HAMPSHIRE’S newest major arts festival is opening its doors to the public next weekend.

The Grange Festival is taking over Northington Grange near Alresford with its first season next year.

It replaces Grange Park Opera, which has moved to Surrey after nearly 20 years.

Now that GPO’s last season is over,tThe Grange Festival can assume their full tenancy and prepare for its first season in June 2017.

To raise its profile it is holding an open day on Sunday, September 18. There will be live music, guided tours, Alan Titchmarsh in conversation with director Michael Chance and some of the key players, as well as food and drink from well-known local suppliers.

There is no need to ‘dress up’: bring family and friends for an entertaining and relaxed afternoon.

Mr Chance said: “It is about celebrating the place for the people who live nearby who may have volunteered over the years. We have 600 people saying they want to turn up on the day.

“We have a huge opportunity to build on what has been going on for 18 years very successfully and to modernise the facilities and have a slightly more wide-ranging artistic vision.”

To attend, you should register interest by sending an e-mail to events@thegrangefestival.co.uk.

The programme: 12.30pm, The Grange opens to visitors.

Stalls open for business; 1.30pm, Alan Titchmarsh interviews Michael Chance about the Grange Festival and the 2017 season, in the marquee; 2pm, Richard Pinkstone (tenor) and Nia Coleman (soprano) sing arias and duets with orchestral backing, in marquee; 2.20pm, Michael Chance talks to John Copley about his extraordinary, long and illustrious career as an opera director, in marquee; 2.50pm, break; 2pm and 3pm, tours of the house with Mark Baring, son of the owner, Lord Ashburton; 3pm, falconry demonstration; 3.30pm, cookery demonstration; 4.15pm, live opera on the Portico.

Dido and Aeneas by Henry Purcell performed by students from the Royal Academy of Music.

For free CD on the opera see page 22 of this week's Hampshire Chronicle, out in the shops now.