36th Leamington Peace Festival is returning to its roots

While live music continues to be a major part of the two-day festival, organisers want to highlight the ‘peace’ elements of the event and, in efforts to mark the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War, have invited several groups - including No Glory In War and Peace News - to run talks and workshops looking at peace movements around that time.

Dave Steele of the organising committee said: “We have a focus this year on getting back to our roots of centring the festival on the peace campaign.”

New this year is the Peace in Action forum, which takes place on Sunday at 1.30pm, where, after listening to speakers from peace-promoting organisations based in the area, members of the public will choose who they think the festival should support for the next year.

There will also be the usual variety of peace talks, a stage of events sponsored by charity People in Action and workshops which include flip juggling, didgeridoo-playing, laughter yoga, maths busking and swing-hop electro swing dance.

The festival will be opened on Saturday by the Pandemonium Steel Orchestra, which have invited steel drummers of all ages from across the area to join them, then throughout the weekend, audiences can enjoy live music from a variety of artists performing different genres, including community acts Songlines choir, Stagecoach dance school and Warwickshire Young Voices.

New this year, street marshals will be present as a result of an agreement with Warwick District Council and Warwickshire Police to help deter anti-social behaviour.

The festival opens on Saturday at 11am and will be on until 7.30pm and then again from 11am until 6pm on the Sunday.

Anyone wishing to help organise or volunteer at next year’s event can attend a post-festival meeting at the Brunswick Healthy Living Centre in Shrubland Street, Leamington, next Wednesday (June 18) at 7.45pm. Alternatively, email [email protected]