Newent artsFEST 2025 is more than a festival — it’s a free, uplifting and welcoming event designed to reignite a love for the arts and the town itself, inspiring connection across generations. Everyone is invited so come be part of the magic!

🚗 FREE ALL DAY PARKING 🚗

PROGRAMME FOR THE DAY

Parade
12pm – 12.30pm
Parade Route: The parade will start at Newent Community School then head along Watery Lane, turning right onto the High street, past the Market House, along Church Street to St Mary’s Church.

Newent artsFEST Parade will be led by the vibrant drumming group Forest Thump with DJABOT bringing up the rear in full colour. Included in the parade will be puppets made by Gloucester College; Gloucester College performing artists; batik flags and banners by Picklenash Primary School and Newent Community School; textile flags by Sheppard House craft workshop; Lanterns from the Lanterns for Hope project with vintage tractor following. All artists and performers are invited to take part in the parade.

• Forest Thump Drummers
• Wild Oats Morris
• DJABOT African Drumming Band
• Batik Banners & Flags by Picklenash Primary School & Newent Community School
• Lanterns for Hope from LGBTQIA+
• Textile flags from Sheppards House
• Found in the Forest Youth Theatre
• Puppets by Gloucester College Students

St Mary’s Church
12.30pm – 1pm performance by Ship and Giggles
1pm – 1.30pm – performance by Onika Venus Band
1.30 – 2pm – join Kirsty Abraham for singing, open to all
2pm – 2.30 – performance by Newent Orchestra
2.30 – 3pm – performance outside by Wild Oats Morris and Wimberry Clog
3pm – 3.30 – performance by Drybrook Male Voice Choir
3.30 – 3.45 – combined performance by Newent Choral Society and Drybrook Male Voice Choir
3.45 – 4.15 – performance by Newent Choral Society

Market House
1.30pm – 4.30pm Nail Bar with Wyldwood’s Colours of the Forest
1.30 – 4.30 Market House Museum Open
1:45 -1:55 Gloucester College Dance Group
2-2.30pm performance by DJABOT
2.40 – 3pm storytelling with Darren Hoskins
3.10pm Found in the Forest Theatre Workshop

Chamber 22 1-4pm
Free drop in art workshops at Chamber 22.
Penny Mail – Autumn Wreaths
Bela Kielt – Leather work
Von Featherstone – paint and pen work
Lizzie Godden – natural cordage.
Krysa Haslewood – pre-schooler arts & crafts drop in

Display of GCSE and A level art work from Newent Community School

The Shambles
2-4pm Artist Demo at The Secret Gallery
12-4pm Gloucester Archive Display in the Courtyard
12-4pm Express Yourself! Community Painting, Charlotte Keating Artist Studio

Library
12-2 Oh Crumbs! On Tour Readings & Poetry
10-2 Creative Walks in Nature Exhibition

Facilities
Public Toilets, Lewell St Car Park, 15 High St, Newent GL18 1AR
Public Car Park, Lewell St Car Park, 15 High St, Newent GL18 1AR (free all day parking)

Happening Alongside
3-5pm ‘Coffee, Cake and Cartoons’ at Manna House when Vilnissimo will be talking about working as a cartoonist for Private Eye, the Wall Street Journal, Woman’s World etc
12.30-4pm Monique Oliver Artist Studio Sale at the Community Centre
12-4pm Toadstools Bookshop opening! In The Shambles
10-4pm Framing Consultation at The Secret Gallery

MARKET HOUSE

• 1.30 – 4.30 Nail Bar with Wyldwood’s Colours of the Forest
• 1.30 – 4.30 Market House Museum Open
• 1:45 -1:55 Gloucester College Dance Group
• 2-2.30 DJABOT Drumming Group
• 2.40 – 3 Storytelling with Darren Hoskins
• 3.10 Found in the Forest Theatre Workshop

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STMARY’S CHURCH

12.30 – 1 Ships and Giggles

1 – 1.30 Onika Venus Band

1.30 – 2 Join Kirsty Abraham for singing, open to all

3.45 – 4.15 Newent Choral Society

2pm – 2.30 Newent Orchestra

2.30 – 3 Wild Oats Morris and Wimberry Clog

3pm – 3.30 Drybrook Male Voice Choir

3.30 – 3.45 Newent Choral Society & Drybrook Male Voice Choir

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THE SHAMBLES

Live Demo with Ru Goodchild, Saturday 18th October, 2-4pm.
Exhibiting artist Ru Goodchild will be doing live demos throughout the afternoon of her striking techniques using acrylic ink. Come and see her demonstration and view her stunning exhibition, ‘Colours of the Wild’ Ru experiments with acrylic and acrylic ink, laying colours to create depth and texture. Through her work Ru communicates the emotion, wildness and dynamism of beautiful landscapes that she finds so captivating and inspiring. View her website www.rugoodchild.co.uk

Express Yourself! Community Canvas, Drop In with Charlotte Keating Saturday 18th October, 12am – 4pm

Be introduced to the concept of expressing yourself through mark marking, brush strokes and colour to reflect thoughts and feelings. 

Enjoy a quick 1 minute demo then try your own hand at painting intuitively! Make your mark on the community canvas and check back to see how the piece progresses when everyone else layers their own marks. Suitable for all ages. No artistic experience necessary. The completedvcanvas will then be stretched and hung in the community. View Charlotte’s work here to see what it’s all about or peak in her window, visit her open studio before the festival. Charlotte’s Instagram

Gloucester Archive Display
Gloucester Archive will have a display of Newent agricultural history under the gazebo in the courtyard.

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CHAMBER 22

Free art drop in workshops 1-4pm, for all ages
Join experienced artists for a drop in art workshop
Penny Mail – Autumn Wreaths
Bela Kielt – Leather Work
Von Featherstone – Paint and Pen Work
Lizzie Godden – Natural Cordage
Krysa Haslewood – Pre-schooler Arts & Crafts Drop In

Newent Community School – GCSE and A Level art display

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LIBRARY

12-2 Oh Crumbs! On Tour Readings & Poetry
10-2 Creative Walks in Nature Exhibition

HAPPENING ALONGSIDE

Framing Consultation with Fellows Framing, Saturday 18th October, 10am – 4pm.
Experienced & highly qualified, known for her quality framing services, Sarah Trenchard from Fellows Framing will be offering free consultations throughout the day, 10-4pm, for you to pop by for advice on all things framing! View her website here www.fellowsframing.co.uk

Toadstools Bookshop Opening Day! Saturday 18th October, 12 – 4pm.
NEW independent book shop specialising in indie and local authors opening in The Shambles

Manna House Coffee & Cartoons with Artist Vilnis 3-5pm
‘Coffee, Cake and Cartoons’ at Manna House when Vilnissimo will be talking about working as a cartoonist for Private Eye, the Wall Street Journal, Woman’s World  at 12 Broad St, Newent GL18 1AH

Monique Oliver Art Supplies Sale! Community Centre 12.30-4pm