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Final preparations are falling into place for this year's
Newent Onion Fayre with gardeners, in particular, being
urged to prove they know their onions. Trophies and a sponsorship
plaque are up for grabs in the onion show section of the
event, on September 9th.
The
Fayre this year will be opened at 10am by Wurzel (formerly
of Motorhead) -Thanks go to Jon Bishop of Foliation Ltd
Newent for making the introductions. There will be an auction
of Motorhead Memorabilia on the day with Wurzel getting
the auction up and running.
The
onion show itself, held in the Memorial Hall, is the bedrock
of the Fayre. It is judged under NVS rules and produces
some magnificent examples of the onion family. At least
30% of the exhibition must be onions.
Anyone
wishing to enter the Onion Show, or seeking further information,
should contact its chairman, Mike Davies, on 01531 822750.
The
onion eating contest for Men and Women will start at 1pm
and Men Beware, World Champion Onion Muncher, Brian Duffield
is coming along to defend his Newent Onion Eating Title
so you have some stiff competition! Entries on the day please
by the main stage.
The
Fayre, which has been going for eleven years, annually attracts
at least 12,000 people to the town centre. Attractions this
year will include a children's fancy dress competition on
the theme of 'To be or not to be a Knight, Princess or Dragon'
and a traders' window contest on the theme of a Medieval
Village. We are look for entries this year for a new feature
of the Fayre - An Onion Queen and two Attendants, so if
you would like to be entered for this, please contact Jane
Stevens on 01531 820679 for further details.
We
also have a wedding dress exhibition from over the years
in St Mary's Church, Angling workshop and model boats on
Newent Lake. Over 100 stalls and fairground rides have been
booked for this year's event. The George Hotel, Newent are
holding a Beer Festival & live music on the day too. We
have children's entertainment throughout the day at the
Market Square & in Church Street and most importantly Over
Farm Market are going to be situated in their usual spot
under the Market House selling tonnes of Onions - normally
6 tonnes of onions are sold on the day - make sure you don't
forget to purchase yours!
On
the musical entertainment front, the traditional Jazz band,
Electric Fred will be on the bill as well as Clive John
providing a selection of country, folk and Irish covers
along with his band Clearwood, T J Johnson & his bands will
be bringing along some Jazz & Blues magic, great music by
2Up, and throughout the day we will see performances by
Lydmet Brass Band. Also to be playing on the day at 1pm
will be ETC's - Winners of the Battle of the Bands 2006.
Full schedule can be seen by buying a Newent Onion Fayre
programme from the Newent Tourist Information Centre & various
shops in the town, or on the day of the Fayre itself.
For
those dance enthusiasts, we have the Egyptian dancers -
Arabesque, showing us how it's done and Folk Frenzy, an
Irish dance group.
Charlotte
Jones, the event's information officer, said: 'The arrangements
have come together, we have some superb entertainment acts
booked, the onions are coming along and we are also praying
for some divine intervention on the weather front - only
sun will do this year, after the floods of last year'.
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