FIRST THE BAD NEWS
It is with great sadness that the committee of the Haslemere Fringe has decided to postpone this year’s planned event until 2021 because of the current unprecedented Coronavirus crisis. The move follows advice from the UK Government and Public Health England for everyone but key workers to stay at home to save lives and protect the NHS.

The decision was taken to safeguard the thousands of people who attend the bi-annual event and the many volunteers who help run the festival.

Committee Chairman Ken Griffiths says ‘all of us involved in planning this years event are sad to have to reschedule but we understand the need to keep everyone safe and are hoping that next year we can all gather in safety and celebrate coming through the crisis with another terrific festival here in Haslemere’.

HERE IS THE GOOD NEWS
Headline acts Sophie Elis Bextor and Newton Faulkner have already signed up for next years event with other artists, local groups and performers also taking part.

Held in July on Lion Green in the heart of Haslemere the event has grown in numbers and reputation and organisers are hopeful the postponed event now scheduled to take place on July 2nd to 4th 2021 will be bigger and better than ever before.

The festival also engages with local schools as pupils contribute everything from poetry to artwork and many of the talented young bands who are featured on stage. The Fringe Festival team would like to thank all the schools and pupils for all their hard work on this year’s event and look forward to working with them and youth clubs, colleges and other local groups in 2021.

People who have already bought tickets will be able to use them next year and refunds are available.

The Haslemere Fringe Festival has always been committed to supporting charities. This year the chosen charity is the Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice who would have benefitted from the event because of the voluntary donation attached to ticket sales.

The Hospice offers care to patients in West Surrey and North East Hampshire and faces a large deficit because of the cancellation of fund raising events due to Covid-19. As we look forward to next year’s Festival we are appealing to supporters of the Haslemere Fringe to show their support through the donations already made. Support can also be offered directly on the Phyllis Tuckwell website www.pth.org.uk, and a link will be added to our ticket page on the Haslemere Fringe website when that reopens again.

For the latest government information on Coronavirus (COVID-19) please visit www.gov.uk/…/organisat…/department-of-health-and-social-care
Ends

For more information about The Fringe please go to: www.haslemerefringe.co.uk