So....The Arena?

Why not have a huge marquee in The Arena in years to come? There's plenty of space for one down on the flat part of Knowle Park. Yes it was lovely to sit on the hillside, but let's face it...it was darn uncomfortable! That hill is just too steep! You slide down it even when it's not raining!! I'm up and down it every day with my dogs and it's a killer. Great if you're a Longdog like mine is, but you really do need 4 feet to cope with it!

I've heard rumours that people are thinking about a covered area for The Arena. The last few years the weather has been dreadful during Festival week and when you're paying a lot of money for tickets, (we've got a family so x everything by 4) it's great to know that the weather really doesn't matter! That's why this year for the first time EVER, we bought our tickets in advance and all the previous years we've waited until the same day....often deciding not to go at the last minute because of the experience of slipping down that hill in thick mud! If there was a Marquee in The Arena we'd also buy tickets in advance.

All the other things could still take place as always. As long as special care was taken to centre everything around the town as well, thus including all the shopkeepers and local traders once more. It should all work beautifully!

Knowle Park is a beautiful space, but it had almost become the centre of the Folk Festival. Sidmouth is a beautiful town and this year I think a lot more people will be seeing the town in greater depth for the first time. I've had friends who, in the past, have only visited The Arena and nowhere else in town!! They got everything they wanted from The Arena so didn't bother with anything else!

I'm really looking forward to something a bit different this year. Although I very much loved the Festivals of the past it had become the same every year. The same children's entertainment in the same places, the same craft stalls, the same food stalls. It had somehow lost a bit of sparkle. I agree that sometimes it's nice to know that the same things will be there, like the Storytelling Tree and the Storyteller's Chair, but you need a bit of change too. Spices it all up!

I adore all the singers and dancers from around the world, but honestly, if an Arena Marquee becomes part of future Festivals, I can't see any reason why they won't all come flooding back again, but this time to a guaranteed, packed out, DRY...audience! It was wonderful seeing all the dancers wandering around town in their incredible costumes, but I'm sure it will all come back!

Always the optimist!

Can't wait for 2005 as it will be one of a kind and to have it at all is a huge blessing! SO looking forward to watching those torches being doused in the sea again this year. I've missed it in previous years as we live up by The Arena and always waited at the top to see the performers go past, then we'd go home as my young lad was wilting on his feet by then and we live very close to The Arena. So...I thought I'd missed the opportunity of ever seeing those torches again...but....here we are...2005 and it's happening!!

I'm overjoyed, don't know about anyone else. :0)

And I can't wait for 2006 either!

Lizzie :0)