A new festival that aims to open up conversations around death and bereavement will take place in May. Good Grief Weston will offer 30 workshops and events over eight days (Monday 1 to Monday 8 May) across more than 20 venues.
Death, like birth, is one of the few universally shared experiences, yet many of us feel scared to face mortality, struggle with grief alone, or worry about how to support bereaved friends and family. This creative and diverse festival will give that elephant in the room a friendly prod!
The festival’s events will explore different aspects of serious illness and grief, and the isolation they can cause. We will open the Festival with ‘Grief Moves’ by Fandangoe Kid and the Loss Project: bring a song that reminds you of a loved one or times gone by to collectively shake out grief on the high street dance floor!
Festival goers can take part in events such as yoga and craft workshops, and even a large-scale community arts project to create a field of forget-me-nots. The festival will end, literally, on a high note in Grove Park on Monday 8 May, with the aerial show ‘The Guy in the Luggage Rack’, a family friendly comedy about grief, memory and relationships. A memorable introduction to the finale is guaranteed courtesy of renowned ‘punk undertaker’ Rupert Callender.
Through its diverse programme, the festival will bring people together to share experiences of love and loss, stimulate different ways of thinking, and provide opportunities for conversation and community spirit that will last through the festival and beyond.
Over the week, the festival will also spotlight the wonderful organisations and groups already doing great work in Weston – and help kickstart a few more… from a synchronised swimming squad to a men’s cooking club!
