Bring your own creativity

There are loads of opportunities to bring your own creativity to the Festival by getting involved in the parade, community performances, Art in the Landscape, training and music making opportunities for young people, as well as an autumn lantern parade.

Opportunities to participate

Pyramid and star lanterns in a dark night

LIGHT UP HONLEY

FREE LANTERN MAKING AT HONLEY VILLAGE HALL, ROUNDWAY
Sunday 1st of October at 10am-12.30pm and 1.30pm-4pm and Sunday 8th of October 10am-12.30pm and 1.30pm-4pm DAILY
PARADE 6.30pm on Fri 13 Oct

Make a star lantern with Star in the Sky Celebrations at Honley Village Hall, Roundway. Walk in the parade with local school children and their families in a starry lantern parade, with live music through the streets of Honley and end up indoors with refreshments and live music.
Go to ticketed events or link below to book your free (pay as you want) ticket to make a lantern

MAKE MUSIC

6 x ONE HOUR SESSIONS REMAIN AVAILABLE MAY - OCTOBER

Starting in May and running through to October, book some music making sessions for your group with Josh Haslam of the Jam Factory.. We have around 12 one hour sessions available. Contact josh@thejamfactory.fun soon to avoid disappointment

Funded by Creative Minds and Kirklees Year of Music

A child touches the nose of an orange fox puppet during a parade

JOIN THE PARADE (Festival Weekend)

This opportunity will be available again next year OPEN PARADE MAKING SESSIONS - SAT 10th and Sun 11th JUNE 10am-12noon and 1pm-3pm and WED 14th June 6pm-8pm - just drop in no need to book.
MON 12th - FRI 16th JUNE BOOKABLE SESSIONS IN YOUR SCHOOL/COMMUNITY
PARADE 17th JUNE 2pm PARADE

Help Handmade Productions make the Forces of Nature Parade and walk in the parade at 2pm on Sat 17 June.
No need to book, just drop in to one of our open workshop (dates above) at Holmfirth Methodist Church. Alternatively book a time for parade making activities in your school/community group's venue at the times listed above.
Contact Kate katerotheryfreelance@gmail.com to book your parade making session.

A face made from green leaves mounted on a tree

GET CREATIVE IN THE GARDEN

This opportunity will be available again next year MON 19th, WED 21st and FRI 23rd JUNE BETWEEN 11am and 2pm
Bring your school or community group to the Garden for an hour of creative wellbeing activities as part of Art in the Landscape at Earthworks New Mill Community Garden. Choose a 1hr session on the above dates. £35 booking fee payable per group of up to 35 participants. contact sarah.branson@btinternet.com to confirm your place.

green lazer lights crisscrossing in a dark room

GUARD THE MAZE

This project is now complete. We will have other opportunities available next year REHEARSALS 10th and and 11th JUNE 10am-2.30pm (venue tbc) PERFORMANCES SUN 18th JUNE at 12.15pm and 2.30pm.

Take on the role of a Guard and interact with the audience in the maze and chase scenes of Urban Angels Aerial Theatre's new show - FreeFall. The FreeFall performance starts in the Picturedrome (the maze), moves through the streets of Holmfirth (the chase) and ends on the Parish Church Bell Tower (the flight). Rehearsals will take 10th and 11th June, venue TBC. Interested adults and young people aged 16+ with performance/climbing skills should contact Bev, director@holmfirthartsfestival.co.uk

People sitting at a table mending garments by hand

REPAIR YOUR TEXTILES (Festival Weekend)

This project is now complete. We will have other opportunities available next year.
SAT 17th JUN 12noon-5pm HOLMSIDE GARDENS

Join WOVEN in Kirklees for a textile repair workshop in Holmside Gardens, teaching basic hand sewing techniques
for garment repair including sewing on a button, embroidery
for visible mending and backstitch for repairing seams.
No need to book

An embroidery hoop stretched over red an white striped fabric

CELEBRATE SEWING - MISSION TO MEND

This project is now complete. We will have other opportunities available next year
SAT 1st JULY 12pm–4pm

Join WOVEN in Kirklees to celebrate all things stitch in Holmfirth!
We invite you on a Mission to Mend – a celebration of community textile sewing for repair. Following a series of repair and textile heritage workshops with the local community, the roadshow event will bring together the best of local sewing and celebrate with talks, demonstrations, workshops, an exhibition and music.

Learning simple techniques for textile repair is beneficial for both people and planet. It reduces textile waste, saves money and improves wellbeing by developing hand skills and everyday creativity.

The roadshow is open to everyone, family friendly, and sewing participation is encouraged (but not essential!).
Venue: Crown Bottom Car Park (next to Holmfirth Co-op) 104 Market St, Holmfirth, HD9 3AS.
No need to book

Please email director@holmfirthartsfestival.co.uk if you, a school, or group you know, would like to participate in any of these projects.
We aim to make all our activities accessible as possible, please email Jo to discuss your (or your group's) access needs access@holmfirthartsfestival.co.uk.

Participation is free/pay as you decide for individuals. We ask for a £35 booking fee to secure a group booking.

PLEASE DONATE IF YOU CAN

Every penny you donate will go towards bringing the very best artists and arts projects to the Holme Valley. You can donate a monthly amount or make a single donation by text or by clicking one of our donate buttons.

Click the Local Giving logo or green button to donate by via Local Giving

Donate via Local Giving

Click the DONATE Logo or green button or QR code to donate an amount of your choice

Donate via Easy DONATE

Donate by Text
Fundraising, payments and donations will be processed and administered by the National Funding Scheme (Charity No: 1149800), operating as DONATE. Texts will be charged at your standard network rate. For Terms & Conditions, see www.easydonate.org

To donate £10, text HAF2023 to 70191

A percentage of your Amazon purchases can be donated to Holmfirth Arts Festival if you use Amazon Smile for your purchases and select Holmfirth Art & Music Ltd as your charity here