It’s August and just look at the weather – rain, rain and more rain!
The August bank holiday should be a time of sun and BBQ’s but this weekend is looking a tad more dull…
So here are a few ideas of things to do this coming weekend if the sun doesn’t shine…
But in the mean time, I shall perform a sun dance in the hope these awful grey clouds blow away!
Happy weekend x
NORTH WEST
Liverpool will again be the UK capital of live music on the 28th & 29th August 2010 with the Matthew Street Music Festival – Europe’s biggest FREE music festival.
Festival highlights include a special guest performance by The Boomtown Rats; a Modfest stage featuring a headline performance by legendary bass guitarist Bruce Foxton, formerly of The Jam; and a New Bands stage.
Without a doubt, one of the world’s craziest competitions and arguably the wildrest, wackiest challenge ever to grace the hills of Pennine Lancashire – The 3rd World Gravy Wrestling Championship and Family Fun Day takes place on 30 August in Bacup, Lancashire.
As it’s the 20th Anniversary of the Great British Rhythm and Blues Festival in Colne, Lancashire, this year plans to be the biggest and best R&B festival in the UK, with artists like Peter Green, Georgie Fame, Chris Farlowe, Dr Feelgood and Sandi Thomes. From 27-30 August 2010.
If music festivals don’t float your boat, try a more sedate day out at the Southport Flower Show, one of the largest and most diverse shows in the country.
NORTH EAST
As usual, the BALTIC in Newcastle Gateshead presents a dynamic, diverse and international programme of contemporary visual art – absolutely free.
Celebrating Punjabi, Pakistani, Bengali and Hindi and other South Asian cultures, the Newcastle Mela 2010, taking place in Exhibition Park, is a weekend full of fun with music, games, stalls and exhibitions. It’s also completely free.
Come and see the best ever scarecrows at the Rennington Scarecrow Festival, Rennington, Northumberland. The village is ‘dressed’ with scarecrows with crafts, games, sausage sizzle and refreshments on village green – Aug 28th-30th.
YORKSHIRE
The Magna Science Adventure Centre, the UK’s 1st science adventure centre is set in the Templeborough steelworks in Rotherham.
Set in this cavernous space are 4 pavilions where you can explore the elements, earth, air, fire and water. Visit the centre themed weeks of family science activities, late night BBQ’s and outdoor playground opening on Thursdays throughout the summer holidays.
Festival organisers are delighted to announce that the Forest of Galtres Festival will be going ahead this year on the 28 & 29 August – the venue will be Crayke, near Easingwold. Something very special again this year – 100 bands on four stages over two full days – headlined by The Lightning Seeds (Saturday) and The Beat (Sunday). Dodgy feature in the line-up too, as do The Wonder Stuff’s Miles Hunt and Erica.
CENTRAL ENGLAND
The Ironbridge Coracle Regatta, held between 12noon and 4pm on 30 August, is now an established event in Shropshire’s events calendar.
Attracting coracle makers and paddlers from all over Britain to participate in an array of madcap races, it features team games, highly competitive coracle polo matches and other fiercely contended competitions.
Pershore, in Worcestershire, is planning to celebrate in style the plums which made the town so famous. The Pershore Plum Fair runs throughout the whole of the month of August, culminating in a grand finale on August Bank Holiday, 30th August.
EAST MIDLANDS
The National Forest Wood Fair in Beacon Hill Country Park, Leicestershire, are holding an unmissable day of live woodworking demonstrations, craft displays and chainsaw sculpting on Bank Holiday Monday – 30th August.
There’s plenty for children including stories from the Wild Man of the Woods, birds of prey, craft activities, archery and the brilliant climbing wall.
Set in 150 acres of Sherwood forest, Nottinghamshire, the Adrenalin Jungle is has something for everyone to enjoy, family activities include an assault course, archery, woodland quad trek, falconry, family paintballing and much more.
The Shambala Fetival in Northamptonshire is a unique concoction of quality music, cabaret, spoken word, workshops, performance arts, and the unexpected. It’s particularly proud of its green stance and family friendly attitude.
EAST OF ENGLAND
The Cambridge Shakespeare Festival has become a significant cultural event in the region and can expect to attract upwards of 25,000 visitors for the productions which run during the eight weeks of the Festival. Runs until 28 August 2010.
Over 200 cars and spectacular aerial displays are part of the Little Gransden Air and Vintage Vehicle Show (nr. St. Neots) on Sunday 30 August (1000-1800).
Hanningfield Reservoir (nr. Billericay) are holding their Family Fun Day on Sunday 29 August (1100-1600) – mini beast hunting and owl exhibition.
Enjoy a guided walk through the wildflower meadows in search of colourful butterflies at RSPB Strumpshaw Fen (nr. Norwich) on Sunday 29 August (1400-1630).
LONDON
With over a million people visiting over the course of the weekend, Notting Hill Carnival is one of the world’s largest and oldest street carnivals.
Steel bands, carnival floats, sound systems and a huge assortment of food stalls make for a fantastic assault on the senses. Sunday is Children’s day, which uses a shorter route tailored to children, families and young people.Scare yourself silly at the Empire Leicester Square during the London Film 4 FrightFest – 26-30 August. Take your pick from 35 horror and fantasy films – including 11 world premieres and 15 UK premieres.
As well as the films themselves, other events include cast meet-and-greets, a horror-writing competition, signings and giveaways.
SOUTH EAST
The Arundel Festival (where I spent my birthday this year!) treats you to music, theatre, art and comedy from 20-30 August each year.
The Enchanted Kingdom’ at The Hop Farm Family Park, Paddock Wood, Kent, brings popular children’s stories to life with real characters, animatronics and special effects, where children can come face to face with ‘real’ pirates and explore the secret cave.
The ‘Knights of Royal England’ entertain with thrilling full gallop jousts at Hever Castle in Kent on Saturday 28 August. Which knight will win the tournament – The Blue Order or the Red Banner?
SOUTH WEST
The Bude Jazz Festival, Cornwall, runs from 28th Aug – 3rd Sep 2010. The Twenty-third Bude Jazz Festival will pack 144 jazz events into seven days. A single stroller ticket will give you admission to all but two of these events.
Discover your inner ‘tree’ at the Festival of the Tree at Westonbirt The National Aboretum in Gloucestershire. Months of planning culminates in twelve carvers working with chainsaws to transform wood from the arboretum into stunning works of art.
