Successful new arrangements for separation of traders and bands at growing Wessex Folk Festival

The decision by the organisers of the Wessex Folk Festival to separate the festival traders from the main bands was vindicated when what seemed like thousands attended the Weymouth, Dorset based folk festival weekend entertainment in a Hope Square bathed in bright sunshine.

Instead of crowding the festival traders into Weymouth's Hope Square, the organisers decided to line the traders along Trinity Street besides the harbour entrance route to Hope Square which seemed to work out very well (see below).



As I wondered happily along the side of the Old Harbour past the stalls towards Hope Square, I dropped in and chatted with several of the stall holders and they seemed content with the trading they were experiencing from festival goers en route to and from the bands.

The traditional french filled crepes made to order caught my eye and my taste buds (below).


And the lady promoting a new local discount Pebble Card looked very colourful (below).


Morris sides were dancing in the square and alongside the harbour, giving both areas a very festive air. The first I spotted were the Fleur de Lys in Hope Square with their long staves (below)


Followed closely (below) by the Yateley Morris men (I didn't ask about their staves)


who were selling some rather nice looking badges (below).


Mayflower Morris (below) looked gorgeous as they danced by the side of the Weymouth Old Harbour


The Beetlecrushers Clog and Step Dancers toe-tapped and heel-clicked happily and didn't at all look as if they would be unkind to little insects (below).



Alton Morris (below) looked very dashing besides the Old Harbour.


Finally, the Saturday Hope Square free music performances on the main stage were kicked off at midday (below) by that dynamic local Dorset band the Tree Fellahs - boy did they rock!



That's all for now. This is only a snapshot of a few of the wonderful entertainers gathered at the Wessex Folk Festival for the weekend and apologies to those I didn't get to see or meet but there will be more mentioned tomorrow :-)

Were you there? Did you have a great time? Which bands did you like best? I'd love to hear from you in the comments below!

Bye for now.

Rob
(Rob Hopcott - online author and folk musician)