5 events in Suffolk not to be missed in May
WEIRD AND WONDERFUL WOOD, HAUGHLEY PARK, STOWMARKET, MAY 11-12
It's time to celebrate wood and its workers at this annual event that all the family can enjoy with its stalls, demonstrations, workshops, shows and live music.
Anticipation is building for the return of the award winning Weird and Wonderful Wood. Voted by festival goers as the Best Festival in Suffolk for the last two years, it hosts some of the UK's most skilled artists and craftsmen in wood, including instrument makers, designers, sculptors, furniture makers and many other wooden crafts. The crafts people will be demonstrating and selling their work.
Demonstration favourites include live chainsaw carving, pole lathe, wood turning, willow weaving, sawdust raku firings, plus many more.
Visitors can try their hand at many of the crafts and there are free workshops, including woodcarving, drumming, papermaking, spoke shave, hula hoop, aerial silks and circus skills.
There will be stilt walkers, jugglers and acrobats among others, and working in conjunction with The Bureau of Silly Ideas there will also be something to make everyone laugh around every corner.
Catch live music from Baghdaddies, Mark Chadwick from the Levellers, the Wilswood Bouys and Swervy World and many more.
For more information and tickets, see www.weirdandwonderfulwood.co.uk/tickets
BURY ST EDMUNDS SPRING FAYRE, MAY 26-27, 10am-4pm
The stars of this year’s fayre are sure to be the monster-sized Tyrannosaurus rex and Stegosaurus set to roam into the arc, with other attractions for the youngsters including the return of the popular beach outside Moyse’s Hall Museum, complete with Punch and Judy Show, fairground rides, virtual reality games and face painting.
As usual, there will be plenty to do in the arc and town centre with flower, plant and craft stalls, a vintage market, street entertainment and The Astronomy Association will return with a host of activities.
Pop down to Angel Hill for the flower, food and craft market featuring local producers .
The fayre is a free event, with most activities free to enjoy.
HELMINGHAM HALL, MAY 1-SEPTEMBER 30
Throughout the 2024 season, the gardens will host a curated collection of large-scale outdoor sculptures in copper, bronze, stone and steel by one of the UK’s leading garden sculptors, David Harber at Helmingham.
David Harber at Helmingham is included with standard entry price.
The gardens are open Sunday-Thursday, 10am-5pm.
Tickets from £9 (children £4.50, under 5s free). Book at www.helmingham.com
Spring Plant Fair and Artisan Market, May 26-27, 10am-5pm
Featuring more than 100 stalls from nurseries and garden accessory suppliers from across Suffolk and further afield, there will also be expert workshops, top tips and talks and the chance to explore a wide range of artisan makers offering food and drink, handmade crafts and homewares.
Tickets from £9 (children £4.50, under 5s free) available from www.helmingham.com
SUFFOLK SHOW, TRINITY PARK, IPSWICH, MAY 29-30
Get your fill of thrilling activities, shopping opportunities and free activities for all the family at the show which celebrates the county's farming and agricultural heart.
Visitors can experience what a day on the farm is like, meet local farmers, and learn more about skills and careers in agriculture Farm4Future zone. Children will love to get up close to the farmyard animals in the Farm Discovery Zone, and the popular Farming Live area returns to showcase giant machinery in action with the story of sugar beet.
Alongside the farming attractions, visitors will be treated to familiar favourites around the 300-acre site. The Adnams Food and Drink Experience is packed with more than 80 artisan producers, as well as boutique retail therapy on Dummett Copp Fifth Avenue, and action-packed ‘have a go’ activities in the Sports Zone. This year,there will be a new display by the Bentwaters Parks Trinity Ring as the show prepares to commemorate 80 years since the D-Day Normandy landings with the iconic Spitfire making an appearance.
There will be 12 competition rings with packed schedules of displays, including fthe Shetland Pony Grand National and Mascots Race, and the return of the RAF Falcons Parachute Display Team and the Red Devils Army Parachute Display Team.
For more information or to book, visit www.suffolkshow.co.uk
RED ROOSTER FESTIVAL, EUSTON HALL, MAY 30-JUNE 1
It's back and this year it's celebrating ten years of entertaining visitors with music and much more.
Get your fix of cajun, soul, rock 'n' roll, blues, roots and country music from a host of artists and bands.
Catch the least ever UK festival performance from Austin, Texas, royalty Asleep at The Wheel, who will be joined by Brennan Leigh and Joshua Hedley, Galen and Paul (Paul Simonen, legendary bassist of The Clash), Robert Finley, North Mississippi Allstars, Bobb Logg III - and too many more to mention.
Enjoy dance lessons, wild swimming and swan pedalos, visit the hot rod car display or learn how to give life to fire or carve spoons.
The list of activities for all ages, and even the family dog, is endless.
Discovery Channel and TV prehistoric survivalist Will Lord returns with his team to offer a fascinating array of displays of ancient carvings, flint knapping and more.
And when you finish with all the activities and fancy a little bit of relaxation, you can enjoy hand massages and a variety of other treatments which will be on offer.
To find out more and to book tickets, visit www.redrooster.org.uk
