Christchurch festival is belly good (From Bournemouth Echo)

Christchurch festival is belly good

3:00pm Tuesday 3rd July 2012 in Christchurch By Arron Hendy

A DIVERSE mix of acts entertained thousands of people at the three-day Christchurch Festival.

After a Friday night hit a little by the weather, the crowds turned out on Saturday and Sunday in their droves to enjoy acts ranging from traditional dancing to a barbershop quartet, a choral group and folk, rock and blues bands.

The music event is run by volunteers every year with the help of bands playing for free and money being raised for charity.

And the organisers were left celebrating another successful year by the end of Sunday night.

Ian Peterson said: “We are very happy with how it’s gone as the bands have been absolutely fantastic.

“We’ve managed to get a great balance of different types of music and styles.

“Everyone here does it for nothing so it is achieved through communal spirit and we’re really proud.”

On Saturday groups and dancers performed for the mayor of Christchurch in Saxon Square.

Admission fees for Friday and Saturday will go towards the event being held again next year while on Sunday entry was free.

Money raised also goes to the mayor’s charities the Christchurch District Scouts, the Lighthouse Youth Club and Age Concern Christchurch.

Sunday headline act Lady Winwood’s Maggot helped by providing equipment and fellow organiser Dyrck Lamble said the occasion was a great chance for local bands to perform in front of thousands of people.

“The quality of the bands has been astonishingly good,” he added.

“And we’ve had a lot of young bands coming through.”

Stalls at the Quomps included food, cuddly toys and clothes as well as the RSPB and other environmental groups.

There was also face painting and a bouncy castle and fellow organiser Graham Deans said the festival was a big draw for families.

He said: “People were picnicking and it was a lovely atmosphere. And as it’s done by a group of volunteers I think it makes it more special.”