Malton St Clement’s Festival

Malton St Clement’s Festival

Saturday 23rd November 2024

Update: The event is still going ahead as planned, many of the activities are under cover/indoors and there are contingency plans in place to relocate other activities if needed. Please check the individual travel reports and conditions before setting off and only travel if it is safe to do so.

UPDATE: Unfortunately due to the weather and despite the team’s best efforts, the blacksmithing and forge demos will not be taking place. The indoor activities are still running.

Keep an eye on the Malton St Clement’s Festival social media channels for further updates.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stclementsmalton

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maltonstclementsfestival/

The first of its kind in Yorkshire, the St Clement’s Festival is set to be a celebration of Malton’s host of craftspeople, the Autumn and St Clement, the patron of blacksmiths.

There’ll be a whole host of activities planned throughout the day including sculpture and art trails, light shows, a variety of musical performances with singing and dancing, and of course, delicious treats from Malton’s eateries.

The event is organised and run by the Malton St Clement’s Steering Group which is made up of several representatives of businesses and organisations in Malton.

Free entry!

Banner image photographer credit: GHEdsallphotography

Crafts & Demonstrations

From blacksmith to pottery demonstrations, apple pressing to treat making and more, there’ll be something for all the family to enjoy!

Son et Lumiere

Festivities at the event, will culminate in the early evening, lantern parade, along an avenue of lit trees, all decorated and sponsored by local businesses, in Malton’s historic Market Place.

Live Music

Enjoy traditional music from Malton’s local brass bands, choirs at St Michael’s Church and wandering minstrels whilst you explore the festival.

Festival Activities 2024

Activities taking place across the festival include:

Timings for the Day

By 10.00am: Local shops, cafes and hospitality outlets open with themed offerings

10am: Axe Handle Crafting Workshops with SylvanKin begin; Craft, storytelling and lantern-making family/children’s workshop tent opens

10.30am: music program begins in St Michael’s Church

11.00am: forge demonstrations, drinks and treats, and hands-on “Kids in the Kitchen - the outside edition” by The Cook’s Place begin in Market Place

11am & 2.00pm: Malton Museum Town Tour - Georgian Malton (audio tour)

3.00pm: Kemps Author Event: Sally Couthard - Apple Book Talk & Signing;

4.00pm onwards: as dusk falls, illuminated tree avenue comes to life

5.00pm onwards: Brand new for the 2024 event “Looking for Loki” story telling performance by Be Amazing Arts. Procession of children’s lanterns; Son et Lumiere in the Market Place and the Grand Finale

Then there’ll be plenty of time to enjoy the festive hospitality of Malton’s many bars and restaurants to carry on the festive cheer until later on!

*Timings may be subject to change.

Photo Credit: Norma Horsfield, Malton & District Camera Club

UPDATE: Unfortunately due to the weather and despite the team’s best efforts, the blacksmithing and forge demos will not be taking place.

The Forge Area: Demonstration Timings & Workshops

Blacksmithing Demos*: (provisional running order)

  • 10.00am: Live blacksmithing

  • 11.00am: Gilly & Piers Forge cooking demo

  • 11.30am: Hot Forged Rose with Michael and Piers

  • 12.15pm: Guest smith - Matthew Snape

  • 13:00: Beginners Taster Session (booking essential via Environmental Art)

  • 14:00: Gilly and Piers Forge cooking demo

  • 14:30: Piers Forging demo

  • 15:15: Guest smith demo - TBC

  • 16:00: Gilly and Piers Forge cooking demo

  • 16:25: Raku ceramics demo with Stephanie House

*Timings may be subject to change.

Photo credit: Rachel Rimmell Photography

Forge Cooking Demos*: (provisional running order)

Gilly Robinson (The Cook’s Place, Malton) will be also be running cookery demonstrations throughout the afternoon at The Forge Area.

• 12.00 - 12.20: American Toaster

• 14.00 - 14.20: Chilli Wrap

• 16.00 - 16.20: Smores

*Timings may be subject to change.

Forge Area Location: https://w3w.co/robes.stands.info

MUST Forge Blacksmithing Workshops: Make Your Own Metal Rose in a choice of two different materials at the St Clement’s Festival.

Frequency: Every hour from 11am-3pm;

Duration: 40 mins to an hour, skill level dependent;

Group Size: 4 people per session.

Cost per workshop:

·         copper rose - £45

·         steel rose - £35 

Participants will come away with a finished rose to take home. Pre-booking is essential. Places can be booked here: https://buytickets.at/mustforge/1425060

Workshop Details - 1pm

Try your hand at blacksmithing in a 40 minute taster session where artist blacksmith Piers Edsall will teach you the basics and help you go away with something that you have forged in the fire yourself! Please note: minimum age of participants is 16. T&C's apply.

Cost: £30 per person.

Book via the Environmental Art website here: Blacksmithing experience St Clements Festival 23rd November 2024 – Environmental Art

Photo credit: Rachel Rimmell Photography

Axe Handle Crafting Workshops with SylvanKin - this is still going ahead by The Milton Rooms

Two workshops will be running during the day. In 2.5hrs you’ll be guided from 'blank' wood to a crafted axe handle ready for to shape the neck to fit your axe-head. If you have an axe-head with you we can help you shape your handle's neck to hang your axe and wedge it.

Book your place here: Axe Handle Crafting, St Clements Fest - Sylvankin

Workshop times: 10am-12.30pm and 2pm-4.30pm

Gilly Robinson (The Cook’s Place) will be running children’s cookery drop-in workshops from 11am-3.30pm, running at 11am, 1pm and 3pm.

Children can learn how to make a St Clement’s crumble which kids can take home to cook.

This area is sponsored by Scoops Ingredients Shop, Malton.

The Cook’s Place tent location: https://w3w.co/motel.louder.taster

Artist Workshops and Demos in The Milton Rooms

Open: 10am -4pm hot chocolates available and disabled access toilets open for all.

The Milton Rooms will be full of traditional crafter's and artisans. We have spinners, weavers, painters, illustrators, printers, badge makers and more! Lanterns will be displayed on the stage that will later be carried in the procession. 

St Clements is the Patron Saint of Blacksmithing but the folklore surrounding him is a clear message to celebrate your local traditional crafters and reflect on the modern applications that they can be used to solve modern problems. 

Milton Rooms Location: https://w3w.co/catch.flocking.wrist

Photo Credit: Nick Webster from Malton & District Camera Club

Watch how different creatives work and ask them questions about their practice throughout the day at The Milton Rooms.

Artists and Crafts People at the event include:

The Guild of Weavers, Spinners and Dyers,

Three jewellers from No 7 Gallery in Malton,

Miriam Hemingway - multimedia artist,

Jess Bardet - print designer,

Nathan Boden - Illustrator,

Ben Clarke - street artist,

Simon Gabriello - intaglio printer and wood carver and more. 

Photo Credit: Ron Pickering from Malton & District Camera Club

Be Amazing Arts Children’s Activities

The Creativitent will be open at 10am-4.30pm. What3Words Location: https://w3w.co/laugh.attending.admiral

Children’s Activities will include:

  • Free storytelling sessions with professional actors and

  • Free craft sessions making willow lanterns for the parade. (tutorial video below).

Visitors can also find out more about the Be Amazing Arts production of ‘A Christmas Carol’ as well as book the last available tickets at their pop-up box office at the Creativitent. This area is sponsored by The Handy Mag.

What3Words Location: https://w3w.co/developer.caked.contemplate

Visitors to the Malton Museum stand will be connected to Roman life, through the eyes of a female character called Cassia. People have images of soldiers, cavalry and forts when they think of the Romans in Britain, but of course many soldiers married or just settled with local woman.

Cassia represents a woman living close to the fort in a high- status house. We will show how her life would have involved her working with local artisans, centred around the high quality craftmanship available in Roman Malton and celebrating the talents of local artisan craft people working here today.

During the festival, Malton Museum will be running two bite sized guided walking tours around Malton where visitors can delve into Malton’s fascinating history. Mainly focussed around the Market Place, this short tour will show some interesting historical highlights around Malton’s town centre, packaged into 40 minutes.

Cost is £5.00 per adult. Children (up to age 12) are free of charge but must be accompanied by a paying adult.  Only adults need to book tickets.

Find out more or book your place here: Malton Museum

Live Music Timings

Live Music Programme at St Michael’s Church*

  • 10.30 – 11.15: Malton White Star Band

  • 11.45 - 12.15: Ryelarks

  • 12.20 – 12.50: Young Crescendos

  • 13.00 - 13.30: Kirkham Henry Choir

  • 13.35 – 14.00: The Notables

  • 14.30 – 15.15: The Swinton Training Band

  • 15.35 – 16.00: Ryedale Voices

  • 16.05 – 16.30: Malton School Chamber Choir

  • 16.30– 17.00: Harmonia

*Timings may be subject to change.

Photo Credit: Tony Horsfield from Malton & District Camera Club

Whilst you’re watching the wonderful musical performances in St Michael’s Church, keep your eyes peeled for beautiful floral displays created by The Malton and District Flower Club. Refreshments are also being served in the church from 10am.

Find out more about the Flower Club here: Malton & District Flower Club

About the Malton St Clement’s Festival

The event is organised and run by the Malton St Clement’s Steering Group which is made up of several representatives of businesses and organisations in Malton.

For enquiries about the event, how to get involved or how to sponsor a tree, please email: maltonstclements@gmail.com

Photo Credit: Tony Horsfield from Malton & District Camera Club

 

Willow Lantern Making Tutorial

Find a step-by-step guide as to how to make the willow lanterns that will be used in the procession towards the end of the St Clement’s Festival.

Created by Be Amazing Arts. Commissioned by You Will Be C.I.C.

The Malton St Clements Festival is a community event supported by North Yorkshire Council, Malton Town Council and Visit Malton CIC.