Tag: events

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Exciting June Events in Thornton

A Celebration of Community, Creativity, and Local Talent

Residents and visitors alike have two fantastic weekends to anticipate in June 2026, as Thornton gears up for a pair of remarkable community occasions.

Open Gardens Returns

On Sunday 21st June, the much-loved biennial Open Gardens event will make its return. This cherished community gathering offers a unique chance to explore some of Thornton’s most beautiful gardens and celebrate the area’s horticultural talent.

Introducing the Thornton Artisan Festival

The following weekend, from Friday 26th to Sunday 28th June, Thornton will host the inaugural Thornton Artisan Festival. This new annual event aims to highlight and celebrate local creativity and the vibrant community spirit that defines the area.

Thornton Artisan Festival 2026: Celebrating Local Creativity and Community Spirit

Festival Overview

Set to take place at the Thornton Community Centre and Grounds on Main Street, the Thornton Artisan Festival 2026 is poised to become a highlight of the summer calendar. Organised by the Community Events Committee and supported by local artists, crafters, and residents McSmith Events, the festival is designed to bring the community together for a three-day celebration of art, craft, food, and entertainment.

Festival Goals

The festival’s primary objectives are to showcase local talent and independent businesses, foster a sense of community pride, attract visitors to the area, and provide support for small creative enterprises and local food producers.

All profits generated will go towards funding a new central heating system for the Community Centre, an essential upgrade requiring £24,000 to replace the existing, failing 53-year-old installation.

What to Expect

Festival organisers promise a lively and inclusive atmosphere. The Community Centre and its grounds will be transformed into a hub of creativity, featuring:

  • Featured Artists Gallery: The Main Hall will host a curated exhibition of local art, photography, and sculpture.
  • Craft & Makers Market: The Sports Hall will showcase handmade goods from talented artisans and independent creators.
  • Artisan Food & Drink Zone: Outdoors, local producers will offer quality food and refreshments.
  • Children’s Zone: Activities and entertainment tailored for younger visitors.
  • Community Gallery Wall: A space for residents to display their creative works.
  • Live Music: Performances throughout the weekend to enhance the festivities.

Festival Opening and Entry Details

The festival will commence on Friday evening with a special ticketed performance by renowned Celtic music band Govannen. Tickets are priced at £20 and must be booked in advance via thorntonvillage@aol.com. Tickets are selling fast – don’t delay in booking yours!

Daytime entry on Saturday and Sunday will be free. Funds will be raised through stallholder fees, sponsorship, advertising, programme (£1) and a community raffle. Organisers are actively seeking prize donations and sponsorship from local businesses, which offer valuable promotional opportunities and directly contribute to the Community Centre’s improvement.

Get Involved

Artists, crafters, entertainers, food vendors, and sponsors are encouraged to participate in this exciting new community venture. Those interested in booking a stall, donating raffle prizes, or becoming a sponsor can request further details and a booking form by contacting thorntonartisan@gmail.com.

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McSmith Events – Comedy Night

A new events company based in Thornton, McSmith Events, hosted their first event at Thornton Community Centre on Saturday 11th October.

Together with Comedy Hotspot they brought the first of what is hoped to be many Comedy nights to Thornton.

It was a hoot, three excellent comedians and a very funny host entertained us over a two and a half hour period, with the occasional short break to replenish our drinks from the bar set up in the meeting room and kitchen.

Don’t miss the next one on Friday 20th February 2026 – tickets available soon.

All in all a thoroughly enjoyable evening and something very different for Thornton.

In keeping with their ethos, McSmith Events ran a raffle with some excellent prizes, to raise money for the Community Centre (a charitable organisation that relies on donations, grants and bookings). Plus promised a £1 from every ticket sold to be donated to the centre.

The Trustees sincerely thank McSmith Events for their donation of £204 towards the running costs of the Centre.

McSmith Events are a family-run company based in Thornton, Leicestershire, bringing top-quality entertainment to local community spaces.

From comedy nights to quizzes and parties, our events supports talent, community spaces, and good causes.

Email – info@mcsmithevents.co.uk

Mobile – 07359 894186

Website – https://www.facebook.com/people/McSmith-Events/61578637385404/#

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Heritage Open Days – Leicestershire ~ St Peter’s Church, Thornton

England’s largest festival of history and culture!

Heritage Open Days 6th-15th September 2024

Every September thousands of volunteers across England organise events to celebrate our fantastic history and culture.

It’s your chance to see hidden places and try out new experiences – all of which are FREE to explore.

As part of Heritage Open Days, St Peter’s Church, Thornton, will be open over the weekend of 14th and 15th September for all to visit.

It’s your chance to explore this lovely Grade 1, historical church for yourselves, and discover its wealth of history.

An Exhibition in the church will provide a fascinating insight into Thornton’s history.

The church will be open between 10 am and 6 pm on Saturday 14th and from 1 pm till 5 pm on Sunday afternoon.

Entry is free. Donations always welcome. Refreshments will be available to purchase.

Any contributions towards the exhibition are welcome. Do you have stories to tell or old photographs of Thornton that we could borrow to display?

Please contact churchwarden.thornton@gmail.com

For details of other Heritage Open Days venues go to http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk

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AGM – Thornton Community Centre

Thornton Community Centre – Trustees

Do you have a couple of hours a month that you could spare to help with the running of the Community Centre?

We have the most wonderful village resource at the Centre with two halls available to the local, and wider, community and a large plot of land to the rear, which although owned by the Parish Council is leased by the Trustees of the Community Centre for the benefit of the village.

Over the past two years the trustees have overseen a great many improvements at the centre (these include a new Sports Hall roof, replacement LED lighting throughout, new toilets in the main hall, decorating throughout, new drainage system), but there is still more to do to modernise this old building. The next major project is to replace the Sports hall sound proofing, create 2 extra toilets in the Sports hall and create a new, larger, improved kitchen area for the Sports hall. In recent months this hall has become increasingly popular as a safe space for childrens parties and we wish this to continue by improving these facilities.

Two major projects for the future is the creation of a decked area to run from the patio doors of the main hall, and to increase the size of the parking area by a further 20+ spaces. Whilst planning permission has been granted for these projects, the centre does not have sufficient monies to fund them without donations, grants and fund raising efforts.

We need your help to help make these things happen for the community.

Do you have time to help us raise funds, have any ideas on the type of events you would like to see at the Centre?

Please contact us at thorntonvillage@aol.com or join us at the AGM to have a conversation.

We are a small, friendly group of 7 trustees, but we really do need help and would welcome new members to join us to ensure the future of the Centre for years to come.

The trustees meet once a month at 7pm on (usually) the third Thursday evening of the month.

Thornton Community Centre – Mowing/Hedge Cutting

The trustees have recently agreed to take over from the Parish Council, the responsibility of mowing the grass, to the rear of the Community Centre.

It is hoped that by doing this the grass can be cut on a more regular basis and cut shorter to make that area more ‘usable’ to residents and visitors.

The boundary hedge will also become the Trust’s responsibility and will need attention 2 or 3 times a year.

But this comes at a cost.

Is there anyone local or do you know of anyone nearby that would be prepared to mow the grass on a regular basis for the village and/or trim the hedging when that becomes necessary. Terms to be negotiated.

Contact us please by emailing thorntonvillage@aol.com