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On Saturday 14th May 2011, the Farnham Spring Festival was in full swing when over 1,500 locals attended the Maltings to explore everything that was on offer.

In its sixth year, the festival offered visitors the chance to get involved, watch demonstrations and generally get creative. It was organised in association with Farnham Town Council and the Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice Fete in Gostrey Meadow.

The two events were a perfect combination and the day was a great success.  What’s more, both the Festival and Fete were completely free, which meant that visitors could move unrestricted between the Maltings and Gostrey Meadow for a full day of food, workshops and music.

Entertainment ‘spread’ from the Maltings along the river bank to the Meadow, with market stalls, entertainment, food and drink available at both locations. Along the riverbank were stalls selling a variety of wares from craft to memorabilia. 

Event and Exhibitions Officer Pauline Smith said, “It was great to work with Farnham Town Council and Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice to create such a lovely town event. We were thrilled with the amount of people who visited and got involved over the course of the day and we hope to plan another Spring Festival for the community next year.”

Each room at the Farnham Maltings hosted something different to give everyone a flavour of what happens in and around the Maltings throughout the year.  Little Bulb Theatre, one of Farnham Maltings’ associate theatre companies found a space in the foyer to play folk/acoustic music to the delight of a group of children who danced at their feet.

Crowds of visitors wandered through the building, down into the Great Hall where Acrojou’s circus workshop introduced them to two German wheels. People of all ages tried their hand or watched in fascination as others entered the wheels and rolled along as instructed by the circus theatre company.

Many rooms of the Maltings were filled with a variety of workshops. In the craft area visitors could make textile birds, get involved in rubber stamping, bread-making or do line drawings of birds with charcoal.

Another highlight was the interactive theatre performance entitled hold hands / lock horns, which explored how people can be held responsible for the choices they make. The one on one experience between audience member and performer was devised by non zero one, who recently received a No Strings Attached grant from Farnham Maltings.

Local policemen, Chris Skillicorn and Glen Robertson, gave a demonstration about the Systema method of self-defence, which was watched by a crowd including the Mayor and fellow policemen. The Shimmy Café, a group of belly dancers, were also on top form and surprised their audience by dancing with snakes.

In addition to the popular juggling, hip hop and storytelling workshops, Rock Choir hosted taster sessions, attended throughout the day by groups of eager singers. Morris dancers performed at the front of the Maltings whilst a group called The King’s Pond Shantymen wandered the building singing sea shanties.

The festival offered visitors a chance to experience a showcase of popular Maltings events, including live music, children’s workshops, theatre, dance, and arts and crafts.