Warwick town centre is all set to fill with eastern promise

On Sunday Market Place will be filled with the spiced aromas of eastern cooking and the music of the Orient when the Thai Festival takes over the town centre.

The Rotary organised Warwick Thai Festival brings a fusion of cultures to the square and offers an opportunity to experience Thailand in your home country.

It will include over 40 food and craft stalls and a Buddhist thanksgiving ceremony where local Thai people will bring gifts to the Buddhist temple.

Then the parade of Thai drummers and dancers in national costume will commence from the Castle Courtyard, collect the mayor and other representatives in Swan Street at the Art Kitchen restaurant and make their way to the Market Place for the grand opening of the event. The Thai main guests will include the Thai ambassador along with directors of the Thai Tourist Board and other Thai commercial organisations from around the UK.

Organiser Alan Bailey said: “This year we’re going to move the stage and we have a new programme of events which will start with the parade from Warwick Castle at 11.15am.

“We’ve got a bigger and better stage thanks to working with Warwick Castle and the Rose & Crown, and 45 stalls are already taken up.

“From then onwards hopefully we will have good weather, good food and a good day. Last year will take some beating but I think we can do it.”

The parade of Thai dancers will arrive in Market Place at around 11.30am, and the festival will run until 5pm.

Rotarian Roy Joyner said: “The festival stage will have a full programme of Thai cultural activities and cooking presentations by local Thai restaurants.

“Thai dancers and entertainers will bring the life of downtown Bangkok to historic Warwick. The aroma of Thai food stalls, the cries of Thai traders, and the bustle of the crowd will bring a real festive atmosphere to the town.

“Sunday July 17 is a date not to be missed in Warwick so come see the culture of the East in the West.”

The event marks a busy weekend in Warwick with the Warwick Lions Beer Festival taking place at the Racecourse on Friday night and throughout Saturday.

There will be a range of locally brewed beers, and all proceeds will go towards the Lions charity.

Also taking place this weekend are the Concerts at the Castle.

Former X Factor stars Olly Murs and Alexandra Burke will take to the stage at Warwick Castle, as well as the British Summer Prom, and following on from the Thai Festival will be Soul Sunday at the Castle.