The Mirfield Arts Festival has this year’s theme as ‘Mirfield Takes Flight’ and includes a Star Trek theme too. The festival; will be held over the weekend of 14 and 16 July, across 12 venues. The town will honour Sir Patrick Stewart, the local hero, best known for his role in Star Trek, by incorporating into the festivities a Star Trek theme.
According to Jenney Tomlinson, organiser, the festival will be split into two parts. One will focus on arts, drama, dance, music, singing, sculpture, printmaking, craft work, photography, film, literature, comedy, martial arts, plus collectibles, an antique roadshow and others. The other half will celebrate Sir Patrick Stewart, a living TV,film and theatre legend. Another event will be the screening, at St. Paul’s Church, the movie Star Trek: First Contact (1996) on 14th July (Friday).
Star Trek Family Day will be held here on 15th July. Visitors can meet here hosts of Star Trek YouTube, the Trekyards. They can get photographed on the bridge of Starship Enterprise, sitting in the chair of Captain Jean-Luc Picard. Or can take a test by Leeds/Bradford Starfleet on all things Trek related. A Star Trek exhibition will display original costumes, along with a dealer’s fair and an Enterprise Cafe.
Children to the festival are encouraged to join the fun, coming dressed as anything that can fly. Such as fairies, superheroes, angels, space travellers or butterflies. Free tickets for a Sky Fall session will be issued to anybody in flying kit with their library card, available on a first come, first served basis, on Saturday and Sunday. Jenney Tomlinson said the festival highlight is the Callaloo Arts Parde, leaving at 2pm from the library, to reach by 3pm at the St. Paul’s. Flying creatures of all sorts, music, a samba hand, carnival performers and 500 dressed-up children will participate in the lively, fun and all-inclusive weekend, the organiser said. More details at the website- mirfieldmaltings.co.uk.