from early morning while in the Alley Courtyard, they will be joined later by local crafters and local restaurateurs from the Strabane District. Many of the Crafts people are showcasing their handmade crafts for the first time and they will be joined by the Women’s Institute showing traditional baked fayre in the Alley court yard during the afternoon. There will also be demonstrations of traditional building crafts and music so something to attract all ages and interests will be offered
The main event performance in Castle street is a living history piece performed by the staff from the Ulster American Folk Park who will remind us of the colourful folks who use to frequent town fair days years ago so be prepared for some lively banter as they reflect on past eras. As the origin fairs were linked to the farming community we also have an agricultural link with static display of an old time thresher and a selection of rare breed animals in the Score site.
At 1.30 there will be a Vintage parade through the streets with olde time tractors and cars from the vintage clubs from both Strabane and Donegal who will then exhibit their vehicles in the Canal Basin throughout the afternoon so if you want to ask questions or find out more about your favourite vehicles then this it the opportunity to speak to the owners.
Indeed no Fair would be complete without the sideshows entertainment and Strabane will have professional street performers and buskers or bands to entertain the crowds in all three areas alongside the stall holders who this year are located in the Score site, Canal basin, along side the bouncy entertainment, games, archery and at 3.00pm the Bark to Basic Dog Show.
At 2.30pm we have a performance by a Galway theatre company in the library.
This is children’s show called Blenny the Waterdaughter –this is a free family show which would interest the younger age group. In the Alley Gallery there will be an arts exhibition of students exam level art work from secondary level schools. This exhibition will run to Friday 15th July.
Finally at 9pm, the Alley theatre will host their first ever Ceili and Old Time Music Dance with musicians Michael Gallagher and John Logue who are well known in the dance world for their skills in this music style-so come along and join the fun a weekend of activities to suit all ages and tastes!.
Please note that because of the Vintage vehicles exhibition one half of the Canal Basin Car Park will be used for exhibitors, therefore this part of the carpark will be closed to public traffic on Saturday 25th June. Signs and barriers will mark the designated area. Disruption will be kept to a minimum.
To download the poster click here
