Crop idol scarecrows part of festival fun (From Wharfedale Observer)
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Gearing up for fun at Burley-in-Wharfedale Summer Festival
7:50pm Monday 2nd July 2012 in Local news
By Jonathan Redhead, Ilkley/Otley Reporter
Flashback to last year’s Burley summer festival, with Freya-Mae Barber, three, Amelia-Rose Barber, seven, Daisy Downs, four, and five-year-old Madison-Grace Barber on a tractor
Visitors to an annual festival will get a chance to vote for their ‘crop idol’ as preparations continue.
The Burley-in-Wharfedale Summer Festival will feature a scarecrow comp-etition involving local residents and businesses as one of many attractions during the week-long event.
A trail of colourful creations, based on child-ren’s storybook characters, will be sprouting up across the village, and visitors can vote for their favourites at the festival – now in its fourth year – which runs from August 18 to 25.
The competition is a new attraction at the popular summer gathering, but well-established events and activities also feature.
A wide range of music, from tea dance to opera, will cater for all tastes, while activities for youngsters will include a climbing wall.
The classic vehicle show always attracts a large number of visitors and exhibitors, and there are plenty of other events taking place throughout the week, including farm-ers’ and craft markets, a treasure hunt, art show and the Burley Theatre Group performance. The day after this is the village’s annual flower and produce show.
An online system to book tickets will be available for the first time ever, although they can still be bought via post or at the Burley Library on selected dates.
Festival committee chair-man Sylvia Tilford said more help is needed to help make the event a success.
“The organising comm-ittee has welcomed some new members this year but others wishing to join will be most welcome,” she said.
“Not everyone who has worked on the festival in its first three years can be available this year so new volunteers are needed – people who can offer a very little time through to those who can give fuller comm-itment. The programme is already quite full, and contains popular favourites and some new events.”
A festival brochure, including complete details of all the activities and booking options, will be delivered to thousands of homes in the area next month with, the online booking system going live towards the end of July. Visit burley-in-wharfe-dale.org for details
