‘There’s plenty of entertainment and a full-on musical line-up at Glass Butter Beach’
Watch a historic battle at Whittington Castle
Why not learn something new? Fancy doing a bit of stargazing? Solarsphere is an astronomical and music festival that takes place in mid Wales from 12th-15th August. With solar and astronomical observing, astronomical talks and workshops, a Cosmos Wenlock Festival at the Edge incorporates storytelling, music, Planetarium, plus stalls and crafts, plenty of art, poetry and workshops music and events such as fancy dress parties, this fun and educational weekend is great for the whole family. Visit solarsphere.events Glass Butter Beach is a festival that gives you the opportunity to try something new, whether it’s wake boarding, fly boarding or surfing. As well as a host of water-based activities, there’s plenty of entertainment and a full-on musical line up at the event, from 19th-21st August in Llanbedrog, Abersoch. Visit glassbutterbeach.com Want to hear some tall tales? Festival at the Edge, at Wenlock Edge from 15th-17th July, is the oldest storytelling festival in England, and Discover inter-planetary wonders has a packed programme of events for all age groups. With storytellers from all over the world, at the Solarsphere festival plus practical workshops, story rounds, informal music sessions, bonfire sessions and a special children’s festival running alongside it, this is a family event with a difference. Visit www.festivalattheedge.org The new Bluedot Festival takes place at Jodrell Bank in Cheshire from 22nd24th July and features music, science, arts, technology, culture, food and film, all taking place in the shadow of the iconic observatory. The headline acts on the main stage include electronic duo Underworld, the godfather of electronic music Jean-Michel Jarre, and Caribou. Meanwhile, beneath the MK II radio telescope, affectionally known as ‘42’ due to its 42ft diameter (which Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy fans will know as the answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything), you’ll find the Restaurant at the End of the Universe, where there’ll be three menus available from Aiden Byrne’s curated exploration of g’astronomy, a Stargazers Feast and a hearty Sunday Lunch. Visit discoverthebluedot.com
Travel back in time A host of history festivals take place across the region over the summer, when you can see demonstrations, re-enactments and parades at some of the most fascinating historical sites in the country. These educational, fun and immersive days are a great way to discover your local history in new and different ways. From 30th-31st July you can find out about many aspects of the story of Whittington Castle in Shropshire during its multi-period Living History Weekend. Over the course of the weekend, the House of Black Star re-enactment group will be performing displays from medieval times through to the Second World War. ‘Events like these are a great way to absorb history,’ says Sue Ellis of Whittington Castle Preservation Trust, ‘The performers are passionate and really engage visitors. It’s a fun, interactive day out for all the family.’ This extensive Marches castle provides the perfect setting for such a festival, with its roots See the knights at Beeston dating right back to Norman times. Visit whittingtoncastle.co.uk At Beeston Castle in Cheshire, the Knights Tournament on 30th-31st July will see noble warriors taking on the ultimate medieval contest. Swords will be wielded, archery skills tested and helmets battered as the men are put to the test in each nail-biting round. It’s a chance to soak up the sights and sounds of daily life in a medieval encampment and smell the food cooked on an open fire. Children can feel the weight of real armour and burn off energy in battle drills. Visit english-heritage.org.uk y July/August 2016 yattaryattar magazine 69
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