Fire celebration to light up town centre

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tcollins@thekmgroup.co.uk Fire dancers and flame throwers will take to Ashford town centre this September as part of a new festival.

Ashford Festival will see artists and community groups join forces to create a weekend of fun, visual indulgence and community spirit in the borough.

The festival will bring together technology and the arts, with craft organisation Joining Hands, based in the lower High Street, joining forces with audio-visual community group Abstrkt to organise the event.

For its inaugural year, the festival will have a fire theme.

Light shows and fireworks will illuminate the town, while artisans and traders will show off their creative skills. Betsy Aidinyantz, CEO of Joining Hands, said: “Every year the Ashford Festival will have a theme based on the elements.

“We have decided to start with something that is bold, brave and daring just like us – fire.

“The programme will ignite the senses with flame throwers, handmade firethemed arts, crafts and technology, fire dancers, light shows, fireworks and more.”

Also on offer will be music, visual arts, films, workshops, food, drinks and much more.

A number of pop-up shops and gallery spaces will appear throughout Ashford during the festival weekend, and for the following week.

High Street venues, including The George Hotel, will host musical and other events. The festival will run from 5pm on Friday, September 27, through to late on Sunday, September 28.

For more information, visit www.ashfordfestival. org. To help out with the festival, click on the Get Involved button at the top of the page.

Fire dancers will take to the High Street and, right, Betsy Aidinyantz