Posts Tagged ‘Summer Holidays’
Gressenhall Museum of Norfolk Life (taken in the summer).
Imagine a golden, halcyon autumn day, bathed in glorious sunshine and spent outside in fresh Norfolk countryside air. Too good to be true? Not so. For this was Sunday’s ‘Apple Day’ at Gressenhall Museum of Norfolk Life.
A farm and former workhouse, I have been really impressed with the way Gressenhall Museum (which I thought a bit dull and stuffy when we visited as kids) has transformed itself over the past few years to provide an excellent family day out in the country. Still excellent as well for those interested in the relatively recent social history of rural Norfolk, a river walk, farm animals, a superb cafe and the fairly recent addition of a fantastic kids playground (see pics below – taken this summer), make it a very good value day out that is far removed from ‘stuffy museum’ in style. We have been at least 4 times this year, possibly more.
Children's Adventure Playground at Gressenhall (taken in the summer).
Children's Adventure Playground at Gressenhall (taken in the summer).
Apple Day, however, an annual autumn event that I’ve seen advertised before but attended for the first time last Sunday, was a truly marvellous high point before Gressenhall closes for the Winter months (November, December, January, albeit for a couple of seasonal events).
Enjoying an apple at Gressenhall's Apple Day.
Inspired by the apple harvest, and generally all things autumn, Apple Day included a selection of stalls selling local produce and wares (we came away with some delicious bread, biscuits and, of course, a really lovely selection of some varieties of apples and pears that you won’t find in most supermarkets), apple-themed displays (traditional cider pressing, for example), apple-based crafts and other demonstrations encouraging gardening and home-growing.
Bag o' apples from Gressenhall's Apple Day.
There were plenty of opportunities to experience ‘traditional’ ways in farming and Norfolk life – a display of fabulous vintage tractors, sheep dogs rounding up geese, Morris Dancing, ploughing and harvesting using traditional methods… The majority were accessible and interactive – perfect for engaging curious young minds.
Little Man planting radishes with Gressenhall's Christine.
Vintage tractors at Gressenhall's Apple Day.
Craft stalls at Gressenhall's Apple Day.
Sheep Dog demonstration (should that be Goose Dog?) at Gressenhall's Apple Day.
Throughout the day, we also spent at least a few hours in the playground, strolled around the scenic riverside walk, along lanes and through trails and fields, and enjoyed a picnic in magnificent autumn sunshine. In my humble opinion, it was one of the nicest, best value days out we’ve had this year.
Suffolk Punch horses off to plough fields.
Lucie Ruddock, one of our Twitter friends, who was also at Apple Day, even joined in the ‘Wassail’ (which we were quite oblivious of – think we were on the river walk at the time). “Wassail is an ancient ceremony of good health. Around orchards it usually takes place in January to ensure a good apple crop. 3.15pm we all paraded to the orchard, lead by the School Teacher,then we all danced round the tree”, Lucie told us. Just brilliant.
In summary, Apple Day – an excellent Norfolk day out (caveat: if the weather is as amazing as it was this year; would imagine a rainy Apple Day to be quite different), as is Gressenhall - if you’ve never been, give it a try next season when it reopens.
Gressenhall's Apple Day.
Gressenhall Farm & Workhouse,
Gressenhall,
Dereham,
Norfolk,
NR20 4DR.
The 2011 Holt Festival opens on Sunday 24th July and runs through to Saturday 30th when rock legends 10cc will perform the closing concert at Gresham’s stunning Theatre In The Woods.
10CC - closing the Holt Festival this year.
Full details of this, the third Holt Festival have recently been announced offering a jam-packed week of superb international music, theatre, family and kids shows, film, comedy, dance, poetry and visual arts.
Throughout the week, from early morning to late at night the streets and venues of this lovely Georgian town in North Norfolk will play host to a stunning variety of performers and artists. The festival can truly boast something for everyone with big names including Michael Palin, Arthur Smith, classical chart toppers I Fagiolini, composer and pianist Sir Richard Rodney Bennett (celebrating his 75th birthday) and Claire Martin, and one of the biggest names in both British and American comedy, the mighty Tim Quinn.
Michael Palin. At the Holt Festival 2011.
The Holt Festival spends over 25% of its programming budget on free events, including family orientated street shows, storytelling, foyer and late night music. There is a full programme of free children’s events and there will be street entertainment throughout the week all over the town.
There is also a full programme of exhibitions including Sir Richard Rodney Bennett’s collages and a selection of photographs by Richard Denyer. ‘Pre-Raphaelites & Friends’ is a loan exhibition including original works by among others Burne-Jones, Holman-Hunt, Rossetti, Inchbold, Gotch and Norfolk’s own Pre-Raphaelite artist Frederick Sandys.
Artistic Director Tony Britten said ‘In a very short space of time, Holt Festival has become an important part of the cultural landscape of North Norfolk, entertaining and engaging a rapidly building audience that enjoys the wide span of artistic endeavour. In creating the programme I have borne in mind that the whole joy of a festival like this is when there is so much to experience, and the best thing is just to come along to as many events and performances as you can’.
Festival Chair Delaval Astley added ‘While it’s generally true to say that you get what you pay for, during festival week we are able to give a lot more than that thanks to the generosity of individuals, businesses, organisations, Gresham’s School and the local council. It’s not just that it’s affordable, there’s a breadth of talent here that is more usually found in cities and I feel great pride to be associated with such a wide ranging event’.
Download a full programme of all events or visit www.holtfestival.org
Box Office
The Holt Festival Box Office is at High Silver, 35 High Street, Holt, Norfolk NR25 6BN
Tel: 01263 711284
10cc tickets are available now from Bakers & Larners Department Store 8 Market Place Holt and via their website www.bakersandlarners.co.uk
The 2011 Wells Carnival is almost upon us! The carnival ‘Crew’ are busy putting the final touches to this year’s fun and festivities.
The hardworking Wells Carnival Crew.
Festivities kick off on Fri 29th July with Cocktail Evening in the Maltings, followed by an exciting line up of live music throughout the week including: ‘Dog Days of Summer plus Phil Crawford’; ‘Spring’;‘Lee Vasey’; ‘SweetBeats’; and culminating with ‘Take That 2′ on Friday 5th.
On WELLS CARNIVAL DAY – SATURDAY 6th AUGUST, music will be provided by Ray Lewis and his group – ‘Still Drifting’.
Wells Carnival Day last year. It's a quiet affair...
Finally, the week finishes off on Sunday 7th with the Raft Race followed by classical music on the Buttlands (where you are likely to find a quivering wreck of pink T-shirted ‘Crew’ members collapsed in exhaustion!).
Throughout the week there will be all the old favourites – Traditional Fete Day, Carnival’s Got Talent followed by an open air disco, Fun Quay Day & Fun Run, Beach Party and Teddy Bears Picnic. Screen on the Green this year will be ‘Shrek’, so dig out your green facepaint and dust off your fairytale/medieval outfits. New events for this year include Dance workshops, Ugly Bugs Children’s Party and Dayglo Puppet Show to name but a few.
Keep an eye out for this year’s Wells Carnival programme which will give information on all the events including details of the local businesses and individuals that have supported the Carnival this year.
The Carnival attracts many holiday makers and daytrippers to Wells which not only brings additional revenue to many local businesses but also gives local charities and groups a platform to raise their profile and additional funds. The events are funded by sponsorship and bucket collections, with all money raised from the bucket collection during the Carnival Parade being divided amongst local charitable groups.
Wells Carnival runs from 29th July until 7th August. Download ‘Carnival week at a glance‘ here.
Visit the Wells Carnival website for more information or see their Facebook page.
Here’s to a great carnival and fingers crossed for fine weather!
- 18/05/2012 - Victorian Shell Artistry May 18, 2012
- 18/05/2012 - Shipwrecked! Back to 1897 May 18, 2012
- 18/05/2012 - A Walk Through Time: The Victorians May 18, 2012
- 18/05/2012 - Norwich 20 Group – Looking into 20 – paintings and sculpture at The Forum May 18, 2012
- 18/05/2012 - Tony Foster Paintings/Angela Harding Prints May 18, 2012