The lively sounds of fiddles and bagpipes weaved into traditional folk music will ring out from The Forum in Norwich as part of the county's first Baltic States Festival. It has been put together to celebrate the culture of people from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania who have now settled in Norfolk. The day-long event on Saturday, 17 February will welcome more than 30 people from the three countries, who have travelled here especially to showcase their traditional crafts, fashions and perform a concert. Story-telling It is the result of year-long scheme between BBC East's community project Voices and Norwich Mind to give people from minority communities a chance to tell their stories. With more than 1,000 Lithuanians living in Norwich alone, the festival was set up after the scheme's organisers built up a good relationship with some of those in the community. The day will focus on cementing the relationship between locals and those from the Baltic States who have made Norfolk their home. BBC Voices producer Gary Standley said: "We'll have lots of information about the Baltic States and if you're tempted to visit you can find out how and where is best to stay. "There will be films made in the Baltics from people in Britain and films made in Britain by people from the Baltics." Crafts and performances The event is being split into two parts. From 10am to 5pm, handicrafts including ceramics, weaving and wood designs will be on display.
 | | Baltic guests playing music in The Forum |
For the evening's event the atmosphere will slip up a notch with theatre performances, a fashion show and concert which will feature a piece by local Lithuanians who have been working with Community Music East. Musicians who have travelled to Norwich include young bagpiper Catlin Jaago, from Estonia, and one of the country's best fiddle players, Sille Ilves. Fashion show Local Lithuanians are also set to strut down the catwalk, dressed in the latest designs from two young Lithuanian fashion designers. Audrone Strasauskiene from the Lithuanian Association's Norwich branch said: "We have many beautiful girls and many good-looking men from Lithuania living here in Norfolk and this is a chance for them to show off!" Ahead of the festival, BBC Radio Norfolk will take a look at the lives of people from the Baltic States who now live in the county on Friday, 16 February, Lithuania's independence day. The Baltic States Festival takes place at The Forum, Norwich, on Saturday, 17 February, 2007. The craft show runs from 10am to 5pm and the evening concert from 8 to 10pm. Both events are free, but tickets for the evening must be reserved in advance by calling the BBC Radio Norfolk Action Desk on 01603 631631. | 
