Romany weekend at the Rural Life Centre - Surrey

From visitsurrey.com

29th and 30th June 2013

There may not be a Gypsy wedding, but the Romany Days weekend at Tilford’s Rural Life Centre promises plenty of colour, sounds and tastes of Gypsy culture in Surrey.

This family-friendly event 29-30 June will include Gypsy storytellers and, on Sunday, there will be a performance of ‘Crystal’s Vardo’ , a play for 7- to 12-year-olds, about a young Gypsy girl who is bullied at school and runs away with her grandfather’s horse and vardo – a traditional horse-drawn wagon. The young audience must help her find her way home, and in the process learn something of what it’s like to grow up in the Travellers’ world.

There will be beautifully decorated wagons on show, a blacksmith and appearances by Harley the Gypsy pony who is now a local celebrity following his tricks and ‘dancing’ on television. Saturday will feature free family activities and bouncy castle, music from Florence Joelle and local artists, and a chance to taste traditional Gypsy food such as bacon pudding and Gypsy Tart.

Besides the play, Sunday’s events will include a church service in the chapel, dance, an open-mic session to show off local singing talent, and storytelling.

Throughout both days, visitors will enjoy stalls dedicated to traditional food, crafts and history of Gypsies in Surrey.
“We are celebrating all Gypsy culture from the past – beginning 500 years ago according to a Loseley document – to the present,” said organiser Kate Stuart, Heritage Learning and Communities Officer at Surrey Heritage.