They’re singing, dancing and clowning in the rain
Last updated at 15:18, Sunday, 19 August 2012
IT may have rained but there were still large crowds to be seen on the opening day of the Masquepony Festival yesterday.
The festival in Cartmel Village and on the racecourse, is a new family-friendly event which showcases contemporary circus, music, comedy and magic acts.
Masquepony kicked off yesterday afternoon with a free display of street performers taking over the centre of Cartmel village.
Jan Shorrock, of Lakes Alive, who organised the festival, said: “It’s a shame about the rain but it’s early days and tomorrow’s weather is supposed to be better for the banquet.
“There has been loads of support from the village and there have been big crowds despite the drizzle.” One of the acts that went down well was Artizani, a solo show performed by James Macpherson that mixed silent-movie clowning with acrobatics.
Maggie Taylor Woods, from St Helens, was very impressed by the show, describing it as “fantastic’’.
Megan Owen, 20, from Bolton, also really enjoyed the performance.
She said: “I’m a big fan of street performers and I came up for the weekend especially to see the festival. I’m camping on the racecourse and can’t wait for the banquet tomorrow.”
The most popular act was u Chapeau Magique, who held origami hat-making workshops in the village square.
They drew a large crowd and for their acts they handed out sheets of brown paper to the watching children and adults and then showed how to make their own masterpieces.
Gail Best, from Grange, who brought her two children along, said: “We loved the hat making, but we didn’t love the rain!
“The festival is great for the area and local people and it’s nice the festival is so close to where I live.
“If the weather is good we want to come back tomorrow and I would love to see the festival again next year.”
l For a full round-up of the Masquepony Festival and more pictures, see Monday’s Evening Mail.
First published at 13:06, Sunday, 19 August 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk
Editor's picks
- Cumbria's superfast broadband delayed by EU red tape again
- Pirelli factory death probe ordered tougher safety measures
- Dangerous machines among H&S offences in Carlisle area
- Slurry lagoons and asthma causing chemicals among Eden safety issues
- Factory heat could be used to warm 30,000 Cumbrian homes
- Businesses urged to get behind university's new business school
- Cumbria sets up links with Chinese university
- Patchy broadband damaging rural businesses (4 comments)
- £4m fund launched to help Cumbrian firms
- City predicts parts of Stobart Group will be sold
More news
- Cumbria LEP seeks commission members
- Profits down at Jennings Brothers owner
- Awards commendation for Cumbrian insulation invention
- Number of unemployed falls in Cumbria
- Underlying profits up but Stobart Group takes hit on pallet operation
- Sellafield has need for up to £100m worth of steel boxes
- Penrith builders' merchant depot sold
Vote
New vacancies
Useful links
BBC News business headlines
in-cumbria features
Investment to increase capacity at Carlisle’s Lanes shopping centre is on the cards following a change of ownership. 
What brought one of the most advanced performance management systems to Cumbria?
Cumbria business women make waves on the west coast - Don’t smash your caravan - sell to me!
- Revamp for Maryport Post Office
- Fashion designer starts gem of an online business
- More than 1,000 clamour to climb in Maryport
- Stobart Group aiming to start flights to Carlisle Airport as profits rise
- Awards commendation for Cumbrian insulation invention
- Number of unemployed falls in Cumbria
- Underlying profits up but Stobart Group takes hit on pallet operation
- Sellafield has need for up to £100m worth of steel boxes
- Penrith builders' merchant depot sold
- Fire service swamped with calls as flash floods hit Cumbria
- £16,000 benefits fiddle woman spared jail
- Campaign to save Carlisle pub from closure
- Carlisle cafe bar put up for sale
- Woman, 87, never recovered properly from operation, inquest told
- Expenses row details added to Cumbria crime chief's website
- Headstone smashed to pieces in Barrow cemetery
- West Cumbrian TV hotel goes on the market
- North Cumbrian boy helps football team to glory despite diabetes
- TV star Helen Skelton helps out with Three Peaks challenge
Have your say
Be the first to comment on this article!
Make your comment