Cotswold festival to be held this weekend (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Festival celebrating Cotswold history to be held in Stow-in-the-Wold this weekend

11:09am Wednesday 14th September 2011 in News By Ian Craig

HISTORY enthusiasts are looking forward to a weekend of historic excitement as the Cotswold Festival is held at Stow-in-the-Wold.

The festival, which is being held for the third time since 2007, will take place this weekend.

Adam Henson of BBC’s Countryfile will open the festival and Thomas Plant of BBC’s Bargain Hunt will also be on hand at St Edwards Church on Friday morning to value antiques.

Historic societies the Sealed Knot and Colonel John Pickering’s Regiment of Foote will also be staging a re-enactment of the final battle of the English Civil War, which was fought at Stow in 1946.

The battle re-enactment will take place at the cricket ground, while most of the other events, including a barn dance and a country dancing display by local schoolchildren, will be held in the town square.

Festival Committee secretary Sue Jones said she expected it to be a great success.

“There’s so much going on,” she said.

“If it’s anything like the last two times it’ll be great fun.”

The event is funded by a £5,500 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund as well as a contribution from Stow Town Council and will also feature live music throughout the entire weekend, craft stalls and history displays.

Proceeds from the festival will be used to benefit a range of local charities and organisations, including North Cotswold Voluntary Health Centre and the welfare fund of the Royal British Legion’s Stow branch.

For more information, visit www.cotswoldfestival.com.