That there Kate Goodall and top chap Ian Morton Jones from Walsall Council have been raving about this top event for some weeks now, so I thought I’d give it a plug on the blog. It’s a total repost from the official site, as there’s nothing I can really add… except:

• It’s free to enter, with lots of free stuff going on
• Cyclists – organisers are at pains to point out – are welcome
• Lots of bike parking available
• Loads of great local music an entertainment
• A chance to see Walsall Arboretum, currently beautifully refurbished and restored

It looks like being a great day, so why not pop down and take a look? I know that all concerned have worked very, very hard on this, and my thanks to the team for that.

Might even see you there…

Walsall Arboretum
Sunday 9 September 2012 

• Live music performances at the Bandstand
• Sportsfest 2012
• Stalls and artists’ workshops
• The new Gallery Garden
• View the nearly completed restoration of the Arboretum

Bandstand Marathon is the official closing event to the London 2012 Festival, a spectacular 12 week nationwide celebration from 21 June and running until 9 September 2012 bringing together leading artists from across the world with the very best from the UK.  http://festival.london2012.com/

The Bandstand Marathon brings live music performance to bandstands and outdoor performance spaces across the UK, all at the same time on the same day.

Ruth Mackenzie, Director, London 2012 Festival said: “The Bandstand Marathon is encouraging local music groups to showcase their talents and be part of the London 2012 Festival. I am proud that we are delivering our vision to use the power of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games to boost participation in creating a cultural legacy post-London 2012.”

Seb Coe, Chair of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games said: ”Bandstand Marathon is encouraging local music groups to fulfil their potential. I am proud that with the help of partners such as Superact we are delivering our vision to use the power of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games to boost participation in creating a cultural legacy post-London 2012.”

The London 2012 Festival is the culmination of the Cultural Olympiad, bringing leading artists from all over the world together from 21 June 2012 in this UK-wide festival – a chance for everyone to celebrate London 2012 through dance, music, theatre, the visual arts, film and digital innovation and leave a lasting legacy for the arts in this country.

The London 2012 Cultural Olympiad is the largest cultural celebration in the history of the modern Olympic and Paralympic Movements. Spread over four years, it is designed to give everyone in the UK a chance to be part of London 2012 and inspire creativity across all forms of culture, especially among young people.

For more details on the Cultural Olympiad visit www.london2012.com/get-involved/cultural-olympiad 

Why not print a copy out? Click for a larger version.