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Featuring Grace Jones, Belle & Sebastian, torchlight processions, banquets and one of the UK’s most unusual villages, Festival Number 6 can’t help being extraordinary.
Portmeirion, from the expanse of Castell Park to its central piazza, estuary, dog cemetery and woodland surrounds, is not your typical North Wales village. Styled after an Italian town, its buildings sit like confectionary on hilly streets – and are transformed each September by the sensory spectacular that is Festival Number 6. For this, the festival’s fourth outing, the likes of Grace Jones, Kate Tempest, British Sea Power, Ghostpoet, King Creosote and Belle & Sebastian will be leading the way musically (and figurative, in the case of Grace Jones – there’s a Mirror Ball Parade through the streets in her honour, before she takes to the stage). But, as with many of today’s summer music festivals, Festival Number 6 promises to be much more than an ear pleaser.
Grace Jones leads a mirror ball parade through the streets
Take, for instance, banquet tables manned by Michelin starred chefs and overlooking the estuary, or swing dance showcases and martial arts workshops where you can learn the Victorian fighting technique of Bartitsu, immortalised by that there Sherlock Holmes. There will be a theatrical performance of Under Milk Wood, comedians such as Josie Long, Katherine Ryan and the excellent Geins Family Giftshop, as well as a torchlight version of Stealing Sheep’s Mythopoeia procession, featuring an illuminated Chinese dragon, fantastical costumes and puppets.
Unsurprisingly, Festival Number 6 has been much garlanded, including winning the Evening Standard’s Festival of the Year Award in 2012, and Line Up of the Year at the UK Festival Awards in 2014. Tickets are still at the Early Bird stage, with an adult weekend coming to £185 for a Thursday arrival (Friday arrival £170). Best of all, we’ll have some tickets to give away next week – so keep your eyes peeled. After all, who wouldn’t want to spend a weekend stuffed with music, food and spectacular happenings at one of the most unusual coastal villages in the country?
Culture Guides
Literature
There are spooky stories, Christmas crime thrillers and plenty of books for stocking fillers as December unfolds and Manchester and the wider North region switches on the live literature lights.
Classical Music in Manchester and the North
We preview the standout classical music events and venues in Manchester and the north.
Food and Drink
Explore the best restaurants and bars in Manchester and the North for autumn.
Exhibitions
Pause in the hustle and bustle of festive prep to take in some inspiration from this month’s top exhibitions.
Tours and Activities
We’re deep into Autumn now but don’t let that stop you from finding a new tour or activity to get stuck into.
Destination Guides
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