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All this talk of Bank Holiday plans for the Royal Wedding twaddle is being overshadowed around these parts with news of the Wivenhoe May Fair for the following Bank Holiday - hurrah!

The annual event at the KGV is starting to fall into place, with news this year that a third stage has been added to the bill:

“Wivenhoe May Fair, the 29 year old free music and arts festival, has this year added an open mic stage to the fantastic line-up of entertainment offered on the last Bank Holiday in May.

Complementing the established Main and Sunrise music stages, the new Open Mic stage will offer musicians the opportunity to turn up and play in front of an appreciative festival crowd.”

Overlooking the naming of the second stage as Sunrise (and not running with the *ahem* genius of the May B stage…) the Open Mic stage looks like being a wonderful addition to the Wivenhoe May Fair.

I know that @HazelFunnyFarm has been keen to have some form of spoken word at the May Fair. Although not exclusively comedy based, the Open Mic should be able to cater for anyone who has something worthwhile to say. Or even sing.

Feedback from the now monthly Open Mic nights down at the Black Buoy have been incredibly promising. Rising local star @AdyJohnsonUK packed out the old pub only last month. Transferring this local talent to a dedicated stage at the KGV is definitely going to go down well.

In the year in which Moving Image has offered Wivenhoe film fans a local option, it is also encouraging to see that there is also a place for film at the May Fair:

“Alongside over a dozen bands playing on three music stages until 6pm, this year’s May Fair will once again feature the popular Sunset cycle-powered cinema tent showcasing the work of local film makers. The full line-up of music and entertainment will be announced in early May.”

Ah, but don’t forget about the May Fair tradition of, um, booze…

“The popular beer tent selling real ale from a local award-winning brewery will also be back on the field alongside fantastic food and market stalls, circus acts, face painting and other activities for children. The well-known healing area will also enable revellers to try a range of alternative therapies.”

As for the big clean up?. The call has gone out for volunteers to help out for either a couple of hours work on the day, or even for the Tuesday morning to restore the KGV.

Meanwhile - any Wivenhoe Royal Wedding twaddle to add? I rather like the fact that the pleasant drinking town with a small fishing problem is celebrating the nuptials of The Establishment with… a beer festival up at Broad Lane.

Chin chin.

More information about the May Fair is available on the website or by emailing [email protected].