Families across South Tyneside can enjoy ten days of community activities at this year’s Jarrow Festival.
The Mayor and Mayoress of South Tyneside, Councillor Alan Smith and Councillor Moira Smith will officially open the action packed festival.
Attractions this year include a dancing competition, exhibitions, craft sessions, sports activities and a medieval fair at Drewetts Park, in Jarrow, on Sunday 29 May.
This year’s Jarrow Festival will also incorporate a celebration of the 1300th Anniversary of the Codex, the earliest surviving Latin Bible in the world, which was originally written at Wearmouth-Jarrow monastery. A service to mark the anniversary will be held on Sunday 29 May at St Paul’s, in Jarrow, at 2pm, which will include a procession of school children recreating the journey of the codex leaving Jarrow to go onto Monkwearmouth.
Activities will be held at venues across the town in the library, community associations, the Viking Centre and at local churches.
Dates for the diary include a community art exhibition at Primrose Community Centre which will be opened by local artist Bob Olley on Friday, 27 May at 9.30am and runs until Sunday 5 June, a youth football tournament starting at 9am and family fun day starting at 12noon at Perth Green Community Centre on Saturday, 28 May a colourful carnival and family fun day at Hedworthfield Community Centre on Saturday, 28 May starting at 12noon.
As well as the Aaron Todd Memorial Trophy family football match on Sunday, 29 May at 12noon, Jarrow and Hebburn History Society photography exhibition starting on Friday 27 May and runs untilSunday 5 June, in the store next to Thompson Travel Agents and the festival finale family fun day at Low Simonside Community Centre on Sunday, 5 June at 11am.
The Mayor said: “Jarrow Festival is a true community celebration of art, culture, education and sport for both residents and visitors of the Borough to enjoy.
“With so much going on, there is something to suit all ages and every interest from the fun of the carnival to sporting events as well as spectacular art exhibitions while history will be brought to life at the medieval fair.
“The festival usually draws in people from across the Borough and is a brilliant way of bringing people together.”
To find out more about the whole range of activities, pick up a leaflet from Jarrow Library or community centres or visit www.southtyneside.gov.uk/jarrowfestival.