NEWPORT will rise again this November to celebrate and commemorate the Chartist uprising of 1839, with events including a torchlight march, gatherings in the Westgate Hotel, and a ceremony at the Cathedral.
The second Newport Rising Festival – promoted with a range of new artwork – aims to build on the success of the inaugural celebration last year
November 4 marks the 180th anniversary of the massacre at the Westgate Hotel in which 22 people died, and the Our Chartist Heritage group continues to tell the story of the Chartists’ struggles.
The festival will contain ‘uniquely Newport’ events, with the torchlight march on Saturday November 2, a striking, powerful and popular centrepiece, certainly if last year was anything to go by.
“There is something special about the torch lit march,” said David Daniel, a festival organiser.
“To see the smiling faces of young and old being involved in something so special to our city is great.”
“The people of Newport seem keen on it and it is unique to our city,” said Mr Daniel.
The Westgate Hotel hosts some festival events this year, including a final performance of poet Patrick Jones’ Renegade Psalms on Friday, November 1, and an ‘After the Rising’ celebration following the march the next day, with live music, performance, food and drink.
On Sunday November 3, there will be a guided walk to the Chartist Cave, from Trefil, and more live music and music workshops at the Westgate.
On Monday November 4, the annual Chartist Commemoration takes place in the grounds of Newport Cathedral.
“Volunteers working on the Festival and the refurbishment of the Westgate Hotel are perfect examples of that spirit – we couldn’t achieve a fraction of what we’ve done without them.
“We would also like to thank festival supporters and sponsors Heritage Lottery Fund, Newport City Council, Ringmaster Sports and Tiny Rebel Brewing Co. for their vital help.
“We hope that together with the people of Newport and the south east Wales valleys – which after all is where most of the Chartists marched from – we can continue to build on this platform year on year to make something really special for the future.”
Visit newportrising.co.uk for more details.
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