I would love for there to be workshops on various instruments, - bring your own bodhran, whistle, fiddle, mandolin, jaw harp, harmonica, nose flute, etc. Leigh offers a workshop on harmony singing. It was standing room only last year. I think dance workshops would be popluar too.

The exhibition is a brilliant idea. Interactive would be better with morris dancers on hand to give demos. Shameless plug for my observer book of morris. Tatters, hats, blacking up workshops could be offered.

Please please please- I cannot be more emphatic - stagger the concerts, sessions, workshops and morris performances, so everyone can get a taste of everything they want.

Mummers plays! What fun. My brother in law still does mumming with what is left of Ramskyte at Christmas to raise money for charity. I imagine most most groups that do mumming are also muso and/or morris so may be a bit of conflict there. Would be good to see mumming during the Dickens fests.

Damn. I cannot wait to retire to Rochester. Gonna jump in both feet volunteering planning and working these events. I used to do conference management. Not that different from event managment. I bet I could suss the scheduling of acts and events to be more inclusive if the council will agree. I will happily chase and write up the descriptive blurbs. Advocate for lower charges on trade stalls etc. Get the extra camping and security in place. Schmooze the offending pub owners into disengaging the tellies and putting on live music in evenings, so schedule can be extended. Get the Casino owner to donate his buidling to Museum of Morris and make Rochester the Morris capital of the universe.

Pant pant gasp.

Deep sigh. Pipe dream over.