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Family Events Not to be Missed This Summer 2022!


You're in for a summer of fun in Bury St Edmunds!

From outdoor theatre and cinema, to festivals, fairs and exhibitions, plan a summer of fun in Bury St Edmunds & Beyond!

Kentwell Hall's Magic Weekend - 23 & 24 July

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From sorcery and trickery to alchemy and fairies, come for a day of interactive magical family fun in the Enchanted Gardens at Kentwell Hall on 23 & 24 July.

The House and Gardens will be open, with the magic spread out among the 30 acres of enchanting gardens and grounds, with a surprise around every corner.

Over 50 of Kentwell's magical characters provide a fully interactive experience, spread throughout the buildings, gardens, farm and woodlands. The Ministry for Magic can confirm that it will be a fun day out for the whole family! Why not add to the fun and dress your little witches, wizards, elves, pixies and fairies up for their visit?!

There are also over thirty acres of gardens to explore - abundant and alive with blooms, greenery and blossom everywhere. An active, outdoor day out for explorers of all ages - a breath of fresh air for everyone!

For more information visit https://www.kentwell.co.uk/eve...

Our Bury St Edmunds Motorsport East - 24 July

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Head to Bury St Edmunds and enjoy this exciting, free entry, outdoor, family event, taking place throughout the town centre from 10am - 4pm.

In addition to the Cornhill & Buttermarket being filled with over 65 competition cars representing many disciplines of motorsport you will have a rare opportunity to drive for free an F1 Stealth Formula 1 Racer simulator and Children’s Bumper Carz, both will be in Charter Square, arc shopping centre.

Laura Cooledge, Rally Co-Driver and Women in Motorsport Ambassador, will also be attending! So, whether you just enjoy having a bit of fun or have more of a competitive streak if you to test your driving skills on the F1 Stealth Racer simulator there will be gift card prizes for the three podium places to be won.

Many of the various disciplines contained within the UK Motorsport programme will be represented, with several of the local motor clubs included, ready to give advice in whatever aspect of the sport interests you. And back by popular demand there is a chance to meet Arthur Debenham, Rallycross Commentator and Motorsport Correspondent for The Bury Free Press.

Party at the Palace - 23 July

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Step back in time and immerse yourself in the decadence of the restoration period as the Palace House Estates bring it to life with a multi-sensory, living history event, recreating the era through re-enactment, sights, sounds, tastes and smells.

Listen to the costumed musicians playing songs and ballads on instruments from the 1670s, including a number of original songs about Newmarket, horse-racing and King Charles II.

Join in with country dancing! Dancers will be on hand to demonstrate and teach you the steps and have fun with 17th century children’s games, including dice and sword play.

Did you know the figure who later became Mr. Punch made his first recorded appearance in England on 9th May 1662? Always a favourite with the kids, there will a Punch and Judy show!

The Bakery will have a fabulous variety of baked products for you to enjoy in the beautiful grounds and The Tack Room features the best of British produce, showcasing seasonal and local produce.

There will also be ice creams and a selection of heritage ales and Pimms.

For more information visit https://www.nhrm.co.uk/

Open Air Theatre - The Reluctant Dragon - 26 July

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Everyone knows St George has to do battle with the dragon, but what happens when the dragon simply won’t fight St George?

Quantum Theatre presents Kenneth Grahame’s The Reluctant Dragon, in the enchanting setting of West Stow Anglo Saxon Village. An enchanting tale of a poetry-loving dragon and his friendship with a little boy who together hatch a cunning plan to NOT fight St George!

Please bring chairs and blankets with you, pack a picnic and dress for the weather, it is the British summer after all!

Times: 2pm-4pm and 6.30pm-8.30pm

For more information visit https://www.weststow.org/

100,000th LegoⓇ Brick Family Activity Day! - 27 July

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Join St Edmundsbury Cathedral for their 100,000th LEGO Brick Family Activity Day!

To celebrate hitting the halfway point on the Cathedral LEGO model, there's a fun day of LEGO related activities taking place for the whole family. Be creative with LEGO – build statues, stained glass windows, pews, St Edmund! (Bricks provided), add a brick to the Cathedral model, follow a special trail around the Cathedral, end enjoy LEGO-themed refreshments.

Be sure not to miss the 100,000th brick being placed on the large Cathedral model at 11am!

No booking necessary, just come along and enjoy the fun!

Open Air Theatre - Awful Auntie - 2 & 23 August

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Head to the stunning surroundings of West Stow Anglo Saxon Village and the Abbey Gardens in Bury St Edmunds and watch the truly thrilling tale of Awful Auntie by David Walliams, adapted for the outdoor stage by Heartbreak Productions.

Owls, ghosts, chases, escapes, motorcycle rides, and tiddlywinks all fill Stella’s days as she evades her menacing Aunt and saves the family home. Make sure you bring a blanket or chair to sit on, weather-appropriate gear, and a picnic, as the tale could take some time to tell, and storytelling can be hungry work!

West Stow Anglo Saxon Village - 2 August - for more information visit https://www.whatsonwestsuffolk...

Abbey Gardens - 23 August - for more information visit https://www.whatsonwestsuffolk...

Alice in Wonderland at Ickworth - 5 August

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National Trust Ickworth welcomes K.D Theatre this summer as they present the children's classic 'Alice in Wonderland'.

Join Alice down the rabbit hole in her magical adventures through Wonderland in this brand-new open-air adaptation of Lewis Carroll’s family favourite ‘Alice In Wonderland.’
Discover the madness of the tea party and meet the Mad Hatter, The White Rabbit, Cheshire Cat and the Queen of Hearts plus many larger-than-life characters along Alice’s journey.

This exciting and playful take on the tale features a professional cast of energetic performers, catchy new songs and lots of humour that will entertain and delight the whole family! Don’t be late for this very important date!

Start time: 6pm

For more information visit https://www.nationaltrust.org....

Open Air Theatre - The Tale of Peter Rabbit & Benjamin Bunny - 9 & 16 August

Peter Rabbit

Join Peter Rabbit and Benjamin on their hair-raising adventures in this enchanting adaptation of the much loved Beatrix Potter classic - A treat for all the family at West Stow Anglo Saxon Village and the Abbey Gardens in Bury St Edmunds.

Peter Rabbit and his naughty cousin Benjamin know very well that they are not to go into Mr McGregor’s garden, but they cannot resist and soon they find themselves face to face Mr McGregor himself! How will they ever escape?

Please bring chairs and blankets with you, pack a picnic and dress for the weather, it is the British summer after all!

9 August - West Stow Anglo Saxon Village - For more information visit https://www.weststow.org/whats...

16 August - Abbey Gardens - For more information visit https://www.whatsonwestsuffolk...

Film Festival - Throwback Thursday - 18 August

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Head to the atmospheric Abbey Gardens and enjoy an evening of Family Classics: Jumanji and E.T. as part of Bury St Edmunds Film Festival.

With 2-4-1 offer across each day, you can bring the family too as with every adult ticket, a child goes free.

For more information visit https://www.whatsonwestsuffolk...

Snot, Blood & Bones: An Acting Masterclass for Little Explorers - 19 August

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Budding actors can enjoy a FREE acting masterclass with The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) trained actor, Hatty Ashton!

As part of the Abbey 1000 celebrations author and actor, Hatty Ashton, will use her ‘Edmund’ themed books as a platform to teach performance skills and create participants own versions of the legends! All in a grotty, fun, and family friendly way!

Suitable for ages 7-13. There are two workshops, 10am - 12pm and 1pm - 3pm.

Parents must stay at The Apex (Café/Seating area) during the class and be contactable via mobile phone. Booking is essential!

For more information visit https://www.theapex.co.uk/what...


Film Festival - Kids Club - 19 August

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Head to the atmospheric Abbey Gardens and enjoy an afternoon of Family favourites, Encanto and Aladdin as part of Bury St Edmunds Film Festival.

With 2-4-1 offer across each day, you can bring the family too as with every adult ticket, a child goes free.

Kids Club : Gate open from 12pm

Encanto - 1pm

Aladdin - 3pm

For more information visit https://www.whatsonwestsuffolk...

Hands On History Days at Kentwell Hall - 13 - 18 August

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For a family day out with a difference, visit the manor lost in time - step back to the year 1549, where you will find out that history is anything but boring!

Kentwell's skilled living-history experts provide a fully interactive experience, with so many activities, spread throughout the house, gardens, farm and woodlands.

Join in with the activities - crafts and cooking, music and dancing and meet a whole community going about everyday life, as if you had travelled in time back to the year 1549.

Spend a whole day lost in the sights, sounds and smells of the sixteenth century!

For more information visit https://www.kentwell.co.uk/

Harvest Time at West Stow - 20 - 22 August

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West Stow Anglo Saxon Village's own re-enactment group 'Stowacynn', part of the Friends of West Stow, will be in the Village over this August weekend to do cooking and baking celebrating the harvest.

Watch as they undertake daily life activities will include forge work, storytelling and maybe even some weaving and dyeing.

For more information visit https://www.weststow.org/

Kentwell's History Festival - 27 - 29 August

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Explore pockets of history from a range of different eras brought to life by Kentwell’s skilled living historians, spread throughout the buildings, gardens, farm and woodlands. Spend a whole day immersed in history at Kentwell and travel through time.

For nearly 40 years, Kentwell concentrated on presenting one period at a time, so it was not a huge leap to have a whole range of historic eras here at once. Travel from the bronze age to the 1970s, with each time period in its own individual setting, all properly equipped and costumed, and with activities appropriate to each individual period.

An excellent and stimulating combination of history and nostalgia, over 2000 years of history in one place, on one day - only at Kentwell!

For more information visit https://www.kentwell.co.uk/

The Secret Garden - 19 August - 8 September

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Frances Hodgson Burnett’s classic tale of friendship is lovingly re-told by Nicola Werenowska at Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds, featuring a cast of local young people supported by a team of professional actors and industry professionals.

Mary Lennox arrives at Missellthwaite Manor – a house on the edge of a moor; a house with a hundred rooms, nearly all shut up and with their doors locked; a house full of secrets.

Her uncle, Mr Craven, keeps himself shut up in the West Wing – a man with his own secrets to keep. Mary hates this place. Until she meets Martha, Dickon, and old Ben Weatherstaff, who teach her about the moors and the creatures who live there… And about a garden – a garden that remains locked. Mary starts to settle into life in her new home until one night she hears the sound of a child crying. Does Missellthwaite Manor have one more secret to tell?

For more information visit https://theatreroyal.org/shows...


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