Hear ye! Hear ye! The next 19 days in Jesmond are to be filled with entertainment, education, fitness and fun for everyone at this year’s Jesmond Community Festival.

Circus Performers and Marjorie Dodds, town crier

With 92 events across three weeks the festival, funded solely by the community, is the largest it has ever been. From an evening visiting bats and moths, to crafting workshops at Jesmond Methodist Church and a “celebration of young musicians” there is something for all the family.

For the first time Jesmond Dene House was host to the Press launch of the festival, with pan pipes and circus performers the festival launch was opened by Majorie Dodds a town crier and resident of Jesmond.

Chris Clarke, one of the festival organisers, is excited for all the new events that are taking place this year, including the inclusion of more events at the Jesmond Library.

“One of the new things this year that catches my fancy are the steam train rides which will be happening in Exhibition Park,” he said.

Katie Liddle, shop manager for Oxfam Books and Music on St George’s Terrace, is looking forward to being involved in this year’s community festival: “We run a competition with West Jesmond Primary School and also do a donation drive throughout the festival where every time the children donate six books they receive a sticker. Once they have six stickers they can get a free book from the shop.”

“It’s a great way to encourage the children to read and also help to get them involved in the festival,” she noted.

Though Liddle lives in nearby Heaton, she is a fan of the festival. “It brings the whole community together,” she said. “Everybody gets out and gets involved in everybody else’s events. I think as a society we have moved away from community living and this is something that brings everyone back together.”

Ellouise Hempstead, who runs her own dance fitness studio in Jesmond, has been chosen to head the festival launch parade, which leaves St George’s Terrace this Saturday at 12 noon. She and colleagues will be performing circus tricks along the route.

“We are lucky enough to be involved in the Jesmond Community Festival again this year,” she said. “It’s a lovely way of bringing people together whose passion is Jesmond, promote each other’s businesses and do something which good for everyone. It’s just a nice way to be able to give back to the community.”

The festival itself runs from May 9 – 27. The full festival programme can be found at http://www.jesmondfestival.org.uk/ and Jesmond Local will be publishing festival event previews and articles this month.