Get Flaming June off to a roaring start
FLAMING June is nearly upon us – and the first real month of summer is packed with exciting events for all the family. Here we round up just a few of them…
JANE AUSTEN REGENCY WEEK, HAMPSHIRE
With 2017 marking the 200th anniversary of author Jane Austen’s death, the Jane Austen Regency Week in hampshire takes on special significance.
the annual nine-day festival is held in the Austen villages of Chawton and Alton between June 17 and 25.
this year the festival is offering 29 separate events celebrating the life and work of the author.
in addition to talks, walks, teas and garden tours, there will be plenty of Regency-style celebrations. the Alton Regency Ball actively encourages participants to come dressed in period costume, while the hampshire Regency Players string trio will provide live music to accompany the festivities, and the hampshire Regency Dancers will be on hand to provide demonstrations and assistance for those hoping to master Regency-era dance steps.
SHREWSBURY FOOD FESTIVAL, SHROPSHIRE
theRe will be no shortage of fabulous fare on offer at Shrewsbury’s food festival on June 24 and 25. the festival celebrates Shropshire’s local restaurants, producers and craftspeople and includes live demonstrations by top local chefs as well as plenty of opportunities to practise and improve your own cookery skills.
there will be an on-site chef school curated by Chris Burt, knifeskills courses to get you up to speed on chopping and dicing, and the Shropshire Brewer will reveal the secrets of creating your own beer.
Non-culinary events are plentiful, too. An animal area will feature longhorn cattle, alpacas and piglets, and their owners will be there to talk about how they are reared on farms. A line-up of local musicians will also perform on the #shropshireunsigned music stage.
THE GREAT ESTATE FESTIVAL, CORNWALL
the first Great estate Festival will be held in the magnificent grounds of Scorrier house, situated inland from one of the most stunning stretches of North Cornwall’s coast.
taking place from June 2 to 4, headline acts include echo And the Bunnymen, electric Swing Circus and the Craig Charles Funk And Soul Show. there’s also classic cabaret from talulah Blue – a burlesque, fire and hula hoop performer.
the festival will feature camel-racing, secret gardens serving gin, and silent woodland discos carrying on until the wee hours. the festival is a chilled-out affair with an on-site wellness area called the Sanctuary offering woodfired hot tubs, spa and massage treatments, morning yoga sessions, and guided meditation classes.