The festival is also a day of live music. The renowned Sussex Jazz Kings lead the festival cavalcade through the streets at 10.30 am with Morris dancers and local school children accompanying the Watercress King and Queen atop a horse and cart, distributing the first of the season’s watercress harvest to festival goers.

 

Local jazz band Easy Street perform on the Main Stage and the Alton Area Wind Orchestra made up of wind, brass and percussion players, perform at the Bandstand outside St John's Church in the town centre. They are joined by the forty-seven brass and percussion musicians who form the Hampshire County Youth Training Band.

 

Alresford Community Theatre Society (ACTS) was formed 16 years ago to encourage adults and children from the community in and around Alresford who enjoy acting, singing or dancing. ACTS have put on many popular and successful shows over the years including last year's "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" which had a vast cast ranging in age from 7 to 70 years. Many of the perform on the Main Stage to sing and dance numbers from recent shows and showcase some from the next productions planned.

 

The festival is proud to present performances by local school children. Sun Hill Infants and Juniors perform on the Main Stage after accompanying the cavalcade and students from Perins Youth Theatre draw crowds with their street theatre. And of course we cannot forget the fantastic Morris dancers - Hook Eagle Morris, Basingclog Morris and Dorset Buttons Rapper who will entertain and delight you throughout the day!