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Harrogate, February 2022
Exciting live events coming up in the next few weeks!
So after last month’s teaser column which only hinted at what we were planning for the Festivals this year, we are now full steam ahead with lots of exciting events coming up in the next few weeks.
Up first is the fabulous Fire & Light Festival in the Valley Gardens, at the end of March. This event is totally new to Harrogate and those of you that know us, will realise the Valley Gardens is one of our favourite places to work. From the 1940s Day to 1571 to Carnival, we’ve delivered a host of free events for our community. The Fire & Light Festival is a little bit different though – whilst we might have played with fire before as part of our 2016 anniversary celebrations, and whilst this event is new, it will be just as beautiful as we ask you to step onto a trail of discovery. Reimagining the natural world around us as we explore the elements of earth, air, water and fire. Tickets have been going crazy since we announced, so get booking to make sure you don’t miss out.
Berwins Salon North also returns after nearly two years of digital delivery. Our first live event will take place at the Crown Hotel on the 17th March with a theme of ‘Out of Your Head, Out Of Your Mind’ with three different and amazing TED talk style speakers focused on the mystery of the mind, our unconscious bias and how it impacts our life from jobs to our romantic life, and finally does a mindset really change your life and do those that believe that ageing brings wisdom really live longer? People might be a little put off that this feels like a series of worthy lectures but it is anything but. Fabulously hosted by Helen Bagnall, the speakers are wise and entertaining and this is one event that is really social, provokes discussion, and I always go away feeling both slightly wiser, yet aware of how much we really don’t know about our bodies and the world around us!
In terms of music, our Sunday Series returns with a very special one-off concert with the Leeds International Piano Competition 1st Prize Winner Alim Beisembayev with an exciting programme of Clementi, Liszt and Chopin. The ticket hotline has just opened for this and it’s safe to say the audiences for these events are thrilled, one just told us ‘she is dancing in her kitchen’ at the announcement!
This week has also been incredibly busy as we are thrilled to reveal our Programming Chair and headliners for the world’s largest and most prestigious celebration of crime fiction, Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival.
Award-winning crime novelist Denise Mina will be acting as this year’s Festival Chair, with Special Guests on this year’s brilliant line-up including crime fiction titans such as: Lynda La Plante, Paula Hawkins, Tess Gerritsen, Michael Connelly, Lucy Foley, Charlie Higson, John Connolly, CL Taylor and Kathy Reichs. From the 21-24 July, Harrogate will be the hottest spot in the world of crime fiction. It’s fair to say it would be a crime to miss it.
It’s so exciting talking about events as real, live tangible things. We are lucky to be able to deliver such a range of things to Harrogate that entertain, inspire and even make people dance in their kitchen.
Each year we try and balance out free activity vs ticketed. Finding sponsors and supporters who can ensure we can take the risk on bringing unusual or international work to our town, and if there is a ticket cost, to try and make them as accessible as possible. We know there’s a cost of living crises, but we try and keep costs as low as we can. That’s why the Fire & Light is costed at £12/£6 rather than £18/£14 as it is elsewhere. We try and underwrite the costs so as many people as possible can get to see special events whilst they’re in town.
We hope you can support us, celebrate the return of live events, and hopefully we might even make you dance!
Sharon Canavar | Originally published in the Harrogate Advertiser in February 2022.