All the people at the Festival do not just turn up having had a revelation that they need to go to Heaton Moor Park, it would be great if they did, but no, we spend weeks beforehand getting the word out there. Blogs, tweets, posters, leaflets & then the banners. Today the emails flying back & forth have all been about where to put them & what to put on them to get maximum publicity.

Just had a phone call, the Gamebeast is not coming, having checked their diaries, they had the date wrong, nearly turned up on the Monday!

Having checked, it appears on Sunday 8th July, they are booked for some FIFA event. So once again in Manchester the footie takes precedence.  Never mind, bring your Gameboys & sit in a circle. (OK, I am sure things have moved on since my kids had Gameboys, but you know what I mean). Anyway, at least the residents of Buckingham Road can stop looking worried.

Right, so I said I would let you know where to drop off things for the tombola's as I found places. Heaton Moor now has a collection point.  The Sea Shell on Derby Range, that's the Fish & Chip Shop (lovely fish & chips) just off Shaw Road. Now we just need to find places in Heaton Mersey & Heaton Norris.

When we started this Festival, only three years ago, it was with the intention of showcasing the food shops & restaurants on Shaw Road, but over the last three years this has morphed into a much wider community event with two (OK, three) main purposes.

1. To showcase the tremendous variety of shops & businesses within the Heatons.

2. To have a good time.

3. To raise money for charity & good causes.

Face painters, they must be like buses, non for ages then three come along together (you can tell I live on the 192 route!).  Finally we can safely say "There will be facepainters at the Festival".  Not yet confirmed but looking good.  So fingers crossed it's sorted.  As is the ice cream.  Little hiccup with the one we had booked, but Sivori's have come to the rescue & this year there will be an ice cream van inside the park, so no worries about little ones running out into the road.

I am now starting to get the timetables in from all my subgroups, the music or should I say entertainment  looks great this year.  A very varied mix,  we start the day at 11 am with an acoustic set by John & Hoops.  Not being very musical I think that means they don't use electric guitars, but I may be wrong, please feel free to correct me if so.

So, today's little problem; just found out we don't have a marquee to cover the music.  We can't use the stalls the traders hire as they all go (like Cinderella) at 4 pm  and the music goes on after that.

Last night was the normal (as any of our meetings ever are) monthly meeting of 4HTA & as usual I used the occasion to have mini meetings.  I now have more volunteers than I have ever had before, Rotary are helping, the local ATC Squadron will be everywhere, a couple of local churches are sending contingents to help & last night lots of 4HTA members offered their help.  That of course is the problem of running a traders event.

Back from the Park, first meeting of the day, only three more to go.

So what were we doing in the Park?

Seeing if there was room for a Beer Tent, & guess what?  There is!  

So for the first time at a 4HTA Summer festival you will be able to stand & drink Real Ale or Pimms whilst watching all the fabulous acts Karen has booked.