Sunday 8 April
10am to 4pm
Grimsthorpe Rare and Unusual Plant Fair
The sixth year of this popular fair. Nurserymen and growers will be selling a wide range of plants and shrubs.
• Grimsthorpe Castle, Grimsthorpe, Bourne PE10 0LY
Tickets and further information on 01778 591205 or visit www.grimsthorpe.co.uk.
Friday 25 to Sun 27 April
Stamford Short Film Festival Weekend
Stamford Short Film Festival focuses on new and emerging talent and gives first time film makers a platform to exhibit their work on the big screen. This year’s theme is filmmakers and craftsmen. A special screening takes place on Friday evening with a star guest. A series of workshops have been arranged including ‘Working with a stuntman’, ‘Playing with Green Screen’, ‘How to Direct Actors’, ‘Prosthetic Makeup’, an exhibition of models makers and much more.
• Stamford Arts Centre, 27 St Mary’s Street, Stamford. More information on
ssff@stamfordartscentre.com
Saturday 26 April
7.30pm
‘Meet’ Henry VIII Bringing History Alive! (Things your history teacher won’t have
told you)
Presenting Tim Barnacle from Tutbury Castle resplendent in a costume made by the British Museum. Infamous for his six wives and for breaking away from the Roman Catholic Church, Henry was a linguist, poet and musician. Whilst his anger was terrifying and was responsible for the execution of tens of thousands of English people, he is still much loved and respected. Now is your chance to meet this colossus in full glittering costume – he will turn your heart and your head.
• Trinity Methodist Church, 11 Barn Hill, Stamford. Tickets £8/6 from the Well in the foyer of the Church with further information and prices on 01778 346363
Saturday 3 May - Monday 5 May
10am to 6pm daily
Burghley Game and Country Show
New to Burghley this year, Living Heritage bring their Game and Country Show to Burghley over the Bank holiday. Plenty for all the family, with crafts, animals and country pursuits.
• Burghley House, Stamford PE9 3JY
Tickets £8.50/£7.50 adult/concession, children £4 on 01780 752451 or visit www.burghley.co.uk More information on 01283 820548
Saturday 3 May
(Parade from 2pm Saturday)
Flower Parade & Festival Weekend, Spalding
This year the Parade celebrates its fiftieth birthday and the theme will be ‘Thanks for the Memories’.
The Parade includes many specially designed traditional flower floats decorated with over half a million locally grown tulip heads.
• Further information on 01775 724843 or www.flowerparade.org
Sunday 4 May
12-4pm and Monday 5 May
10am-4pm
Uffington Scarecrow Fair
Uffington Village
Further information on
01780 765908
For the seventh consecutive summer Uffington will be turned into a scarecrow gallery to raise money for Uffington village charities. Last year there were almost 100 scarecrows scattered around the village, and well over a thousand people followed the trail through the village. Also stalls, refreshments and traction engine rides.
Throughout April (until November 08)
Summer Exhibition - Oundle’s Sounds and Music
The museum is run entirely by volunteers with financial help from East Northants Council and Oundle Town Council so admission is free with a collection box for donations.
Opening times are Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays from 2pm to 5pm. Free parking is available in the Drill Hall Car Park, Benefield Road.
Group and school visits welcome anytime by arrangement.
Exhibits include musical instruments, interactive displays and music from Oundle’s past and displays from some of Oundle’s musical traditions – The Choral Society, Gilbert and Sullivan, Operatic Society, Oundle International Festival, and the Festival of Music and Dance.
This special exhibition runs alongside the permanent exhibits which include items from the extensive brewing industry which once dominated the town, the Warmington Hoard coins, agricultural implements, and the Remand Cell with its animated prisoner.
• Oundle Museum, The Courthouse, Mill Road, Oundle, PE8 4BW
Tuesday 20 May
10am to 4pm
Stained Glass Workshops with Cathi Prince
Learn the traditional skills to produce a colourful leaded glass panel with all materials and equipment provided plus lunch and refreshments.
• Situated in an attractive garden studio in Haconby, Bourne. Cost for the day is £50 per person. For further details and booking call Cathi on 01778 570294
Throughout the Easter Holidays
Kidsfest 2008
Stamford Arts Centre, St Mary’s Street, Stamford
The annual children’s festival including fantastic workshops, shows and films. Catering for all ages, young people can enjoy creative sessions in hip hop dancing, card making, arts, crafts, animation workshops, willow weaving and drumming to name just a few. Some of the UK’s top children’s touring companies will be performing so join in the fun.
• All enquiries and booking through the Box Office 01780 763203 or book on line a twww.stamfordartscentre.com
Extra! Extra!
Even more ‘Wind in the Willows’ at Tolethorpe
The Stamford Shakespeare management team at Tolethorpe Hall have decided that due to massive demand for the matinees of ‘Wind in the Willows’ there will now be extra performances on Saturday 14 & 28 June 2008 at 1.30pm.
Please phone the box office for bookings on 01780 763203 or 01780 756133 and tickets are also available on the website at www.stamfordshakespeare.co.uk
Two outstanding performances take place in Braceborough this spring Standing in Line – A very personal history of the Great War Thursday 24 April, 8pm Braceborough Village Hall Tickets £8/£5 from James Williams on 01778 560417 Lester Simpson, Piet Chilens and Nigel Corbett will use music, words and images to tell the story of Albert Scrimshaw (Lester’s great uncle), and the third battle of Passendale. Likely to be as popular as ‘Private Peaceful’ so book early.
Also at Braceborough Village Hall Ian Macmillan and Tony Husband (above) present ‘A Cartoon History of Braceborough’ Thursday 22 May, 8pm Tickets £9/£6 from James Williams on 01778 560417. Ian McMillan is a comedy poet from Yorkshire and Tony Husband has been awarded Strip, Gap & Sports Cartoonist of the Year no less than ten times. Together they produce an evening of unbridled hilarity.
Saturday 5 April
7.30pm
The Magic of Gilbert and Sullivan
The well-known singing group ‘The Wandering Minstrels’ will sing, act and dance their way through eight of The Savoy Operas including ‘HMS Pinafore’, ‘The Pirates of Penzance’, ‘The Mikado’,
‘The Yeomen of the Guard’, ‘Princess Ida’, ‘Patience’ and ‘The Gondoliers’.
• The Parish Church, Morton, Near Bourne. Tickets are £10 and include a glass of wine available on 01778 570553 or at the door. Proceeds from the evening will go to Morton Church.
Saturday 12 April
7.30pm
Blazing Brass with Stamford Brass
A lively evening with the popular Stamford Brass – a concert to make you think. The band was formed nearly 120 years ago and maintains a busy schedule throughout the year, being seen and heard by many thousands of people. A blistering mix of popular music and humour.
• Stamford Arts Centre, 27 St Mary’s Street, Stamford PE9 2DL Tickets £7 on 01780 763203
In the Spotlight… Dance
Stamford Arts Centre plays host to two very different evenings of dance…
Urjah Nilima Devi Dance Company invite you to join them on Wednesday 23 April at 8pm for a colourful journey through India’s classical dance heritage to the modern day fusion of contemporary influences. Four dancers combine contemporary style with a rich fusion of classical dance against an atmospheric filmic backdrop.
Experienced tutor Paula McKillop will be holding an Arab/Egyptian Dance night on Wednesday 30 April from 7.30pm, where she will be passing on her knowledge of the earthy, sensuous moves and grooves from North Africa.
• Tickets and more information on both events are available on 01780 763203 or book online
at www.stamfordartscentre.com
New Dance Class
A new dance class for adults has recently arrived in Stamford. The recently refurbished Danish Invader’s function room with oak floor has been secured on Monday nights from 7.30pm for social dancing. The emphasis is on fun for all ages whether couples or singles. Absolute beginners are welcomed and encouraged. No sequins, no judges and no prima donnas so escape the sofa, get fit and have a ball.
• Find out more at www.uk-smooth.co.uk or call 07710 033363