While two of the summer’s big festivals offer online consolation for their real world cancellations, the new normal is beginning to emerge with activities on offer at a variety of county (and beyond) attractions.
Saturday, July 25, 10am to 2am
Despite the disappointment of postponing to next summer, the team at Rowden Paddocks Farm have been working hard to create a one-day special event hosted entirely online: Nozstock The Hidden Valley @Home.
There will be 16 whole hours of glorious Nozstock goodness - featuring a range of artists from Nozstock past, present and future representing all the different genres the festival showcases, from acoustic musings to rub-a-dub beats, from sing-a-long shanties to pounding drum n bass.
But Nozstock is about more than just music and Noz@Home is no different.
Mockingbird Cinema will provide a range of short films, Lavrak bring some late night burlesque naughtiness and there’s even a lunchtime cook-along with The Beefy Boys.
And for the mini festival-goer, there will be craft workshops from Spare Room Arts, Renegade beatbox workshop, kids poetry from Spoz, Yeleni family fun dance workshop and yoga and even the chance to make your own Dino Tail!
Nozstock is encouraging everyone to set a tent up in the garden, get those glow sticks out and get involved. nozstock.com
July 25 to August 1
Three Choirs Festival celebrates festival week online
This year’s Three Choirs Festival is going virtual, with a week full of memories of years gone by and other online treats.
There will be an online focus on festival memories and looking back at festivals past, with videos, archive photos, facts and anecdotes.
There will also be a look at Worcester’s role within the 300-year history of the Three Choirs Festival.
Festival artists will be reminiscing, as well as discussing the events and concerts that were programmed for this year, and audience members will be encouraged to contribute their own festival memories.
The Three Choirs Festival has had many pieces premièred over their long history.
To celebrate these, they are holding the Three Choirs Premières League on their Twitter page.
Anyone can vote for their favourites, and the final will be held on August 1.
There is also the chance to enter a competition with Three Choirs Festival and Ludlow Gin, and a celebratory virtual choir performance will be shared on the final day, closing out the week. www.visitworcestershire.org
Thursday, July 30, 7pm
Monty Don in conversation with Melissa Harrison
Monty Don, the nation’s favourite gardener, nature-lover and Patron of Herefordshire Wildlife Trust chats to author and nature writer Melissa Harrison about gardening with, and for, wildlife and the importance of nature to our lives.
Audience members will be sent a Zoom link shortly before the event begins.
The audience will be invited to submit questions when booking tickets.
This is a fundraising event for Herefordshire Wildlife Trust.
Any additional donation you may be able to make would be most welcome! To book, email: f.weeks@herefordshirewt.co.uk
Until Friday, August 28
Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre in Craven Arms
The centre will be running family activities on every weekday of the summer holidays, 1-2.30pm.
Communicate in different ways in the Code Makers and Breakers (4-11), make paper and an imprint from a leaf or flower on cloth in the Paper Making and Leaf Hammering (3-11) and make a stick house that can withstand the huff and puff test in the Three Little Pigs activity (3-11).
Booking advised.
All social guidelines will be adhered to and the sessions will take place outside, under cover. For further details call 01588 676060 or visit the website at www.shropshirehillsdiscoverycentre.co.uk
Summer holiday fun at Eastnor Castle
July 29 to August 2
Run away to the Circus Resident entertainer Thomas Trilby will be greeting you on his stilts and putting on shows throughout the day.
August 5 to August 9 Circus Bikes Thomas Trilby returns for a week of bicycle themed entertainment – look out for him on his penny farthing, stilt bicycle, vintage travelling cycle-circus show, tiny micro bike and unicycles throughout the day.
August 12 to August 16 Dinosaur Show Naughty Rex is back! Travel back in time with a life-like walking, roaring T-Rex! Shows throughout the day – sessions must be pre-booked.
September 5 Firework Championships (Deer Park event) A family event – four of the UK’s top firework companies fire 10-minute displays to music. Visit eastnorcastle.com for details of further events.
July 23 to 25
Pizza in the Park at Lemore Manor
There are 11 acres of gardens and grounds at Lemore and each group/family will have a designated picnic spot, for up to six people, naturally abiding with all the social distancing guidelines.
So, dust off your picnic blankets, dig out the candelabras, pack your cushions and prepare for your private setting at Lemore Manor.
Each day there will be a prize for the best-dressed picnic spots.
Delicious wood-fired pizzas with fresh toppings and a fully-stocked bar await you.
There is a £5 booking fee to reserve your space which is deducted from your total cost. To book, go to www.lemoremanor.com
July 31, 3pm Jumanji (12A) They thought their time in Jumanji was over, but when the gang get sucked back into the game, they realise nothing is the same and the nightmare has only just begun.
While meddling with the broken Jumanji game in his grandfather Eddie’s basement, though, Spencer the geeky student is sucked back into the dangerous universe – this time all alone.
Discovering Spencer has been taken by the game once more, Martha, Fridge and Bethany decide to jump back in too, in a desperate attempt to rescue their friend.
As the game throws a new, tougher adventure at the gang, they’ll have to brave parts unknown and learn to survive all over again if they’re to escape the next level alive. www.malvern-theatres.co.uk
August 14, 3pm
The Call of the Wild (PG) Living a carefree life in a large house in Santa Clara, California, Buck the dog enjoys his days unaware of what life could be in the world beyond his home.
That’s until he’s stolen and ripped away from all he knows.
Taken up to the Yukon, where the Gold Rush of the 1890s attracts many prospectors hoping to make a fortune, Buck is forced into arduous and perilous work that would break the spirit of many other dogs.
But not Buck. When he meets John Thornton, who claims to have come to Alaska to get away from everyone, his luck starts to turn around.
The new duo head out on a journey that will teach them what true friendship means and introduce Buck to the call of the wild. malvern-theatres.co.uk
Thursday, August 6, 2.30pm
Red Riding Hood from Northern Ballet
The Arts Alive ‘at home’ initiative has delivered theatre, dance and music straight in to our homes since performance spaces closed earlier this year.
Their next instalment seeks to introduce children to the magic of ballet, with Northern Ballet’s sweet retelling of Little Red Riding Hood.
Organisers believe it will provide a cultural afternoon activity for children during the summer holidays.
Family audiences can enjoy the show from home by collectively watching it online on Thursday, August 6 at 2.30pm.
Young viewers are then asked to draw a picture of a character from the Little Red Riding Hood ballet and send a photo of it to cerin@artsalive.co.uk so Arts Alive can feature the pictures on their Facebook page.
To watch the show visit www.artsalive.co.uk, select Northern Ballet’s Little Red Riding Hood event and follow the link.
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