The 2024 GAP Festival delivered an ambitious and inspiring ten-day programme, welcoming over 2,500 ticketed attendees alongside many more at free events. The Festival explored science, sustainability, creativity and community through an extraordinary range of activities for all ages.
The opening weekend focused on science and sustainability. Space Day took families on a journey across the solar system via a large-scale treasure hunt to follow a scaled-up model of the solar system running from Rectory Garden (The Sun) up to the top of Lardon Chase (Pluto!) The evening saw a fascinating talk and Q&A with space scientists from OrbAstro, Lumi Space and the European Space Agency followed by star-gazing, where attendees had an incredible view of the moon’s craters thanks to OrbAstro’s powerful telescopes! The following day shifted attention to the environment with the Great Green Food Day, encouraging greener lifestyles through talks, creative competitions and family-friendly activities as part of the Great Green Week. Highlights included a thought-provoking talk on climate change, a family-friendly 'poo corner' and miniature garden competition!
Planetarium
The Festival also showcased a rich programme of talks, film, theatre and literature. Highlights included a lively talk by botanist Timothy Walker on gardening over the last four hundred years, the Children’s Film Festival celebrated young filmmakers with a red carpet premiere, there was an engaging true-crime discussion with author Helen Saxton, and acclaimed theatrical performances, such as 'Where is Mrs Christie?' covering Agatha Christie's 1926 disappearance and an outdoor production of The Adventures of Doctor Dolittle with some amazing puppetry...and a touch of June rain!
Where is Mrs. Christie?
Music was a major highlight, with performances spanning opera, choral music, folk, fringe sessions and community events. Mozart’s 'The Marriage of Figaro' at Streatley Farmhouse wowed audiences with a top class performance over three nights, while acts such as female voice ensemble, Papagena, world class mandolin-playing from Simon Mayor and the Mandolinquents, an excellent Goring Unplugged, and a vintage jive night with the Ding Dong Daddios brought energy and variety to venues across the area.
Marriage of Figaro
Throughout the Festival, wellbeing and participation played a central role. Most sessions were either early morning or lunchtime and offered activities such as boxing, paddleboarding, yoga, pilates, wild swimming, belly dancing and mindfulness. Each one encouraged people to try something new. For the creative, there was a host of art workshops offering opportunities to learn new skills and participate: a painting party, pen and wash sketching, Indian block printing, Japanese woodcut printing and even ceramics!
Festival Wellbeing
And strong community involvement underpinned the Festival, from the 'Celebration of Community' art exhibition to the bustling market day, to family events like the Teddy Bears’ Picnic in the sun on a Friday morning, to a picnic with the Goring & Streatley Concert Band and Goring Primary School in the Rectory Garden.
Wow! What a jam-packed ten days! The 2024 GAP Festival gave Goring and Streatley and the local villages a vibrant cultural celebration made possible by volunteers, artists, sponsors and supporters, leaving a lasting impression of creativity, collaboration and possibility. You can watch the fabulous wrap-up video on our website at www.thegapfestival.org to see the full cultural extravaganza that was this years’ GAP Festival!
And finally, but most importantly - Thank you - to everyone who attended, volunteered, sponsored and supported this year's GAP Festival - we couldn’t have done it without you!
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