Bridlington Old Town Summer Festival starts on Saturday with a nine-day celebration of this historic old heart of Bridlington.

Organised jointly by the Old Town Association and The Priory, its aim is to encourage more people to come and enjoy all Old Town has to offer, including Priory Church which is a key part of the community.

Throughout the coming week are events and entertainment, music concerts in the historic Priory, the ever popular Old Town Secret Gardens, a chance to peep behind the historic facades of this unique setting, galleries to visit, special exhibitions and more.

Evening concerts at The Priory include the return of the East Yorkshire Motor Services Brass Band and the extremely popular Young Voices In Concert, a free event featuring local school children.

It is also the venue for an evening with The Priory Choir and Handbell Ringers with the Capriccio Singers and a Music For A Summer Evening voices and jazz concert featuring the Al Wood Jazz Quartet and the popular local skiffle group The Alley Cats.

The festival ends with a whole day of activities on Old Town Day on Sunday, July 12.

Market Place is given over to a food and craft fayre in Market Place with a World of Food cafe offering food from many cultures, plus craft and gift stalls.

High Street will be closed to traffic for visitors to enjoy browsing the galleries and enjoy buskers and street performers, including Morris dancers.

One of the hits of last year's festival, a charity Old Town pub tug-of-war match, will return this year as the Emma Colangelo Memorial tug of war, starting at 2pm.

Following the success of last year's village show, the Old Town Show will take centre stage on Church Green in front of The Priory.

It is a chance for local people to show off a whole range of produce, flowers, handicrafts, and school entries in classes including home-made goods or produce, vegetables, preserves, photography and more.

Like a typical village style show there is a pet dog and pet show and displays including vintage tractors and engines, crafts and charity stalls, displays and demonstrations – something for all the family and all ages.

In addition to its normal Monday to Friday opening, the Lords Feoffees have agreed to open the Bayle Museum on the weekend festival days of this Saturday and Sunday and on Old Town Day itself, Sunday, July 12.



ONE of the area's best loved festivals gets underway this weekend.
Bridlington Old Town Summer Festival starts on Saturday with a nine-day celebration of this historic old heart of Bridlington – culminating in the Old Town Day and Old Town Show. Here is the programme of events:

SECRETS OF OLD TOWN
* Saturday and Sunday, July 4 and 5 – Visit the hidden gardens of Old Town that lie behind the historic facades, most with artists at work, including at 43 High Street a gardening expert to answer your questions. From 1pm to 5pm. Tickets covering all gardens £3.50 (under 16s free).

GALLERIES
* Visit all the High Street galleries for original paintings, jewellery,
pottery, photographs, prints and more. In High Street – Burlington, Priory, Old Town, Lawrence, Alex May galleries, plus Georgian Rooms and in Market Place, Gallery 49.

CONCERTS AND EVENTS
* Saturday, July 4 8pm, "An Evening at The Toft", poetry, music and pictures at 43 High Street. £6 including wine. (Booking essential)

* Sunday, July 5, 8pm – Priory Church, The Priory Choir and Handbell Ringers with Capriccio Singers. £5 admission.

* Wednesday, July 8, 8pm – Priory Church, EYMS Brass Band summer concert. Admission £6.

* Thursday, July 9, 7pm – Priory Church, "Young Voices in Concert", admission free.

* Saturday July 11, 7.30pm – Priory Church, "Music For A Summer Evening", Al Wood Jazz Quartet and popular local group The Alley Cats. Admission £6, refreshments.

Tickets for all Priory concerts are available from the Priory Shop (in the church, 10am to 4pm, Monday to Friday) or on the door.

All other tickets and pre-booking information from The Georgian Rooms, 56 High Street, tel 608600.

EXHIBITIONS
* Sunday, July 5 to Sunday, July 12 – Priory Church, "Stitches In Time" an exciting exhibition of textiles and design across all ages and themes. Sundays noon to 4pm, Monday to Saturday 10am to 4pm, refreshments available.

* Sunday, July 4 to Friday, July 10 and on Sunday, July 12 – Bayle Museum open, entry £1.

OLD TOWN DAY

* Sunday, July 12, 11am to 4pm – Food and Craft Fair in Market Place, stalls with high quality food, craft and gifts plus "World of Food Cafe" to sample food from many cultures.

Buskers, Makara Morris Dancers, 8 To The Bar will entertain.

* Emma Colangelo Memorial tug of war, 2pm, High Street.

OLD TOWN SHOW
* Sunday, July 12, 11am to 4.30pm – Church Green, entries of local produce, vegetables, home cooking, preserves and more. Also photography, wood turning and carving, sticks, wine. Children's and young people's classes, pet dog and pet show, displays of vintage tractors and engines, craft, charity and trade stands.

Entry forms available from The Georgian Rooms, High Street.

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