Hilton Feast Week

Hilton Feast Week is traditionally a celebration of the Feast of St Mary Magdalene and commences on the 4th Sunday in July every year.  Feast Week has been running for nearly 30 years, in fact 2007 will be the 30th anniversary of the modern Feast Week.  Whilst retaining its links with the Church it has become a much wider celebration and something that the vast majority of Villagers look forward to every year.

Ahead of the start of Feast Week a marquee is erected on the Village Green and this becomes the focal point for the celebrations which run from the 4th Sunday in July until the following Saturday.  The aim of Feast Week is to provide something for everyone in terms of the activities and entertainment that are laid on for Villagers throughout the week.

The opening Sunday of Feast Week sees a Feast Week Church service.  Then the marquee plays host to a traditional Produce Show and a parade of floats around the Village followed by the presentation of the trophy for the best float and the produce show prizes for the best in each class and the overall best in show.  Activities for children take place during the day on the Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and include art and craft and the Children’s Feast Week Church service.  On the Wednesday and Thursday nights, entertainment is laid on in the marquee and everyone is welcome to attend.  On the Friday night the stage is given over to Village Entertainment Night – the highlight of Feast Week for many, when children as young as 2 up to adults as old as 65(?) take to the stage to showcase their talents for singing, dancing etc.  Saturday starts with a Penalty Shoot Out competition and this sporting theme is carried on with the Village Sports Day followed by the Village Tea – a truly unique and very special event when Villagers young and old gather around the maze for sandwiches, tea and cake.  Before the closing night’s entertainment in the marquee, there is the keenly fought Tug of War competition.  

Other Feast Week events include a golf competition, cricket matches and an Art Show where Villagers of all ages can display their artistic creations, with prizes going to the best in each class and the overall best in show as voted for by the visitors to the Show.  The bar, BBQ and kid’s bar all help to ensure that Villagers are fed and watered during the week.

All the events and entertainment during Feast Week are free but they do need to be paid for somehow.  The income from the bar and food sales during Feast Week go some way to helping, but fundraising events throughout the year are also an essential way of ensuring that Feast Week itself can be paid for.

A committee of volunteers is elected in September each year to organise and run the fundraising events and Feast Week itself.  The committee in turn are supported by further group of volunteers who kindly help out with specific tasks or events.   Details of the current committee can be found on the contacts page.  Please get in touch with any member of the committee if you would like further details of any of the forthcoming fundraising events or Feast Week itself.

Feast Week is an almost unique event and contributes to making Hilton a very special place to live – please support it so it can continue.