Mason Moore - Hinckley Free Press
Bunting donning the England flag has already been hung up across the town centre, to help create a ‘festive’ atmosphere for the event, which takes place on Saturday, 22 April, from 10am to 2.30pm.
The Market Place-based event will offer a host of free entertainment and activities for families to enjoy, such as morris dancing, a Punch and Judy show, a face painter, St. George himself on stilts, and craft making fun hosted by the team from Hinckley’s United Reformed Church.
In addition, Tom the Tale Teller will be telling stories to youngsters inside of the award-winning Argents Mead park. Local charity Islastones will also be in the park as they hold a ‘teddy tombola’ and a small fair ride, with a hook a duck stall.
Children can also collect and fill out a free Dragon Tail sheet which leads them around the town centre which will help them find the name of eight dragons pictured in shop windows. Those who complete the trails can return the sheet to the council’s information stand in Market Place to receive a small treat.
Local charity Islastones will be there with a teddy tombola, and there will also be a small fair ride and a hook a duck stall (charges apply).
The Hinckley District Scouting Association will be leading a parade through the town, where they will be joined by their representatives, and flags from groups from across the borough.
The parade will leave St. Mary’s School at 1.15pm, and it will turn from Station Road into Castle Street, New Buildings, Leicester Road and into St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church. Motorists are warned there will be some temporary rolling road closures in these areas to enable the parade to pass safely.
Events Co-ordinator for the Borough Council, Cat Stilling, said: “This is a hugely popular event and offers something for all ages to experience while enjoying the town’s shops and bustling market stalls.
“This year visitors will also be able to meet Snappy the Dragon throughout the day and youngsters will have the opportunity to dress up as a knight and pose for a photo. There is lots going on.
“We are also delighted that for the second year Red River Youth Theatre will be performing their new play ‘Being Dora,’ taking inspiration from Hinckley novelist Charlotte Brame’s most famous work, Dora Thorn.”
Being Dora has been produced by the Hinckley High Street Action Zone. It will be performed for free, and will last for 30 minutes, at the following times and venues.
21 April: 1pm and 3pm – St Mary’s Church
22 April: 11.30am and 1.45pm – Argents Mead
24 April: 10am, 11.30am, 1.30pm – St Mary’s Church
And, a council spokesperson noted that in the case of bad weather, the performance set to take place in Argents Mead will be relocated inside of St. Mary’s Church.
They said: “Please note: Saturday’s performance will be moved inside to St Mary’s Church in the event of wet weather.”