HERITAGE FESTIVAL IS HERE

Get ready to step back in time this weekend as the Peterborough Heritage Festival returns for 2013…

Don’t miss this popular historical extravaganza as the UK’s only multi-period living history festival takes over the city centre. Now in its 5th year, the Peterborough Heritage Festival is a unique chance to experience 2,000 years of history – the ESP team have been along before and we can recommend it as  a great day out.

Held in the historic heart of the city centre and the stunning surroundings of the Cathedral precincts, it’s all happening on Saturday June 22 – Sunday June 23. There are also various fringe events happening in the city from now until Sunday June 30.

The Heritage Festival features over 300 costumed re-enactors from some of the country’s top Living History groups, giving you a chance to meet all sorts of colourful characters, from Iron Age warriors to World War II airmen.

Cathedral Square will also be hosting a packed programme of live period music, falconry displays and spectacular battle demonstrations.

The theme this year is science and innovation, with a roadshow on St John’s Square in association with the Natural History Museum.

Try some hands-on science activities and come face-to-face with life-sized dinosaurs!

The period market will be back on the main Cathedral green, including displays of historic crafts and trades alongside a chance to go shopping for a historically themed gift.

Alongside a craft fair on Church Street, there will also be a chance to relax with the family in the Children’s Zone – an activity area for the kids with jesters, storytellers, games and activities.

Historian and broadcaster Lucy Worsley is this year’s special guest speaker as part of the Fringe events and she’ll be giving a guest lecture at 7.30pm on Saturday June 22 in the beautiful surroundings of Peterborough Cathedral, entitled If Walls Could Talk: An Intimate History of Your Home.

Keep up to date with all events going on during the Heritage Festival by visiting www.vivacity-peterborough.com.

Cathedral Square Timetable

Saturday 22 June

10.00 Official Opening

10.30 Roman drill display

11.00 English Civil War Skirmish

11.30 Falconry display

12.00 World War II singers

12.30 Medieval combat display

13.00 Victorian musicians

13.30 Dark Age battlere-enactment

14.00 Bourne Borderers MorrisDance

14.30 World War II singers

15.00 Early Medieval tourney

15.30 Falconry display

16.00 Parade with allparticipants

Sunday 23 June

10.30 Roman drill display

11.00 Falconry display

11.30 Victorian musicians

12.00 Medieval combat

12.30 World War II singers

13.00 English Civil War Drill

13.30 Falconry display

14.00 Dark Age battlere-enactment

14.30 World War II singers

15.00 Early Medieval tourney

15.30 English Civil War display

16.00 Parade with allparticipants

Cathedral Timetable

Costumed re-enactors and sessions of storytellingand poetry in the North Transept.

Saturday 22 June

11.30 The legend of Hereward with Mark Steinhardt

12.30 Poets United – poems on local heroes

1.30 Poets United – poems on local heroes

2.30 The legend of Hereward with Mark Steinhardt

3.30 Poets United – poems on local heroes

PLUS: Taster tours of the Cathedral – explore parts ofthe Cathedral that you don’t normally get to see.Saturday: On the half hour from10am,last tour at 4.30pm.Sunday: Hourly from 12pm,last tour at 2pm.

Photos: Lead image by John Moore, all other photos Chris Brudenell and Dave Porter for ESP Magazine.

#HeritageFestival