Fairtrade festival for Burgess Hill

Festival spokesman Robert Eggleston said: “The Festival opens with Iona supported by Julie Hall on Friday, March 2 and then runs for ten days with a stunning array of events. It includes folk legends Martin Carthy & Dave Swarbrick on Friday, March 9. This heroic duo will be joined by 2011 BBC 2 Horizon Award winner Ewan McLennan.

“Between these two events we will be holding Burgess Hill’s first ever Day Of Dance on Saturday, March 3 with Morris sides, street dance and Latin American with a Strictly Fairtrade feel to it as it includes five leading international Latin American dancers. Local schoolchildren will also be taking part in this dance extravaganza. In the evening Kate’s Kitchen Band will be serving up their incredible ceilidh, wonderfully led by caller Whispering Dave.

“There are loads of other great events including a performance of Handel’s Messiah which is backed by Sussex Chorus and includes professional soloists and the wonderful conductor Neil Jenkins, classical music with international classical guitarist Paul Gregory and members of the Burgess Hill Symphony Orchestra, and jazz at our first ever Fairtrade Restaurant experience at The Woolpack from The Rupert Bearcats. If it is a bit of original rock music then do come along to hear The Last Carnival.

“Check out our website for more information on the events and also for all our amazing deals on offer and start booking for this Festival.”

Robert added: “Burgess Hill has been a Fairtrade town since 2006 and this Festival helps to celebrate that status and raise awareness of Fairtrade. The Fairtrade Foundation is helping to change the lives of over 750,000 farmers and workers (plus their families) in 54 countries by building sustainable communities based on paying fair prices for their products.”

Tickets on www.burgesshillfreedomfestival.com.