Spirit of Yankee Doodle Dandy comes to Stow

The biennial festival marks Stow's unique friendship link with the US town of Appomattox. The British town staged the last major skirmish of the English Civil War at which Parliamentarians routed Royalists in the 1646 Battle of Stow while Appomattox witnessed The Battle of Appomattox Court House, one of the American Civil War’s final clashes in 1865.

One of the festival’s major attractions is a mass ‘Sewing Bee’. Stow’s first community quilt will be put together by visitors and locals as a surprise gift to Appomattox. People can make a pledge or sew a hexagon on the colourful patchwork in St Edward’s Hall. Eye-catching red, white, and blue American material brooches can be made and there will be an American tea party including homemade cookies and brownies.

Special greetings will be screened from Stow’s American friends showing a Civil War re-enactment commemorating their battle’s 150th anniversary this year.

USA vehicles will be on display with family attractions including a children’s fancy dress competition and parade, a carousel, face painters, giant snakes and ladders, a roaming Magic Man and a story teller.

There will be a best-dressed dog contest, town centre treasure hunts and a community competition in the church.

Live music features on the stage in the afternoon including Cotswold School’s Back to Black brass section, Silver Bough and Gloucester Gladiators Scout Band. Stow Square then hosts a Square Dance until 10.30pm.

Reinforcing the theme of resolving conflict, The Military Wives Choir, Brize Norton, is a curtain raiser for the festival. The singers perform at 7.30pm the day before in St Edward’s Church, under the banner Music at Stow. Stow Primary School also hosts its summer fete on Friday July 3.

The Festival is supporting four main charities: The Sam Pilcher Trust; Springboard Children’s Centre, Stow; Stow Disability Association and the Sue Ryder hospice, at Leckhampton, Cheltenham.