Tickets go on sale for charity flower festival event at York's Mansion House (From York Press)

Tickets go on sale for charity flower festival event at York's Mansion House

7:57am Friday 30th October 2009 in

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FIFTY guests have the chance to join the Lord Mayor of York in his historic home for wine, canapés and guitar music to celebrate the launch of the Mansion House’s first-ever flower festival.

The race is on to snap up tickets for the festival’s preview evening, with all proceeds going to the Lord Mayor’s charities – York Against Cancer and Brunswick Organic Nursery and Craft Workshop in Bishopthorpe.

The Mansion House, off St Helen’s Square, will be completely transformed during the three-day festival, which will run from November 27 to 29, following the preview evening on November 26.

Visitors will be able to see the 18th-century building sumptuously decorated for Christmas, with arrangements in all the public areas, including the hall staircase and landing, dining room, drawing room and green state room.

The Lord Mayor of York, Coun John Galvin, said: “This is the first time that a flower festival has been held in the Mansion House and it will be a wonderful opportunity to see the house decorated to a very high standard.

“The preview evening in particular will be hugely enjoyable and I look forward to welcoming people to the Mansion House.”

The festival has been organised by York flower demonstrator Kath Doggett, who is also a qualified speaker and judge for the National Association of Flower Arranging Societies (NAFAS).

She will lead a team of 30 arrangers from Acomb Flower Guild and other local clubs to create a mixture of contemporary and traditional arrangements for the festival.

Tickets for the preview evening cost £20 and are available from the civic office at the Guildhall, on 01904 551049. Doors open at 7.30pm.

During the rest of the festival, the Mansion House will be open from 10am to 5pm.

A £5 entry fee will be payable on the door and all proceeds will go to the Lord Mayor’s good causes.

This year’s fundraising committee has already raised more than £4,000 towards its £60,000 target, with a host of events planned over the next six months.

A few tickets are still available for a curry night in the Guildhall on Saturday, November 7, when a team of Gurkha chefs based at York’s Imphal Barracks will treat guests to a taste of Nepal.

Tickets cost £20 and are available from reception at the Guildhall, or by phoning 01904 551010. Doors open at 7pm and there will be a licensed bar.