Special Events
Set in the beautiful surroundings of the Museum, special event days are packed with entertainment and interest for all the
family.
Admission to special events is included in the standard Museum admission
price with the exception of the Recorder Concert and the Ruby Anniversary
Celebrations
For the latest
news on specific events
click
here.
To view a
downloadable copy of our events leaflet
click
here
|
Trade Stands
At a number of our
events we offer space for trade stands.
To view or download an information pack
click here
[Home]
Days for Children
Running out of ideas on how to occupy your children in the school
holidays? Why not try one of our Children's Activity Days packed with things
to do?
Children, (and their parents and carers!) can try their hand at
an astonishing range of arts, crafts, activities
and games which take place amongst the Museum's buildings.
|
|
WINTER WEEK - HALF TERM
ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN
15-19 February 2010
11.00am - 3.00pm
|
Grooming |
Lino Printing |
Rag Rugging |
Nature Table |
|
Put on your winter woollies and wellies, come to the Museum and warm up
with a week of creative activities and countryside skills: outdoor trails,
arts, crafts and ideas to inspire accompanied children of all ages. From
11am – 3pm, under cover if wet.
Details
[Index of Events]
[Home]
|
OPEN HOUSE ON MOTHERING SUNDAY
14 March 2010
10.30am - 4.00pm
|
 |
A special spring
day to welcome visitors old and new at the start of the season! £2
entry for everyone, plus our traditional bunch of daffodils for mothers and
grandmothers! |
|
[Index of Events]
[Home]
|
EASTER ACTIVITIES
4-5 April 2010
11am - 4.00pm
Two days of activities
and Easter celebrations, with a bonnet competition and parade on the Monday.
The school holiday period is a delightful time for a visit, with spring in
the air, newborn lambs, and horses at work on seasonal tasks.
[Index of Events]
[Home]
WONDERFUL EASTER WEDNESDAYS
7 & 14 April 2010
Hands-on activities, crafts and games to occupy
accompanied children of all ages. All activities run 11 – 4pm.
[Index of Events]
[Home]
|
FOOD AND FARMING
FAIR
2-3
May 2010
10.30am - 5.00pm
|
More pictures
Newspaper article
|
|
A wonderful choice of quality fare to sample
and buy from the local producers of the south east, plus tastings, cookery
classes and demonstrations. Around 80 stands will feature a stunning array
of produce, from wines, sauces, ciders and beers to meat, cheese, ice cream,
cakes and confectionery: all located in and among the historic buildings on
the Museum’s site. The Food Fair will also feature displays, demonstrations
and activities celebrating many aspects of downland farming |
'SPRING INTO ACTION'
- Half Term Activities for Children
31 May - 4 June 2010
11.00am – 4.00pm
Come and enjoy springtime in the countryside. Try
Victorian household tasks, learn about the natural world, and enjoy arts,
crafts, games and much more. For accompanied children of all ages, under
cover if wet.
[Index of Events]
[Home]
|
HEAVY HORSE AND WORKING
ANIMALS SHOW
5-6 June 2010 10.30am - 5pm
|
More pictures
|
|
One of the south’s biggest gatherings of
heavy horses: two unforgettable days of display and demonstrations of horses
at work on traditional tasks, and a wide variety of other working animals in
action. There’s continuous ringside commentary and a parade of horses at the
end of each day, plus a chance to meet the animals and their proud owners.
View Podcast of previous event
If you enjoy the weekend you could always try your hand on one of
our Heavy Horse
Experience Courses!
|
[Index of Events]
[Home]
FATHERS DAY
20 June 2010 10.30am - 5pm
Toys For The Boys! A chance for dad (and the rest of the family!) to try
some unusual and challenging countryside activities. Drive a vintage
tractor, try archery, air rifles and work with the Shire horses.
[Index of Events]
[Home]
OPEN
AIR THEATRE
Groundling Theatre performances
Tuesday 6th July
The Unfinished Fairytale Kids Show. 1pm Matinee
Tuesday 6th July
Much Ado About Nothing. 7pm evening performance
Thursday 8th July
The Unfinished Fairytale Kids Show. 1pm Matinee
Thursday 8th July
Macbeth. 7pm evening performance
For details visit
www.groundlings.co.uk.
Box Office 02392 737 370
[Index of Events]
[Home]
HAMPSHIRE RECORDER SINFONIA EVENING CONCERT
7 July 2010
A delightful evening concert from
this acclaimed local Sinfonia, whose sound reflects the beauty of the
English countryside through this wonderful musical medium. (Ticketed
Event)
[Index of Events]
[Home]
EARLY MUSIC AFTERNOON
11 July 2010
2.00pm to 6pm.
|
More pictures
|
|
Song and
dance from medieval, Tudor and Stuart times in the wonderful setting of our
historic buildings. Come just to listen or join in the dancing!
[Index of Events] [Home]
|
RARE BREEDS SHOW
18 July 2010 10.30am - 5pm
|
More pictures
|
|
Four legs, furry legs, feathered legs…
come and see over 500 cattle, sheep, pigs, goats and
poultry in this delightful agricultural show for rare and traditional breeds
of farm animals. With prizes at stake, and classes for young handlers, it’s
one of the biggest shows of its kind in the south east and hugely popular
with visitors and exhibitors alike. Plus craft and trade stands with a
countryside theme.
View
Podcast of previous event
Information for entrants to the show
|
|
|
[Index of Events] [Home]
'WONDERFUL WEDNESDAYS'
-
Holiday Activities for Children
28 July - 25 August 2010 11.00am – 4.00pm
|
ST ROCHE
SERVICE ON THE TRUNDLE
16 August 2010
A free open air service on the site of
the chapel of St Roche, patron saint of healing. Meet at the Trundle
near Goodwood Racecourse, transport up the hill will be provided if
needed.
News Release
[Index of Events] [Home]
STEAM
FESTIVAL
14-15 August 2010 10.30am -
5pm
|
 |
All the bustle and excitement of a
Steam Festival, with steam engines on display and demonstrating the kind of
work around the Museum’s site for which they were originally designed. With
steam rollers, steam lorries, model boats, miniature railways and engines,
and the ever-popular steam-powered carousel gallopers. The sights of the
engines and the sound of the music will awaken memories for many and open
doors of discovery for younger visitors! Plus trade stands to browse and
buy.
View Podcast of previous event
[Index of Events] [Home]
|
 |
RUBY ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS
4-5 September 2010
10.30am - 5.00pm
This year's Extra Special Event - The Ruby
Anniversary Weekend takes place on 4 & 5 September and now for the first
time you can order tickets online for delivery to your door or for
collection from the Museum Reception.
To order Ruby Weekend Tickets:
Click Here
A weekend of wonderful activities celebrating the
Museum’s 40th anniversary year. There will be things to do for all the
family over the two days, including a Community carnival, arena events,
music and entertainment. There will be an evening lantern parade and
bonfire party, with lanterns made by children during the summer Wonderful
Wednesdays.
Skinners Horse
Kangaroos Gymnastic Team
Sheep Show
Red Devils
This will be a spectacular weekend of
celebrations, displays, rides, competitions, music and entertainment for
all the family. There will be displays of heavy horses and vintage
vehicles; Horton’s Steam Fair will bring a vintage carousel and
other traditional rides, and Haredown Mountain Boarders will be
running demonstrations and instruction sessions – come along and have a go
if you dare! The 3 Sixty Bicycle Stunt Team are sure to thrill with
their daredevil antics, and there will be arena events including displays
from the world record holding Kangaroos Gymnastic Display Team who
will be vaulting, leaping, somersaulting and even comically entertaining
the crowds; there will be a fantastic mounted display from Skinners
Horse Victorian re-enactors, and the St Giles steam-driven
horse-drawn fire engine with firemen in period costume will be putting
out fires.
There is a Horticultural Show
(details
and entry form) and
you can buy a ticket for a helicopter flight. And don’t miss the
chance to find out about all things sheepish with the highly entertaining
‘Sheep Show’ (4 shows per day) which includes dancing sheep!
There will also be a Community
carnival around the Museum on Saturday at 1pm with contributions from
local schools, groups, and other organisations. Also on Saturday, the
Razzle Dazzle Cheerleaders will entertain the audience, and Spirit FM
who are supporting the event will be doing a live outside broadcast from
10am – 2pm. On Saturday evening there will be a lantern parade and
bonfire party, with lanterns made by children during ‘Wonderful
Wednesday’ activity days earlier in the summer. There will be music, and a
delicious hog roast and beer tent to keep you refreshed!
In addition to the above, on Sunday the
world-famous Red Devils will be dropping in at 2pm; West Sussex
Fire Brigade will be bringing along their information fire engine, and
Chainsaw Artist Peter Leadbeater will be displaying his
extraordinary skill.
Here’s a list of exactly what’s on!
(Subject to change)
 | Kangaroos Gymnastic Display Team |
| The Sheep Show: 4 displays a day |
| 3 Sixty Bicycle Stunt Team
|
| Skinners Horse Victorian Gymkhana and
living history camp |
| Parade of heavy horses |
| St Giles historic fire engine display |
| Horticultural show |
| Helicopter pleasure fights
(additional charge applies) |
| Vintage rides and carousel
|
| Maypole dancing |
| Mountain boarding |
| Children’s activities and traditional
games |
| Wooden model making |
| Trade stands, traditional crafts and
demonstrations |
| Vintage tractor displays |
| Coconut shy |
| Flag making |
| Welly boot throwing |
| Quilt display and needlework group |
| Meet the Tudor Group historical
re-enactors |
| Furniture display by students of
Chichester College |
| Face painting |
| Working donkeys |
Saturday only
| Razzle Dazzle Cheerleaders Display |
| Community Carnival 1pm |
| Spirit FM live outside broadcast 10am
- 2pm |
| Saturday evening lantern parade and
bonfire party 6pm onwards:
 | Music |
| Hog roast |
| Beer tent |
| Lantern parade |
| Bonfire and entertainment |
| Vintage rides |
|
Sunday only
| Red Devils air display 2pm |
| Peter Leadbeater – chainsaw artist
timed displays |
| West Sussex Fire Brigade static
Information unit |
| Friends Grand Draw |
[Index of Events] [Home]
|
40th Anniversary
Horticultural Show
Over the weekend we are having a Horticultural Show and
wish to invite Horticultural Societies and the like to mount a display in
or near the tent. Please pass the word to
any such group you know and ask them to contact our Event Co-ordinator on
01243 811013 for more information. Also there will be a fun competition
with a variety of classes for individual entries. If you fancy entering a
vegetable, fruit, cake, scarecrow, or something which resembles a
celebrity, just
download and complete the application form and
return it to the Weald & Downland Open Air Museum, Singleton,
Chichester, West Sussex, PO18 0EU.
AUTUMN COUNTRYSIDE
SHOW
9-10
October 2010
10.30am - 5pm
|
|
More Autumn Countryside pictures |
|
Experience the sights, sounds
and smells of the countryside at harvest time. At this beautiful time of
year, enjoy heavy horses and vintage tractors ploughing, steam-powered
threshing, falconry and dog displays, woodcraft demonstrations and a chance
to browse and buy gifts with a countryside theme
at the many craft and trade stands. [Index of Events]
[Home]
|
AUTUMN
ADVENTURES HALF TERM
ACTIVITIES
25-29 October 2010.
11.00am - 3.00pm
Wickedly wonderful seasonal activities, fun and farming
for accompanied children of all ages! Carve a really
scary pumpkin; play conkers and enjoy arts, crafts and much more.
Under cover if wet.
[Index of Events]
[Home] |
Carve a pumpkin lantern |
Woven Work |
Grooming Heavy Horses |
CHRISTMAS MARKET
13-14
November 2010 10.30am - 4pm.
Find that perfect gift or treat at a
traditional Christmas Market set in and around our historic
buildings. Dozens of stalls with arts, crafts, food, unusual gifts and
much more. Avoid the parking charges and shop in our lovely downland
setting! Admission
only £2.50, including access to all Museum exhibits.
[Index of Events]
[Home]
TREE DRESSING
5 December 2010 : 12.30 - 4.00pm
|
More pictures |
|
A wonderful celebration for all the family of
the life-giving properties of trees. Make a lantern (bring a jam jar!), and
join the procession to dress the trees as darkness falls. Plus headdress
making, music, dance and seasonal tasty treats. [Index of Events]
[Home] |
A
SUSSEX CHRISTMAS
26 December 2010 - 1 January 2011
-
10.30am - 4pm
Experience the traditions of Christmas past and discover how
our ancestors enjoyed the Festive Season. Walk off the Christmas pud as you
enjoy our traditionally decorated houses with their crackling log fires,
with many decorated for Christmas in the style of the period when they were
originally built. Also enjoy a variety of festive fare, music and stories
from Tudor to Victorian times. Come and enjoy a truly merry Sussex Christmas
in our beautiful downland setting.
For the traditions
of Christmas click
here.
For pictures from previous years
click
here.
[Index of Events]
[Home] |
|
