The Arundel Festival of the Arts is back!
Photography by Charlie Waring
19 - 29 August 2022
AFTER 2020’s virtual festival and a reduced (mostly outdoor) event programme last year, our dedicated committee of volunteers is working on an exciting 10-day programme across different venues (indoor and outside) for this year’s Arundel festival – the 44th! From dragon boats to duck racing, from choirs to Count Basie, and from Shakespeare at the Castle to street entertainment… From Friday 19th to Monday 29th August, Arundel will buzz with family-friendly fun for all ages.
Committee chair, Sharon Blaikie says, “Our unique, inclusive summer Festival brings together residents, community groups, local businesses, event organisers and attractions staging uplifting, accessible events for the whole community to enjoy. We’re thrilled to be coordinating an umbrella programme of events across town and inspiring local talent across the whole range of the arts”.
Pre-fest Events
The fun starts in June with three pre-fest fundraiser events. On Wednesday 1st June, Arundel residents and businesses are invited to a ‘Festival Fiesta Fundraiser’ at the Arundel Castle Cricket Club. Tickets include a welcome drink and BBQ, then there will be a raffle, auction, live Latin music, and dancing from 5.30pm to 9pm.
On Friday 24th June the pre-fest marquee is back on Arundel Castle Lower Lawns for the first time since 2019. At the ‘Great British Bash at the Castle’, from 7pm to 11pm, you can dance the night away to the incredible covers band Murdoch’s Crazy Eyes. Your ticket price will include a welcome drink and dinner.
The marquee will also host the ‘Revival Party Picnic’ from 6.30pm to 10.30pm on Saturday 25th June, featuring food, drink, music from the Sleepy Lagoon Orchestra, local children’s choir, family entertainment and competitions. Money raised at this event will benefit the Festival, Arundel Lido with their dementia- friendly coffee mornings, and the NSPCC. You can buy tickets for the Fiesta Fundraiser at Arundel Museum. Tickets for all three events are also available at www.arundelfestival.co.uk. You can find out more by emailing arundelfestivalboxoffice@gmail.com
Would you like to join Team Arundel?
Volunteers from ‘Team Arundel’ will help at all pre-fest events. This new initiative is a fun way of meeting people and matches volunteers to Arundel events, including the Arundel Festival of the Arts and the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations. As Arundel Festival is a registered charity, volunteering at this event counts as CV work experience. To sign up for Team Arundel, please email volunteers@arundelfestival.co.uk
What’s new at Arundel Festival of the Arts this year?
Choirs are back! And Abba will be rocking the cobbles again, but on the High Street as Ali and Charlie from The King’s Arms have kindly gifted this event to the Arundel Festival.
There will be family fun and musical entertainment aplenty at Jubilee Gardens and the Arundel Lido, a music festival, Burfest, street markets, café culture, children’s concerts and competitions, and so much more…
This is a mere taster of this year’s Festival. For the latest information and to buy tickets please follow the Arundel Festival of the Arts on Facebook or Instagram: @arundelfestival or visit www.arundelfestival.co.uk
Or you can chat to us at Arundel Farmers’ Markets – just look for our Festival hi vis!
Are you hosting an event during Festival week? Please email your event name, date, location, and contact information to secretary@arundelfestival.co.uk before Monday 20th June to be included in the ‘What’s On Where’ free listings pages.
