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THE FESTIVAL’S DEVELOPMENT over the Years
2011 FESTIVAL PROGRAMME
THE GREEN FAYRE
WE NEED HELPERS
DIRECTIONS                                                                             CAR PARKING
LINKS
MAIN CONTACTS

THE FESTIVAL’S DEVELOPMENT over the Years

2007 & 2009

 
Newcastle Emlyn hosted a two day Heart of the Dragon Festival in July 2007 that literally stepped into the story at the castle, with a medieval fayre and re-enactment of the Last Dragon of Wales story and saw over 3000 people pass through its gates! There were prop making and historical costumes tents, birds of prey, music, storytelling, puppets, and much, much more for everyone to enjoy and participate in. There was an exhibition of the history of the castle and Owain Glyndwr for people to visit.
Then to bring the present into the stories of bloodshed and the wars of history, local schools, community and youth groups made processional dragons for a parade through the town accompanied by marching bands, stilt walkers and jugglers in the celebration of the return of the dragon. For the giant egg hatched and the birth of a new Baby Dragon was seen and given a welcoming ceremony.
In 2009, the baby was named amid further ceremonies, with Tiamat the Dragon Queen and Owain Glyndwr, and Merlin returned from the crystal cave who gave the prophecy that:
    ‘When dragon oak is truly found, Merlin and Dragon will bless the ground
      With oak within the castle wall, the town will prosper for one and all.’

2011

Now on 2nd July 2011, this prophecy will be fulfilled…..The oak tree has been found and carved into a Dragon Chair (surrounded by a mosaic telling the story of our dragon) high up in the castle grounds overlooking the River Teifi…..to be blessed by Merlin.

A Call to all Dragons and Dragon keepers across the world has gone out….with an invitation to come and join the celebrations…. hopefully to form the “Largest Collection of Dragons” ever…..in  the presence of Tiamat, Baby Dragon and the New Golden Dragon (part of the recently installed Gateway at the entrance to the Castle Grounds by the Town Council and to be opened during the Festival)

The FREE ENTRY Heart of the Dragon Festival has always had demonstrations of crafts and workshops around sustainability and a positive future, so this year it has been decided to give over the lower field of Newcastle Emlyn Castle Grounds to a Green Fayre….. so that we can  have more stalls, events and workshops showing sustainable ways of restoring and caring for the  lands of the dragon. 

FESTIVAL PROGRAMME

Here is the provisional FESTIVAL PROGRAMME. Please note that this is work-in-progress, so it may change slightly.

Please don’t try to turn or park down Castle. As it is a narrow, dead end road….. it will cause severe congestion as well as be a potential hazard to performers and visitors. Thanks for your help with this!

BY ENTRANCE TO CASTLE GROUNDS        

           Progs, Info, CDs’, DVDs’ (Tent)

                               Bouncy Castle, from Dragon Hospitality.               

              Metal Sculpture – Barry Evans  

                   Dragon & other Soups  Harry’s Bar          

    Hog Roast

                                                        
10 -  2.30              Dragon Competition Registration and Photos (Gazebo).

Making Golden Dragons and Wands  with Pod Clare (Tent)

 10.30       Golden Dragon Gate and Unveiling of Signs  by Lady  Mayor Hazel Evans

2.00 -  2.30                      Mosaic Makers Awards (Gazebo)

3.00               Golden Dragon procession with Baby Dragon arriving   from high street, to then pass through castle arch, on to sculpture & mosaic.

INSIDE CASTLE, THROUGH ARCH

10  -  2.30      Dragon Oak Pendant making  with Ian Johnston, Carver /Sculptor (2 Gazebos)

                           Dragons Fire Pyrographics, with Mike Hotson and Sarah Wentworth. Burn your mark ona a piece of  wood left over from the carving of the Dragon Chair sculpture. (Geodesic dome)

11.00 - 11.30         Opening of Sculpture and Mosaic by Mrs Haydn Jones  (TBC) , then Storytelling with Pamela Gaunt

12.30         Storytelling and Harp playing with Helen Saville

1.00 – 1.55                Storytelling  (bilingual) with Esyllt Harker 

3.15            Merlins Prophecy/Drama Ceremony for Sculpture and Mosaic Town prophecy….

Merlin, Red and Green and White Dragon Queens,  Healing Maiden,
The Lady of The Mists of Time, Bee and Mishushu, Vijay Singh, Belly dancers, Celebrate the Makers of Mosaic

       Dedication to World Peace & Justice; Circle Dancing ….and Proclamation by Harry Rodgers.                 
                     
4 – 5.30          Pendant making and Pyrographics continues (TBC)

RIVERSIDE WALK 

11.45             Unveiling of river history/riverside walk by Ken Jones of   Hanes Emlyn

12.15             Arrival of Coracle and Dragon’s Egg, at River Weir, with Martin Fowler from the National Coracle Museum in Cenarth, 
                               Unveiling of sign by 3 Unwise men and woman
                               Procession of Egg to Circle of Trees

BEHIND CASTLE, LOWER GROUND, BY RIVER 

2.30               Most Amazing Dragon Prizes & Childrens’                    Fancy Dress Prizes donated by Llandysul Paddlers and by generous Newcastle Emlyn businesses.

  Best Dressed Shop Window Prize with prizes funded by the Newcastle Emlyn Community Interest shop

                                 Best Stall Prize and Programme Prize Draw

2.45            Dragons and Costumed people gather for Procession    Pamela  and Essylt collect belly dancers, poi people, gold wand award,mosaic makers etc.….. Circle around fayre, up to front of castle, down main street to greet Gold Dragon……..Three Unwise Men and a Good Woman lead the way.
 
4.30             Unveil Baby Dragon at Circle of Trees with Essylt. Circle Dancing and Appearance of Baby Dragon

5 – 5.30     To the Future…..  Baby Dragon’s Astrology Chart.
              Music and Dancing with Dragon Songs, Maggie Nicols band

• Gold Dragon Face Painting
•  Powered stitched  wardrobes: on site person helping to transform all into Dragons + clothes…. Stitch It & Rag Ruggers
• Poi for teenagers                                                                    
• Live Lightly Willow & Workshop
• Face Painting – Jam
•  Meditation area - led by Sahaja Meditation
•  1/2  Price Readings: people to bring along their jewelry, photos etc  – Rev. Hillsdon
• Chainsaw Sculptures demos 11.30am & 4.00pm, with Leighton Sainty
• Green fuel  - Green Dragon Farm Fuels
• Scythes - Philip Batten, Michelle Laine
• Wild Food Foraging – Jade Mellor
• Nappy Centre (green nappies) – Kate Lewis
• Solar Panels  – Neptune Electrical
• Recyled Clothes – Andrea Vincent
• Sculptor of Dragon Chair, wood carving – Ian Johnston
• Cycle expert & lots of Bikes – GM Cycles
• Gifts and Art  - HUTS
•  Books & gifts  -  Michell Gordon
• Maps with trails to the treasure -  West Wales  Treasure Trails
• Food and Drink – Harrisons Bistro
• Food & Plants -  Newcastle Emlyn Country Market
• First Aid – Red Cross

MUSIC  TENT
Check in Information or music tent for updates on the day!

10.00 Marc Gordon
10.30 Dave Brutnell
11.00 Tom Gray
11.45 Chilly Dogz
12.15 Robin Davies 
13.00 Who’s Generation
13.45 Supergene
14.30  ……Gathering of Dragons and children’s Fancy Dress
15.00 Various artists
16.30  Newcastle Emlyn Circle dancers
17.00 Various Artists

PRIMARY SCHOOL

3.00             Dragon Procession sets off towards the Castle

HOW TO TAKE PART IN THE GREEN FAYRE

 
If you have a product or service that would fit into the philosophy of the festival and Green Fayre, and would like to have a stall/space at the event,  run a workshop….or become a sponsor of the festival, then please contact   Annette  ecuyere@btinternet.com or  Marc  marc.gordon@btinternet.com
 

WE NEED HELPERS

Both before and on the day to help us organise our dragons and their keepers.  Also to help with the running of the Green Fayre and events of the day.This is an amazing chance to work behind the scenes of a festival, so of you are interested, please contact  Annette ecuyere@btinternet.com or  Marc   marc.gordon@btinternet.com

 
DIRECTIONS

Newcastle Emlyn is on the A484  between Carmarthen and Cardigan…….also at the end of the A475 from lampeter……  SA38 9AF.  The Festival site is in the Castle Grounds at the end of Castle Street.

CAR PARKING

Please park either in the Main Town Car Park or at the Newcastle Emlyn Rugby Club. Entrances to the Main Town Park are either by a small turning off the High street next to the Police Station; or in a side road opposite ATS, on the southern end of the Town. The Rugby Club Car park is over the bridge at the north end of the Town High Street, then right down the  A475 towards Lampeter for 300 yards.

The tiny Car Park in Castle Street is for Disabled Drivers , Emergency Services and Taxis only. Otherwise please don’t try to turn down this narrow dead end road…..as it will cause severe congestion and be a potential hazard to performers and visitors. Thanks for your help with this!

Taxi buses to & from the Rugby Club Car Park & Main Town Car Park s will be available……£1 adults but children are free ….with “Home James”.

LINKS

Follow this facebook link to The Heart of the Dragon home page which includes a video of the baby dragon being born in 2007 http://www.facebook.com/pages/Heart-of-the-Dragon-Festival-Newcastle-Emlyn/101937233208403 

MAIN CONTACTS

Pamela Gaunt       Artistic Director        Pamelagaunt@aol.com  

Annette Ecuyere    Festival Organiser     ecuyere@btinternet.com

Marc Gordon         Co-ordinator             marc.gordon@btinternet.com

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