The week gets off to a flying start this Saturday (June 18) with Regency Day, when Alton High Street will close to traffic so visitors can enjoy the stalls, entertainment and horse and carriage rides in safety.
Following a dance workshop in the afternoon, the Regency Ball takes place in the Alton Assembly Rooms in the evening.
Most participants will have kept their tickets from 2020 to ensure they were able to attend this event, which is always oversubscribed.
Most of the attention on Sunday (June 19) is on Chawton with a walk and events at both Jane Austen’s House and Chawton House.
The day also includes a picnic hosted by Caroline Knight, Jane Austen’s five-times great niece.
Then the festivities return to Alton later in the day for tea at the Allen Gallery and the wonderful Regency Choral Evensong held annually at St Lawrence Church with its celebrated choir and organist leading the music.
Monday’s highlight is the tour of Wyard’s Farm, once home to Jane Austen’s niece Anna, with tea in the garden, while at various venues in Alton and Chawton there will be series of talks and workshops.
There are more talks and workshops on Tuesday, including a discussion group on Austen’s novel Persuasion postponed from 2020.
Later in the day is a new event, titled An evening at the Pump Room, of sketches, refreshments and period music from Ancora and the Dulcet Tones.
This event is sponsored by Caroline Knight, who will also be there.
A walk, followed by talks and workshops, is the order of the day on Wednesday, with more talks on Thursday and a drop-in session at Alton Library in the afternoon.
An organ recital will be held at St Lawrence Church at lunchtime with music provided by both the resident organist and choirmaster.
Jane Austen Regency Week moves out to Selborne on Friday with events at Gilbert White’s House during the day and back to Chawton for food and company in the evening.
There are more events in Chawton, including a walk, on Saturday, June 25 but the Regency Week fun returns to Alton for a country dance in the evening.
The final day, on Sunday, June 26, features a garden tour at Chawton House in the morning and a quiz and Regency Supper at Alton Community Centre in the evening.
A ‘Victorian’ cricket match takes place on the Butts in Alton during the day.
For more details and how to buy tickets to the above events and more, see the website www.JaneAustenRegencyWeek.co.uk or phone Alton Community Centre on 01420 85057.