Solstice Festival sees Navan host hive of arts activities

For those who wondered if they had wandered into another Bloom Festival in Navan this week, the town has been festooned with flowers to coincide with the second Solstice Festival, which will see a hive of arts activities in the town up to Sunday 26th June, celebrating the summer solstice. Events will be happening in a number of venues and locations throughout the town including Solstice Arts Centre, Railway Street, the Happy Bear Café, Watergate Street, Beggy's Bar, Bridge Street, Earl's Kitchen, Old Cornmarket, and Tara na Ri at Garlow Cross. Throughout the festival week, a number of local community groups including Meath Arts Group, Navan Rehabcare, Tain Daycare, Kells and Dunshaughlin Mental Healthcentres, Bri Meath and Louth, Youthreach Progression, and Navan Active Retirement Group present an art trail in the town. Yesterday (Tuesday 21st), 'Engaging with Glass', a one day symposium in the Solstice with a number of international speakers discussed contemporary glass practice. This conference was presented in conjunction with an exhibition of internationally selected glass, also running in Solstice, which marks Ireland's designation of Year of Craft 2011. Also on Tuesday, the Happy Bear Café opened an exhibition of work from the newly formed fine art group, Brushes with Watercolour and Beggy's Bar present guitar virtuoso Pat Coldrick. Today (Wednesday), Fidget Feet Aerial Dance Company walk about the streets in elaborate costumes and on very high stilts, and on Wednesday night, Philip Brown and Joe Beggy perform in Beggy's. Over 800 participants will march through the streets of Navan in a display of vibrant colour in the Solstice Parade, leaving the Fairgreen at 11am on Thursday. Swinging onto the Solstice stage later that evening, Fidget Feet present an exhilarating double mix of aerial dance, trapeze, live musical performance and contemporary circus in 'Hang On & Catch Me' - a show that is visually stunning. Playing over in Beggy's Bar, indie band Oisin Leech and the Lost Brothers. Local musician Alun Smyth performs a free lunchtime concert in Solstice café (1-2pm) on Friday. That evening, the Happy Bear Café present a poetry reading by Patrick Semple while in Solstice musical star Sharon Sexton transforms into Liza Minnelli in 'Somewhere Under the Rainbow'. That evening, Earl's Kitchen in association with The Wine Buff presents a delicious evening of theatre, wine and canapés. Delvin actress Mary McEvoy stars in the charming play 'Fruitcake'. Originally commissioned by Meath County Council Arts Office, 'Fruitcake' by Alice Barry is a funny yet poignant account of one woman's life and how each ingredient in her cookery demonstration reminds her of past memories. The Whatmans perform in Beggy's Bar and there's a free BBQ and traditional music and Irish dancing in Tara na Ri that night. Saturday and Sunday are jam packed with many free family fun activities. Storyteller Melissa Baker will weave her many yarns on Saturday, firstly in Earl's Kitchen at 11am for children aged three to six years and then in Solstice at 3pm for children aged five to nine years. The film, 'The Secret of Kells' will be screened in Solstice at 12.30pm. From 8pm, author Suzanne Power reads from her novels in the Happy Bear Café. Solstice presents one of their Supper at Solstice evenings with a second performance of 'Fruitcake' while Alan Gernon's Backroom Laughs presents an entertaining evening of comedy. Frenzy also perform in Beggy's Bar. Rounding off this eventful week but not without a bang, Solstice will be buzzing on Sunday 26th from noon. Weather permitting all are invited to the 'Picnic on the Hill' at St Finian's Terrace. There will be free activities from storytelling to face painting provided - but bring your own picnic. Meath County Council Library service will hold their annual Big Booksale which helps to send surplus stock to the Meath Mercy Mission in Zambia. Watch out for the White Rabbit scurrying through the centre while storyteller Edel Gillick recreates the magic of Alice in Wonderland. On Sunday evening, Patrick Comb's brings his outrageously funny show 'Man 1, Bank 0' to Solstice. This amazing but true story is about how he lodged a junkmail cheque into his account, and the saga that ensued after his bank cleared it. This stand up show is a must-see; one you'll never forget. Closing the festival in Beggy's Bar is jazz musician Tommy Halferty and band followed by Springsteen tribute band Thunder Road. For a festival brochure, contact Solstice on (046) 909 2300 or email aine@solsticeartscentre.ie. To book tickets for any of the events, check with the individual venues or visit www.solsticeartscentre.ie.