Open-air theatre, cinema and music plus car shows, circus skills workshop and beer and world food festival form summer programme of family entertainment in East Herts
Family-friendly entertainment and activities – including open-air theatre, cinema and music as well as car shows and a beer and food festival – are taking place across East Herts in August.
Starting off close to home in Bishop's Stortford, for those wanting to discover their inner entertainer and experience the big top, a circus skills workshop will run at Sworder's Field on Sunday August 22.
The 45-minute classes with Circus Pazaz feature balancing, juggling, tight wire and unicycles. Tickets costing £1 must be bought in advance from www.bishopsstortfordtc.gov.uk/shop.
The following weekend, David Walliams' 2009 children's novel Mr Stink – about the unlikely friendship between a 12-year-old girl and a tramp – will be brought to life on an outdoor stage at Monastery Gardens in Windhill on Saturday August 28. There will be two performances, at 2.30pm and 6.30pm. Tickets cost £12 from www.bishopsstortfordtc.gov.uk/shop.
Foodies and beer buffs should head to the county town on the weekend of August 14-15 to indulge in the Hertford Castle Beer and World Food Festival. From bars and restaurants to street food, the event promises tastes to savour and cookery demonstrations.
In Ware, concert-goers can once again enjoy live music at The Priory in the form of the Summer 21 series of free two-hour concerts on Sunday afternoons.
Playing on the back lawn on August 8, from 2pm to 4pm, will be The Lip Service Brass Band while Why Not & Test The Waters will entertain on August 22 (3pm-5pm). Steve Young will perform on bank holiday Monday (August 30) and the series will close with Ware Brass on September 12. All the concerts will have a bar – just take a picnic blanket or camping chairs.
Still in Ware, the swagger of rock hits Drill Hall on Saturday September 4 with Rock in The Priory Live & Late – a remixed version of the town's usual open-air music festival – featuring six bands and two acoustic sets. Check www.rockinthepriory.co.uk for details.
Two events in Ware and Buntingford will appeal to petrolheads. Music & Motors at Tudor Square, Ware, on Saturday August 21 from 1pm will have live music and classic cars to enjoy. A fortnight later, the Buntingford Classic Car Show takes place in High Street. Now in its 20th year, the event will feature a cavalcade of vintage cars, motorbikes, lorries and even tractors for visitors to admire. The free show on Saturday September 4 runs from 11am to 4pm.
After open-air cinema came to Sworder's Field in Stortford on Saturday (Aug 1) in the form of triple bill Trolls World Tour, Grease and The Greatest Showman, there will be outdoor movies at Hertford Castle on Friday August 27.
Ware's historic chalk caves Scott's Grotto will be open for a special Scott's Enchanted Grotto and Garden experience until Sunday August 8. The grotto will have fairies, pixies and teddies galore in the chalk maze and be open from 10.30am to 4.30pm, at 28 Scott's Road. Entry is free but take a torch.
Cllr Jan Goodeve, a member of East Herts Council's executive, said: "With many people still unsure about heading off on holiday, there's so much to see and do on your doorstep in East Herts, ensuring residents don't have to go far for a good time.
"From outdoor cinema to car shows, from live music to vibrant markets, we have something for everyone.
"This has been a difficult time for everyone, but now let's go out and enjoy our area in a respectful and mindful way."
