Waterperry Gardens - 11-13 July

Hosts one of Europe's Largest Creative Arts Festivals
 

Still Six Weeks To Go - But Book Early Bird Tickets by 14 June and save!

It's now around six weeks to go until our July event at Waterperry Gardens so we thought we would let you know about some of this year's highlights.


But we also wanted to remind you about booking your Early Bird Discounted Tickets. Book by midnight 14 June and save £6! Don't forget one ticket gives you admission to the Celebrating Ceramics Festival and the Desire Jewellery & Silversmithing Fair allowing you to meet, engage with and purchase from over 200 exhibitors!
Click Here To Find Out More and Book Tickets

2025 Highlights
  • Over 200 exhibitors individually selected for their amazing talent and creativity.
  • Leading makers as well as up and coming talent in the world of ceramics, jewellery and silversmithing.
  • An exciting mix of live music across two stages.
  • Tempting food offerings taking in world cuisines.
  • Demonstrations of raku, handbuilding and wheel throwing.
  • Demonstrations of silversmithing techniques.
  • Make Mine Miniature Competition - tiny ceramics!
  • Spirit of Waterperry Matchbox Challenge - silver in a small box.

Live Music


Take a break during your visit and enjoy some live music on two central stages. Each day our pianist and singer/songwriter Ian Fox will be entertaining visitors. He has toured with many well known names over recent years. Plus accompanying Ian on saxophone is Graeme Turner who has also toured worldwide with names such as The Drifters, Alison Moyet, David Essex, The 3 Degrees, Jools Holland, Dr Feelgood, Suzie Quattro and many others.


On Friday, we welcome Crazy Water Common, an Americana style duo act from international touring British musicians Toby Starks and Rob Wicks, who will also be playing songs from their latest album release.


On Saturday the line up will be Hot Jazz Vagabonds Quartet - a mix of swinging hot jazz, French chanson, American songbook classics, vintage jazz standards, blues and Latin.


And on Sunday, we welcome The Pronto Swing Trio, a vocal-led swing trio with its heart in 30s-50s swing, jazz, Latin and blues with just a hint of the Continent.

Live Demonstrations


Many of the exhibitors at Celebrating Ceramics will be demonstrating on their stands. We will be having a raku demonstration by Clay Time Pottery showing a variety of raku techniques including glazed work, obvara, horsehair and naked raku.


We are also pleased to have Princess Fingall with us this year who will be giving a wheel demonstration and workshop demonstrating techniques involved in creating pottery on a wheel as well as tips and guidance.


Don'f forget to visit Bishopsland Educational Trust, internationally recognised for their silversmithing courses, who will be demonstrating various silversmithing practices using a range of interesting traditional antique tools.

Jewellery That's Anything But Ordinary


2025 will be the second year that we've staged a Desire Jewellery & Silversmithing Fair alongside Celebrating Ceramics. It was so well-received last year with visitors commenting on the quality and diversity of the work from exhibitors.


Whether you're looking for a show-stopping ring, a delicate necklace or a statement piece you'll find it here! With every item made by independent UK designer makers, this is your chance to buy something completely unique - or even discuss a commission to have something made for you. Many exhibitors will also be happy to speak about remodelling inherited jewellery to give it a more contemporary feel.

Silversmithing


Discover the work of a number of contemporary UK silversmiths. Every piece is crafted with passion and precision and again you'll discover a diverse collection of inspirational work.

Make Mine Miniature Competition and The Spirit of Waterperry Matchbox Challenge


The competition of ceramic miniatures has always been very popular amongst visitors and this year we're also introducing a competition for the exhibiting jewellers and silversmiths called 'The Spirit of Waterperry Matchbox Challenge'.


Entries for both will be on display within Waterperry House (until 2 pm Sunday). Quirky, clever and surprisingly affordable, these tiny treasures are a real highlight!

Winning Potter


We're very pleased to welcome James to the show this year with many of the other contestants from this year's series of that well-known TV pottery programme.


They will be showing and selling their work and you can see how they have progressed since appearing on the programme.

Food and Drink


There are various options to purchase food and drink during the event including:



  • Sandy's Piano Wine Bar – wines, beers, cocktails
  • The Rolling Bean – Tea, coffee, and tray bakes.
  • Waterperry Tea Shop – selection of cold foods, and Waterperry grown apple juice
  • The Good Honest Food Co – wraps, fish and chips and other hot offerings
  • Purbeck Ice Cream – Traditionally produced ice cream all the way from Dorset
  • Damien Turner Grill – A mix of grilled food and specialist sausages
  • Roasted & Toasted – Toasties with an array of fillings, and deliciously chilled smoothies
  • Hush Hush Chefs – Colourful selection of tarts and savoury bakes
  • Coffee Heroes – Tea, coffee, and tray bakes

Within the Waterperry estate there's also a notable plant centre and garden shop, gallery and gift shop, museum and tea shop. Well-behaved dogs are allowed within the estate but not within the ornamental gardens.

Click Here To Find Out More and Book Discounted Early Bird Tickets
 

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