There's plenty going on this weekend including a fossil festival on one of the best Jurassic coastlines in the UK, an outdoor production of Shakespeare in the grounds of one stately home, a tea party and mouse hunt for young visitors and their parents and a further chance to take a peek into some artists' workshops as the open studios event continues.
Scarborough Fossil Festival from Thursday, June 17th - Sunday, June 20th. Events and activities for all including experts from the Natural History Museum who will descend on Scarborough to share their knowledge on all things palaeontological. See the preview below.
Artrageous in the Summer at Beningborough Hall on Sunday, June 20th. Get your creative juices flowing at these fun art workshops. The hall itself houses a large collection of paintings in partnership with the National Gallery and the popular Making Faces Gallery is always popular with kids as they get to make their own portrait here. There's a playground and lovely walled garden too.
Won't be Long at Helmsley Arts Centre on Friday, June 18th & Sat, June 19th. The 1812 Youth Theatre, made up of young people, aged 9 to 18, is putting on a production telling the story of children who were evacuated from their urban homes to new lives in the countryside.
Much ado about Nothing on Saturday, June 19th at 7pm - an open air production at Nunnington Hall.
Midsummer Tea Party and Mouse Hunt - Sat & Sun, June 19th/20th from 10.30am-4pm - Enjoy tea and cakes, a mouse hunt for the kids and the chance to explore the creative architecture of five churches in the area.
North Yorkshire Open Studios continues over the weekend of the 19th/20th June.
FILMS
Malton Cinema is showing Sunshine Cleaning, Tooth Fairy, Robin Hood, Furry Vengeance, Sex and the City 2, and from Friday, The Kite Runner.
PREVIEW
Scarborough Fossil Festival
This weekend's highlight has to be the very first Scarborough Fossil Festival in an event taking place at the Rotunda Museum and neighbouring art gallery. We've really enjoyed visits to both these places in the past and as we live so close to one of the best coastlines in Britain for fossil forays, it's really worth making the trip.
As well as talks that will appeal to older children and adults, there's also the chance to get your own fossils identified by the team from London's Natural History Museum and to see some of their rare geological finds. The talks include information about the Scelidosaurus, Britain's oldest preserved dinosaur, and also a look at how we recreate what dinosaurs looked like.
The North East Geology Trust will be on hand at Scarborough Library where you can make your own dinosaur and learn more about these ancient creatures.
A series of walks where you can learn about the geology of South Bay will leave from the Rotunda at 10.30am and 2.30pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Entry to most of these events is free.
REVIEW
Hovingham Market and Ampleforth Gala
A few friends had mentioned how good the Saturday market in Hovingham is, so last weekend we decided to pop by to see what was on offer.
The market, which was originally given its charter in 1252, reopened last September after a break of 156 years and it has already got a good name for itself. The car park in Hovingham was teaming by the time we arrived mid morning and the market was in full swing.
The stalls are spread out in the grounds of the village hall with more stalls inside, plus tea, coffee and cake. Whether you are searching for edibles to take home and savour or gifts for friends and family, this is an ideal place to do some searching. I liked the stall selling prints and posters of Yorkshire sayings and illustrated maps of Yorkshire and another selling cheeses and cheese dishes made by a local artist at very reasonable prices. A chap from Wykeham, near Scarborough, also sells a huge range of fresh and dried Oyster mushrooms.
Selina Scott, who has a farm in Coxwold, has a stall selling the most beautiful soft and colourful socks for both adults and children. Again, prices were good and how lovely it would feel to encase your feet in these rather than a pair of traditional walking socks.
I was with my mum and two boys so we had a picnic in the nearby playground which has opened opposite the old site. Its phase one is in place and phase two will include a climbing frame and toddler swings. Sadly, we hadn't bought good paddling shoes with us so splashing in the brook wasn't an option, plus we were onto other things. so needed dry clothes.
We headed on to Ampleforth Gala, an annual village fete aimed at raising money for more playground equipment. For a village event this was quite impressive. There was the usual bouncy castle and face painting but also a circus workshop which the boys loved, especially getting to grips with the diablo. There were feathered and furry visitors in the form of eagles and alpacas too.
Another hit with my brood was the stall where they had to throw a very soggy sock at a target and if it hit the centre it tipped a person (volunteers who seemed quite happy to be doing it)! into a tub of water. Probably a bit unfair but my youngest son was allowed to almost touch the target. Not so fair for the person on the ducking seat!
We rounded off the day with tea and cake at Ampleforth Abbey cafe and a stroll in the grounds. This is review in itself so one I'll return to. (Next Hovingham Market, Saturday, July 3rd at 10.30am-4pm)
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