Fantastic beasts to take flight over Ellesmere for inaugural arts festival
Ellesmere's landscapes are set to be transformed next month as a flock of "fantastic flying creatures" descends upon the Mere.
Members of Fizzgigs, the town’s renowned community arts group, are currently hard at work assembling an array of hand-crafted installations for the town’s inaugural Arts Festival, running from 2nd to 4th May.
The creatures, ranging from the majestic to the whimsical, will be nestled amongst the trees and undergrowth surrounding the iconic Mere, offering visitors a unique visual trail throughout the bank holiday weekend.
A Spectacle at Dusk
Ian Andrew, Chair of Fizzgigs, expressed the group's enthusiasm for the upcoming debut.
"We’re really excited about this one," he said. "We know for sure there’ll be an eagle in its eyrie, a swimming swan, and even an owl. There will be other flying, flapping fabrications, too!"
While the installations are designed to be "exciting in daylight," organisers have teased that the displays will be "especially thrilling at dusk," as the natural light fades and the fabrications take on a more ethereal quality against the water's edge.
Raising a Glass to Creativity
To conclude the festivities, the group is shifting from visual arts to the spoken word. On the evening of Monday, 4th May, Fizzgigs will host a ‘Stories, Poems and Pints’ night at the White Hart.
The event, which kicks off at 7.30 pm, is open to everyone. Members of the community are encouraged to bring along their own creative works to share with the audience in an informal, welcoming setting.
Group member Kate Westgate issued a gentle reminder for those wishing to take the mic: "Just keep your poem or story to a maximum of five minutes, please."
With a weekend of art, nature, and storytelling on the horizon, Fizzgigs is promising a "fabulous fun-filled" debut for Ellesmere’s newest cultural highlight.
