August 2008

Plymouth Summer Festival

May to September 2008

An exciting calendar of local, national and international events has been unveiled as Plymouth launches its second Summer Festival.

The Plymouth Summer Festival brings together under one banner the huge range of maritime, music, arts and street events taking place in the city over the summer months.

Events this year include the National Fireworks Championships, stadium performances by Meat Loaf and Westlife, the Artemis Transat Race, the Honda Formula 4 Stroke powerboat race, top name concerts at Plymouth Pavilions and city centre highlights like the Olympic Live site, The Herald Motor Show and Plymouth Flavour Fest regional food and drink festival. There is also a vibrant programme of cultural and artistic events being hosted by the Theatre Royal, University of Plymouth, the Barbican Theatre and Plymouth Arts Centre plus the city’s very own Music of the Night in the open air at the Royal Citadel.

The festival will continue until the end of August by which time the city will have provided the stage for more than 25 major events, many of national significance, and dozens more fringe activities.

Visit the Plymouth Summer Festival website.

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A Fish Sale... Explored

Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery, Drake Circus
Throughout the month

A new exploration of the iconic Newlyn School painting, 'A Fish Sale on a Cornish Beach', by Stanhope Forbes - one of the most admired paintings in the Museum’s collections.

The exhibition will use photographs, natural history specimens and other archival material to bring the historic context surrounding the painting to life.

Admission to the exhibition is free. Opening hours are 10am to 5.30pm Tuesday to Friday and 10am to 5pm on Saturdays and Bank Holiday Mondays.

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Shell Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery, Drake Circus
Until 30 August 2008

A major exhibition of stunning wildlife photography with wide ranging appeal for all ages. Admission to the exhibition is free. Opening hours are 10am to 5.30pm Tuesday to Friday and 10am to 5pm on Saturdays and Bank Holiday Mondays.

Visit the Shell Wildlife Photographer of the Year page now to find out more about the Museum's 'Focus on Nature' photography competition and how your own images could be displayed alongside the exhibition this summer.

Shell Wildlife Photographer of the Year is owned by the Natural History Museum and BBC Wildlife Magazine.

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Sutton Harbour Festival Plymouth

Sutton Harbour/Plymouth Sound
26 July to 3 August 2008

This July promises to be one of the busiest in Plymouth’s nautical calendar. Between 26 July and 3 August Sutton Harbour will become a riot of colour and speed when hundreds of competitors take to the water in Plymouth Sound for the Plymouth Regatta. Plymouth’s historic Sutton Harbour also hosts the Classic Yacht Rally, and is expected to attract up to 100 sailing craft over the weekend of 1 to 3 August.

These boats will be moored alongside the yachts in Sutton Harbour to provide a splendid spectacle for all visitors, bringing the ancient cobbles of the Barbican alive with bustle and interest. The public will be able to get a close look at the boats when the flotilla is berthed in the harbour.

For further information contact David Larmour on 01752 830366 or 077853 63339.

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Bookable Holiday Workshops

Please call 01752 304774 to reserve your free place(s). Instructions and materials will be provided. Unless stated all sessions will take place at Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery, Drake Circus.

Fishy Words and Willow
Friday 1 August 2008

Come and enjoy some traditional fishy tales, then make a willow sculpture inspired by what you’ve heard.

Fisherfolk Peg Dolls
Thursday 7 August 2008

Make your own fisherfolk from wooden pegs.

Wild Art in the Garden: Paper Plants
Wednesday 13 August 2008
Diggin' It, Penlee Valley Allotments, Raynham Road, Stoke

Create your own plants by combining flowers and grasses.

Wild Art in the Garden: Animal Images
Thursday 14 August 2008
Diggin' It, Penlee Valley Allotments, Raynham Road, Stoke

Create paintings of wild animals.

Fat Fish
Wednesday 20 August 2008

Make your own soft sculptured, embroidered fish out of all sorts!

What a Catch!
Thursday 21 August 2008

Make woven fish baskets and sea creatures from reclaimed materials.

Star Gazey-Pie
Wednesday 27 August 2008

Come and make some fun art based on the 'A Fish Sale on a Cornish Beach' painting and the 'Mousehole Cat' story.

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Free National Play Day at West Hoe Park

Wednesday 6 August, 11am and 3pm
West Hoe Park

Join the fun at Plymouth’s twelfth annual National Play Day at West Hoe Park from 11am until 3pm where kids and parents can sumo wrestle, slide down a zip-line, scale a climbing wall and enjoy many more adventurous activities for free!

The day is organised locally by Plymouth City Council and is supported by the National Lottery, Plymouth Play Association and other community organisations providing services for children and young people. This year’s theme is 'Give us a go!'

Everyone is welcome to the free event. All children must be accompanied by a responsible adult. For more information call 01752 307021.

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Fish, Ships and Wonderful Wildlife

Wednesday 6 August 2008, 10.30am to 12 noon and 1.30pm to 3pm
Plymouth Guildhall, Armada Way

Join staff from Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery for a big family-friendly activity day in the heart of the city centre. Create seaside postcards, scrap ships and origami boats, decorate our sail, and have a go at knitting, ropes and knots. Explore your creativity with wild animal masks and colourful creatures. Lots of fun things to do, see and make!

Drop in for as little or as long as you like. All we ask is that you are prepared to wait a short while if sessions are busy as, in such circumstances, activities will be organised on a first come, first served basis. No need to book in advance. Last entries at 11.45am and 2.45pm. Admission is free.

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British Fireworks Championships

Plymouth Hoe
Tuesday 12 and Wednesday 13 August 2008

The city of Plymouth is once again delighted to host the British Fireworks Championships.

Six more fireworks companies battle it out over two nights for the title of Fireworks Champion of Great Britain bringing the night skies alight with colour.

Plymouth Hoe is a magnificent arena for the competition offering stunning views over Plymouth Sound and is a superb vantage point for viewing the competition.

More information to follow.

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Flavour Fest

15 August to 17 August 2008
Piazza and Armada Way

Plymouth Flavour Fest is once more set to take place on the City Centre’s Piazza over the weekend of 15, 16 and 17 August 2008.

With over 120 of the region’s best food producers expected to take part, Flavour Fest 2008 promises to be a culinary extravaganza not to be missed.

Once again the Piazza will be turned into a bustling continental-style market, full of colour and the smells of delicious food being prepared. If this isn’t enough to tempt your taste buds the cookery theatre will be hosting demonstrations by local and nationally acclaimed chefs.

There will also be some new ‘not to be missed’ additions to the event. Watch these pages over the coming months for further information.

Traders wishing to book a stall at Plymouth Flavour Fest should email citycentre@plymouth.gov.uk for details.

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International Lighthouse Day

Smeaton's Tower, The Hoe
Saturday 16 August 2008, 10am to 12 noon (last entry at 11.30am) and 1pm to 4pm (last entry at 3.30pm)

Help us mark the sixth anniversary of this international event at one of Plymouth's most well known landmarks!

Meet our 18th century lighthouse keeper and pick up one of our free lighthouse-themed activity sheets. Standard admission charges apply. No need to book in advance. For enquiries contact the Museum on 01752 304774.

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Sea Cadet Band Concert

Plymouth Hoe
Saturday 23 August 2008, 1pm to 5.30pm

Sea cadets from all over the UK will be taking part in the national finals of their bi-annual national band concert.

With every entrant having won through their regional finals, this event showcases the very best sea cadet musicians in the country.

There are ten trophies up for grabs, in categories such as the best solo drummer, best solo bugler, best dressed band, best composition and best premier class band.

The event is free and fun for all the family, so why not come along and tap your toes to some nautical tunes.

To find out more about the sea cadets, please visit the Marine Society and Sea Cadets website or telephone 020 7654 7000.

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Victorian Holidays

Merchant's House, 33 St Andrew Street
Thursday 28 August 2008, 10.30am to 12 noon and 1.30pm to 3pm

The Victorians loved their seaside holidays! Try on costumes, watch a 'Punch and Judy' show and listen to Queen Victoria herself as she tells stories of her reign. Plus, explore our themed rooms to find out more about the Victorian era in Plymouth. No need to book in advance. Standard admission applies.

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