The final event of the 2009 Cookham Festival will be "May Day on the Moor," on the May Day Bank Holiday on Monday 4 May. For 9 hours, from 12.30 until 9.30pm, the Moor will be the scene for a programme of music and family fun, culminating in Cookham's first ever open air charity rock concert, "Let's Rock the Moor".
"May Day on the Moor" will showcase the wide variety of arts and cultural activities that help to make the Cookhams such a special place.
The event will provide an opportunity for young local amateur pop groups to perform on the main stage, as a run up to the main evening concert, and will give them an unrivalled chance to present their music to a public audience. Well over 20 groups have already applied to perform and it will be a tough task choosing the eight or so who most deserve the chance to be part of a major local cultural festival. In organising this new addition to the Festival programme the organisers are delighted to be extending the appeal of the festival to a wider and younger audience.
In addition to the rock music, "May Day on the Moor" will provide the chance for local arts and cultural societies to display their talents to the local community and to encourage others to join them. A number of societies, including the Arts Club, have indicated that they will be taking part and any other local society representing the arts or culture is invited to take part.
The previous week's Cookham Festival will be remembered with a display featuring selections from what promises to be a magnificent programme of events. This programme will include a number of workshops, providing people to learn and acquire new skills, from pottery to African drumming and the products from these workshops will be featured at "May Day on the Moor". The next generation of Cookham's gardeners and allotment holders will be on display in a presentation of miniature gardens made by local children.
To provide enjoyment and entertainment for those who may not be totally devoted to the rock music in the main arena, or who may simply wish to enjoy a broad cross section of musical and theatrical cultures, there will be displays of Morris Dancing, with the chance for beginners to try it out, Maypole Dancing and live performances of a number of specially written "playlet"s", or mini plays, which will run through the afternoon.
For the younger children, there will be the chance enjoy face painting and to surprise their parents in a variety of new guises. It is also planned that Jo-Jingles will present a sample of their programme of re-school music and singing, to showcase their activities in this area.
This list provides a sample of the many events and displays that will form part of May Day on the Moor. It will clearly be a very busy and entertaining day and to keep everyone going, there will be a full bar and food service running throughout the afternoon and evening. To cater for different tastes and pockets, the food will include a barbecue as well as menus from India and China.
There will be no entry charge to the afternoon events on the Moor, albeit it is hoped people may like to support the day with a voluntary donation. Tickets for "Lets Rock the Moor", featuring Nick Heyward, supported by Soul'd Out, Temposhark, The Plants and Burdock, will be £15 for adults and £10 for children (under 12). However, for "early bird" bookings, made before the end of February, Adults need only pay £12 and children £8.
The theme of May Day on the Moor is to provide a fun family day out to bring the Festival to a rousing conclusion and to recognise the amazing talents that are to be found in the Cookhams. It will be a "must" in the May social calendar!
