The first details for this year’s Dereham Day have been announced.
Returning for its third outing, the event which celebrates everything and everyone in the market town is set for May 11.
Its motto is to “celebrate all that is good about living and working in Dereham.”
Organised by Friends of Dereham Memorial Hall, the event began in 2022, with 50 groups and 4,000 visitors. It returned last year, with 80 groups involved and 5,000 visitors.
This year over 100 groups and participants have signed up so far, with the group hoping to welcome 10,000 visitors at events at Dereham Memorial Hall, Fleece Meadow and various business premises.
Tim Cara, chair of Friends of Dereham Memorial Hall, said: “We are thrilled by the response of the town, especially to be bringing events back into the town centre after we received feedback from people saying they felt the town centre was quiet in 2023, with our events being in other locations.
“We want to make sure that everyone is involved this year, from all corners of our great town, with free entry everywhere across the day.”
Some participants include Ukrainian Voices, aboutDereham and the Mid Norfolk Singers.
On the Fleece Meadow, there will also be Backyard Alpacas, face painters, a bouncy castle, and several physical challenges, set by the likes of Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service and Dereham Football Club, for people to test their might, as well as an outdoor stage featuring live music, and a demonstration arena for martial arts, boxing club, and dog agility.
Mid-Norfolk Food Bank will also be building a pyramid of tins, and people are invited to bring a donation to make this a reality.
In the evening a funding concert featuring Doghouse Big Band, a 16-piece swing band will be at the Memorial Hall Theatre, which will have a cabaret club-style layout, tickets are on sale at www.ticketsource.co.uk/what’s-on/dereham. Priced £15 each.
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