Robin Hood Country has lots to offer for visitors
2018 is sure to see the spotlight fall on Nottinghamshire with a new Robin Hood film appearing in our cinemas this autumn.
So why not get under the skin of Robin Hood Country and experience all it has to offer? Experience Culture Beat the Streets is a brand-new festival from the organisers of Splendour. The festival will take place on January 28 with over 80 national and local acts including Sleaford Mods confirmed to play across the city in iconic venues such as Rock City, Rescue Rooms and Bodega. The festival profits will be donated to local Nottinghamshire charity, Framework, which works to improve the lives of homeless people.
Light Night is back and bigger than ever from 6pm on February 23. Light Night has always attracted visitors of all ages to see the city in a new light as for one evening it is transformed after dark.
The Grand Tour – Season 3. A partnership of Nottingham Contemporary, Chatsworth House, Derby Museums and The Harley Gallery, together with Visit Nottinghamshire and Visit Peak District & Derbyshire, have created a compelling cultural adventure that is a ‘Grand Tour’ for our own times. It offers a chance to see great houses, extraordinary art collections and romantic landscapes, interpreted anew by some of today’s most exciting contemporary artists.
The Nottingham Poetry Festival will be back between April 21-29 curated by UNESCO City of Literature Patron, Henry Normal. The festival will offer a packed sched- ule with many events across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire that will feature a great range of local and national Poets.
Hoodwinked - A Twist on the Tale will see Nottingham’s favourite hero, Robin Hood take over the over the summer months as a series of quirky sculptures are expected to pop up across the city centre and surrounding areas.
War Horse comes to Nottingham in March at the recently refurbished Theatre Royal Concert Hall. Outdoor Adventures Snowdrops at Hodsock Priory presents its winter extravaganza. Throughout February and March, the historic country house will become open its doors and invite the public to wander its five-acre formal gardens, as well as a further 12 acres of snowdrop and beech-covered woodland.
The Robin Hood Pageant will see Robin Hood, his Merry Men and a whole host of colourful characters will transport visitors back in time to 12th Century Nottingham on March 10-11. The Castle grounds will be transformed into a medieval village encampment, with period cooking to sample, traditional crafts, jesters, street theatre, music and puppet shows. Food & Drink Nottingham Craft Beer Week returns in May asking you to “discover your new favourite beer”.
Due to the £28m refurbishment at Nottingham Castle, The Great Food & Drink Festival will this year take place at the majestic Rufford Abbey on May 26-28. Sport As part of the pre-Wimbledon calendar, between June 9-17, the Nottingham Open Tennis based at the Nottingham Tennis Centre attracts tennis stars from around the world to compete in both women’s and men’s events.
Nottingham will host prospective Tokyo Olympians in June for the inaugural Accenture World Triathlon Mixed Relay Nottingham. Spectators will have the opportunity to witness some of the world’s top triathlon quartets swim the River Trent, before running and cycling around Victoria Embankment in their attempt to gain the first points on offer to qualify for the Olympics in 2020. Tickets will be released soon. Family Favourites Splendour Festival, Nottingham’s largest family friendly festival returns on July 21 to Nottingham’s historic Wollaton Park next summer. Previous acts include Jess Glynne, Madness, Calvin Harris, The Human League, Jake Bugg and the Kaiser Chiefs.
Visitors to Nottinghamshire’s world-famous Sherwood Forest will enjoy a new Visitor Centre in 2018 thanks to more than £5m of investment in the project. Due to open in August 2018, the new centre being delivered by a RSPBled partnership, will bring to life the medieval stories and history of the site, while also educating and inspiring visitors on the richness of the ancient woodlands, which are a site of specific scientific interest. A number of seasonal events will also take place in Sherwood Forest throughout the year, including the popular Robin Hood festival and the Major Oak woodland festival.
The Riverside Festival is Nottingham’s biggest free festival weekend taking place on August 3-5, with three jam-packed days of family entertainment including street theatre, live music, steam engines, a street fun fair plus food and drink stalls.
Nottingham’s Goose Fair will return between October 3-7 at the Forest Recreation Ground to thrill and delight city residents and visitors, with over 500 attractions.
Visit www.visit-nottinghamshire.co.uk for the Nottingham and Nottinghamshire’s official What’s On guide.