A WEEKEND OF JAZZ AND CRAFT IN HONDÓN DE LAS NIEVES

Entertainment

Contributor / 2012-07-01 17:27:00

Jubilee Jazz Band

The prospect of a cool weekend with some live jazz and real craftwork is just the thing to pep up all us bored inhabitants of the Costa. The Jubilee Jazz Band makes with the noise, and the craft association Amata sets the scene with 30 genuine craft stalls.

With the chance of some spontaneous Charleston dancing, antique portrait photography while you watch and wait, classic cars just to lust over, lots of people in 20s costumes and some really crazy types to liven up the show. Hondon de las Nieves is the place where the action will be and 14 and 15 July is when. The Roarin' 20s - almost authentic and can you tell the difference?.

Hondon Town Hall wanted something different, and not just another one of those endless Medieval Markets with bits and pieces from various pound shops. So they got in touch with Amata, and the result is a Craft Fair with more than a touch of the Roarin' 20s.

The Jubilee Jazz Band swings Dixieland as it has been putting out ever since, Ly walks on stilts and juggles (no mean feat in those tight dresses), there is a photographer to take black-and-white photographs in period dress of anyone with the readies, there are some classic cars to admire (and hire if you want to get spliced) and one and all are dolled up to suit the period. Why, perhaps we might even get some of the older folk of the Costa to dive into their wardrobes and dig out the glad rags they stored at the time - you never can tell.

Plus of course the usual high quality stands chosen by Amata, with the people at the stand selling only what they make themselves (sorry, no bath tub gin). Amata was chosen by those upright Hondon citizens because Amata promised (and their word is as good as you are going to get) that only high quality craftwork made by the people selling the stuff would be on show.

Which makes for a change - there's nothing here that's imported or from the factory, just thirty stalls with ceramics, soap, wooden toys, puppets, turned and carved wood and leather belts, shoes and bags. Some of the people that are so clever with their hands will be running workshops for younger citizens, where they can make something to take home. There's even a merry-go-round for the kindergarten set and non-electronic arcade games for the juniors.

Hondon de las Nieves Craft Fair will start at 6 pm on both Saturday 14 and Sunday 15 July. Dress up and join the fun - it promises to be a gas. Hondón lies between Elche and Novelda; to get there, take the exit "Aspe" on the A7 or A31 motorway and in Aspe itself follow the signs "Hondón de las Nieves".

For more information, ring 639 979 678, we even speak English. You want to see pretty pictures of other events, you just type in www.amata.es, go to Photos and watch the show.