WHAT'S ON
On the third Sunday in May the Festival Cavalcade opens the show!
The festival cavalcade gets things going and is the chance for festival-goers to taste some of the first watercress of the season. Music, song and dance take place all day on the Main Stage, inside St. John’s Church and on the streets.
Starts from outside the Globe at 10:00 and proceeds up Broad Street. Sussex Jazz Kings, Hook Eagles Morris, Mayflower Morris and children from Sun Hill Infants and Junior School will accompany a horse and cart which carries this year’s Watercress King and Queen distributing the first of the season’s watercress harvest to festival-goers.
Cookery Demo Unit in Broad Street
Hosted by Davina Tibbets, the cookery dem unit in Broad Street will be home for the day to five amazing chefs. Do come along to watch these culinary wizards at work with watercress.
Located mainly in Broad Street you will find a variety of vendors to suit all tastes. From milkshakes to local fizz, from burgers to noodles and pancakes to churros. There really is something for everyone.
Over 40 local producers will be located in Broad Street for the Alresford Watercress Festival Hampshire Farmers Market.
A full schedule of events for the children including face painting, Punch & Judy, Circus Skills, and of course Spider Mountain. Also located here is a coffee stop and sweet stalls.
Main Stage in Broad Street
A full entertainment program with music, dance and much more. Watch out for a few little extras this year.
St. John's Church
Come to St. John’s Church, relax and listen to some excellent musicians and singers.
Shopping
Visit over 120 traders in Station Road and West Street where you can purchase locally made goods, jewelry, artwork, garden goodies, fresh produce and so much more.
Watercress Festival Awards
Once again, we shall be challenging our stall-holders to come up with the most creative/interesting/mind-blowingly awesome use of watercress.
This will be awarded on the main stage but do look out for te certificate of entry as you visit the stall holders.
Watercress Eating Championships
You are challenged to munch your way through one 80g bag of fresh watercress and wash it down with a small bottle of water in the fastest time. The Guinness World Record is currently 32 seconds. Can you take the heat? If you think you can sign up at the MAIN STAGE at 14:30. The championships will get started at 1500hrs with the redoubtable Paul Rees keeping the participants in order and the crowd in stitches.
And Elsewhere.......
The streets of Alresford will be filled with market stalls, dancing, music, food and drink.
Take a look at the On The Day page of this website
for current timings.
These will be updated regularly.
Festival Programme - Sunday 15 May 2022
TRIP ADVISOR
The atmosphere in Alresford was amazing. Several sides of Morris dancers, live music, stalls selling wonderful foods and the most amazing atmosphere. This is a terrific day out.
