Houghton Feast 2009 – Gallery
Wednesday 30 Sep 09 – Thursday 15 Oct 09
Most events are FREE, but there is a small charge where stated
Various locations in Houghton-le-Spring
This years Houghton Feast will be bigger and better than ever, with a whole host of events for all the family.
Visitors are in for a treat as the Broadway is illuminated by dazzling lanterns to mark the opening of the festival on Friday 2 October at 7pm at the Broadway. The Mayor of Sunderland Councillor Dennis Richardson will officially open the festival.
There’s an exciting programme of events and activities including the traditional fun fair at Rectory Park, firework displays, the annual carnival parade will take place on Saturday 3 October at 2pm, a craft fair, pub quizzes, a grand variety show by Houghton Dance and Performing Arts Academy and of course, the famous ‘Roasting of the Ox’.
The ancient festival is steeped in tradition and has been running since the 12th Century as a two-day fair, which was extended to ten days in 1967. The ten-day festival will run from 2 – 11 October in various locations across Houghton-le-Spring and will combine a unique mix of traditional and modern activities that will bring together community, voluntary and professionally staged events.
Wednesday 30 September
2pm Age Concern afternoon of entertainment & rally
Held in Houghton Sports Centre, Welfare Hall by ticket only. For details please contact 0191 553 4033. Free admission.
Friday 2 October
9.30am Coffee morning
Held at Houghton Methodist Church, Mautland Street.
1.30pm Special opening of the feast fun fair
The opening will be performed by Cllr Dennis Richardson, the Right Worshipful The Mayor of Sunderland. Thanks to the generosity of the Showmen’s Guild of Great Britain (Northern Region), the fun fair will be open to invited children for supervised free rides.
7pm Festival of Houghton Feast opening ceremony & Switch On of the feast illuminations.
Local schools and community groups will be working throughout September to create dazzling lanterns. Come along and see the results as the Broadway is illuminated and the feast is opened with musical performances. Cllr Dennis Richardson, the Right Worshipful, the Mayor of Sunderland will switch on the feast Illuminations and officially open the Festival of Houghton Feast 2009
Saturday 3 October
Feast festival day – a day of dozens of free activities for all the family:-
9.30am – 12noon Houghton from the Air
Aerial photographs of Houghton and surrounding areas by Rob Hunter in Houghton Library & Learning Centre.
9.30am- 5pm Houghton Art Club
Will stage an exhibition in Houghton Sports Centre. Free admission
9.30am – 5pm – Display of Miners Banners – Houghton Sports Centre
Members of the Lambton and Houghton Banner Group will be on site to share their local knowledge about the history of the banners to ensure that this important part of their heritage is never forgotten.
10am Coffee morning
Held at Houghton Methodist Church, Mautland Street
10am – 1pm Heritage Photo Exhibition, The Broadway
A free exhibition in the Broadway of old Houghton photos from years gone by.
10.30am Antique & craft event
Held in Kepier School, presented by Quintet Promotions. Free admission.
11am Open Day, St Michael & All Angels Church
Take the opportunity to look around the recently reordered church in its new splendour. Light refreshment will be served throughout the day.
1.50pm Primary School Dash
Organised by Houghton Harriers. Local primary schools are invited to attend .The run will start at Houghton Sports Centre with the finish line at St Michael & All Angels church.
2pm Annual carnival parade
Organised by Houghton Round Table, spectators can enjoy colourful floats, vintage and classic cars and buses, marching bands and steam vehicles. The parade will leave Houghton Sports Centre and proceed into the Broadway, Dairy Lane and Wheeler Street. Proceeds of the collection en-route will be donated to local charities.
4pm Houghton Feast bowls tournament – Grand Final
Held at Houghton Town bowls club, behind the sports centre.
7pm Houghton Dance & Performing Arts Academy presents ANNIE the musical at The Academy Theatre, Newbottle Street, Houghton. Licensed bar available. Tickets £7 conc. £5
7.30pm Houghton Brass Band, St Michael & All Angels Church
Concert with guest soloist Mark Bousie, tickets £3.00 available from Houghton Library & Learning Centre
Sunday 4 October
10am – 4pm Houghton art club
Will stage an exhibition in Houghton Sports Complex. Free admission
10am Festival civic service – St Michael & All Angels Church
A grand service of thanksgiving for community life attended by the Lord Lieutenant, Cllr D Richardson, the Right Worshipful, the Mayor of Sunderland, Members of Parliament, civic dignitaries, and many other public servants.
10.30am Morning Worship – Houghton Methodist Church
2.30pm & 7pm Houghton Dance & Performing Arts Academy present ANNIE the musical at The Academy Theatre, Newbottle Street, Houghton. Licensed bar available. Tickets £7 conc.£5
6pm Festival Evensong – St Michael & All Angels Church
An opportunity to share in a service of worship within the Anglican tradition.
7.30pm Feast Hymn Singing with various guests introducing their favourite hymns.
Monday 5 October
9am- 5pm Houghton art club
Will stage an exhibition in Houghton Sports Centre. Free admission
9.30am Lambton Worm Exhibition – Houghton Library & Learning Centre
Exhibition of book illustrations by author Andrew Jenkin in Library foyer until Friday 9 October.
1.15pm Tea dance
Organised by Age Concern, Houghton, held in Houghton Sports Centre, Welfare Hall. Admission £1.
2pm Andrew Powell Houghton Library and Arts Centre
Discussion with Andrew on reading and creative writing. Andrew will be promoting his new book ‘The Ark’. Booking required: for further information please ring 0191 561 6383
4pm Roasting of the ox
The traditional feast ceremony. A roasted ox will be prepared by Houghton Rotary Club at Rectory field. All proceeds from the sale of sandwiches will be donated to local charities.
7.30pm Firework spectacular
Sponsored by the Showmen’s Guild of Great Britain, the firework spectacular will take place at Durham Road playing fields.
Tuesday 6 October
9am Coffee morning
Held in Houghton Methodist Church, Mautland Street.
10.30am – 10.50am Shoppers service
Pop in for a short service in Houghton Methodist Church
2pm Norman Kirtlan – Houghton Library and Learning Centre
A workshop taken by forensic artist, author and ex-police officer Norman Kirtlan, who will shed some light on the hunt for the infamous Jack the Ripper.
Booking required: for further information please ring 0191 561 6383
2.30pm Ecumenical service for senior citizens – St Michael & All Angels Church
A hearty invitation is extended to all senior members of the community to meet together for worship. Afternoon tea will be served after the service.
7pm Houghton Dance & Performing Arts Academy presents ANNIE the musical at The Academy Theatre, Newbottle Street, Houghton. Licensed bar available. Tickets £7 conc. £5
Wednesday 7 October
6pm Fran Sandham – Houghton Library & Learning Centre
Author of ‘Traversa’ one man’s trek across Africa from the Skeleton Coast to the Indian Ocean.
7pm Journey through time – Houghton 1st Scout HQ (next to Houghton Quarry)
A DVD screening of then and now views and vintage footage of old Houghton. After the screening each scene will be discussed, so feel free to bring along your own memories, recollections and photographs. Admittance £2. Places must be pre-booked on 0191 268 4688 or info@houghtonlespring.org.uk.
Thursday 8 October
9pm Grand final of the Houghton Feast pub quiz – Houghton Buffs Club
Quiz teams are invited to the battle for the Feast championship along with the winning teams from the heats. (A limit of 6 persons per team).
11.30 – 2.30pm Heritage Open Day, St Michael & All Angel Church
6pm Alice De Smith – Houghton Library and Learning Centre
Discussion on reading and creative writing with regional author Alice de Smith. Alice has written for numerous publications including The Times, the Mail on Sunday, and Cosmopolitan. Welcome to Life is her first novel. Booking required: for further information please ring 0191 561 6383.
7pm Houghton Dance and Performing Arts Academy presents a Grand Variety Show at The Academy Theatre, Newbottle Street, Houghton. Licensed bar available. Tickets: £4.50 conc. £3.50.
Friday 9 October
9.30am Coffee morning
Held at Houghton Methodist Church, Mautland Street.
6pm Mark Turnbull – Houghton Library and Learning Centre
Houghton Le Spring author Mark Turnbull has his finger on the political, military and social pulse at one of the pivotal moments in British history and he effortlessly transports you back to those momentous days with ‘Decision most deadly’
Booking required: for further information please ring 0191 561 6383.
7pm Houghton Dance & Performing Arts Academy presents a Grand Variety Show at the Academy Theatre, Newbottle Street, Houghton. Licensed bar available. Tickets: £4.50 conc. £3.50.
Medieval Banquet – St Michael & All Angels Church, The Broadway
Tickets £12 from Michael Foster, contact 07860 250 300
Saturday 10 October
10am Coffee morning
Held at Houghton Methodist Church, Mautland Street.
10am Houghton Feast horticultural show
Held in Houghton Sports Centre
10am – 12noon Singing in the Rain – Houghton Library and Learning Centre
A photo and video exhibition on the history of Houghton Feast, commemorating the 60th anniversary of community hymn singing, which used to attract 1000s to the Broadway at the Feast in years gone by. The exhibition features rare and unseen photos, plus footage from the 1930’s and 1950’s.
12noon Annual gymnastic display
Held at Houghton Sports Centre by the children of Houghton Gym Club.
2pm Homicide in Houghton 4 – Houghton Library and Learning Centre
Join best selling author Sheila Quigley and local historian Paul Lanagan on an investigation of the fictional murder scenes from Sheila’s books. The free tour departs from the corner of Rectory Field, next to Houghton Police Station and returns to Houghton Library and Learning Centre for refreshments, when Sheila will read an exclusive preview from her next novel Road to Hell. Book by telephone on 0191 561 6383 as places are strictly limited.
4pm & 7pm Houghton Dance & Performing Arts Academy presents a Grand Variety Show at the Academy Theatre, Newbottle Street, Houghton. Licensed bar available. Tickets: £4.50 conc. £3.50.
Sunday 11 October
10am Houghton Feast horticultural show
Held in Houghton Sports Centre, the presentation of prizes and grand charity auction will take place at 5pm.
10am St Michael & All Angels Church
A family celebration of Holy Communion with hymns and a sermon (plus a creche and Young Church).
10.30am Morning worship – Harvest Thanksgiving
Held at Houghton Methodist Church, Mautland Street.
11am Houghton Feast five a side soccer knockout competition
Held at Houghton Sports Centre, contact 0191 553 6465 for details.
1pm Houghton Feast family walk
Enjoy a gentle stroll through some of the districts most beautiful countryside around the Rainton Meadows Nature Reserve. Registration is on arrival for a ‘rolling start’ between 1pm – 2pm. Walkers please meet at the Durham Wildlife Trust Headquarters, Rainton Meadows Nature reserve. Contact 0191 561 8433 for further details.
Free admission.
Event information may be subject to change or cancellation, please check before travelling. Sunderland City Council makes every effort to maintain the accuracy of the information on this website but cannot accept responsibility for any error or alteration to details which may occur.
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