Newent artsFEST Roundup

Newent artsFEST Brought Colour, Creativity and Community Spirit to the Town

On Saturday 18^th October 2025, the Newent community came together for Newent artsFEST — a joyful showcase and celebration of local talent featuring a vibrant parade, creative workshops and live performances across five venues. The festival brought great energy to Newent and placed the spotlight on this Forest of Dean Market Town, attracting visitors from far and wide.

Video from Thomas George from Gloucester College

The festivities began at noon with a colourful parade setting off from Newent Community School led by local drumming group Forest Thump, followed by the jingling from Wild Oats Morris dancers with the vibrantly dressed DJABOT drummers bringing up the rear with the parade dragon dancing it’s way through the streets.

The parade celebrated creatives from across the Forest of Dean District, showcasing months of community workshops and artistic collaboration. Among the parade’s highlights were colourful puppets made by Gloucester College students, batik flags and banners by Picklenash Primary School and Newent Community School, textile flags from Sheppard House’s community craft group, and handmade lanterns from the LGBTQIA+ Lanterns for Hope project.

Residents and visitors lined the streets, waving and cheering as the parade passed. Canopy project manager Katie Sanderson said “We’re so grateful for the patience and support of local drivers and to the Rotary Club marshals for keeping everyone safe. I was overjoyed to see so many smiling faces!”.

From 1pm, five venues hosted a range of workshops and performances — all so popular that every space was full.

Chamber 22 offered free drop in art workshops including Autumn Wreaths with Penny Mail, Leatherwork flowers with Bela Kielt , drawings with Von Featherstone, natural cordage with Lizzie Godden and preschool crafts with Krysa Haslewood. The venue also exhibited artwork from Newent Community School GCSE and A-Level art students

At the Market House Museum, visitors explored displays upstairs while outside, crowds gathered for performances from Gloucester College Dance Group and the DJABOT drummers, storytelling with Darren Hoskins, and interactive theatre from Found in the Forest Theatre Workshop. Meanwhile, others enjoyed a pop of colour at Wyldwood’s “Colours of the Forest” Nail Bar.

St Mary’s Church buzzed with over a thousand people streaming in to listen to live music from Ship and Giggles Sea Shanty Group, Onika Venus Band, Newent Orchestra, Drybrook Male Voice Choir and Newent Choral Society. Kirsty Abraham led a lively community singing session while Wild Oats Morris and Wimberry Clog performed outside. Performers said artsFEST gave them a chance to reach new audiences — people who might never have experienced their music before.

Over at Newent Library, visitors enjoyed poetry from Oh Crumbs! On Tour and the Canopy Creative Walks in Nature Exhibition.

Meanwhile, The Shambles was alive with creativity. The Secret Gallery hosted an artist demonstration and Charlotte Keating led a community painting workshop that saw children and adults queuing out the door to add their brushstrokes to a large canvas — a piece that will later go on public display. Katie Sanderson commented that “It was wonderful to celebrate what’s fast becoming Newent’s creative quarter at The Shambles — with new artist studios, an independent bookshop and local gems like the board games museum, art gallery, antique curios shop and quirky boutique.”

Contemporary artist Charlotte Keating said “I’ve only just moved into the Shambles last month so it was a really great opportunity to showcase my artwork and really engage with the community through this shared painting project. I’ve been made to feel really welcome in Newent and this gave me a chance to pay it forward”.

As Canopy had hoped, the festival gave a welcome boost to Newent’s traders and retailers. One shop owner said “out of all the events that have been hosted in Newent, artsFEST brought me the most footfall and customers, I was really pleased”. James Haines from Bettee’s Health Suite added “It’s great to see the town, businesses and local groups coming together and thinking about the bigger picture. I love it!”. Callie Watson from REDZ Hair & Beauty agreed: “Newent was really buzzing this afternoon and it was great to see so many people around! With a new bridal shop and more shops opening in The Shambles as well I feel a younger vibe going on in Newent which is great!”.

Canopy’s mission is all about celebrating creative communities across the Forest of Dean — nurturing artists from the grassroots up, engaging young people in schools and inspiring new skills through hands-on workshops. Newent artsFEST captured that spirit perfectly and Canopy hopes that it has also helped raise the town’s profile as a must-visit destination within the district and reinforced a sense of pride and connection among local residents.

Canopy now looks forward to the next two artsFEST events in 2026, beginning with West Dean artsFEST on April 25th, featuring another series of community workshops in the lead-up.

For those who missed the festivities or want a closer look, puppets, lanterns and flags from the parade will soon be on display in a vacant High Street shop. The community painting created with Charlotte Keating will also be publicly displayed soon — keep an eye on Canopy’s social media or website for updates.