WHAT'S ON

A GUIDE TO WHAT'S HAPPENING IN YOUR REGION ...

WINDSOR GREAT PARK

With over 4,800 acres for you to explore at Windsor Great Park you are never short of something to do if escape and fun is high on your list. With a Royal history spanning over 1,000 years, you can encounter historical monuments, ancient forests and stunning horticultural displays, as well as rare wildlife, plants and fungi.

The Crown Estate, The Crown Estate Office, Windsor Great Park, Windsor SL4 2HT

4 APRIL - 5 APRIL RHS SPRING ORNAMENTAL COMPETITION

Celebrate spring at the RHS Spring Ornamental Competition returning to The Savill Garden. Competitors from all over the South will be displaying Camellias, Rhododendrons and spring flowering plants in the hope of winning prestigious prizes in the Royal Horticultural Society's competitions. Come and learn more about these fantastic plants and quiz the experts from the Camellia Society and the RHS Rhododendron, Camellia and Magnolia Group.

Adult Ticket Price: £12 per adult. £6 per child. Includes all-day entry to The Savill Garden.

HOLME GRANGE CRAFT VILLAGE

Holme Grange is located in beautiful countryside – and yet is within one mile of Wokingham Town Centre. We offer a wide range of goods and services and a fabulous tea shop in a historic barn opening onto a beautiful enclosed courtyard where you can sit and relax while you enjoy your refreshment. We are close to other leisure facilities including fruit picking in season, fishing, walking, cycling trails and good local pubs. The village has extensive and free car parking and is open all year except from 25th December to 1st January inclusive. Some of the shops may open between Christmas and New Year and others close one day a week and on Bank Holidays, so please contact them to check before visiting.

The Savill Garden Wick Ln, Englefield Green, Egham TW20 0UJ 01753 860222 Holme Grange Craft Village Heathlands Road, Wokingham RG40 3AW

CURIOUS ABOUT WINDSOR SUMMER HOURS UNTIL 31 OCT 2020 9AM TO 6PM

Have fun discovering Windsor with two quirky heritage walks with an optional treasure hunt. Are you curious about Windsor? Looking for an unusual and quirky activity which gets you out in the fresh air whatever the weather? Take one of our self-guided walks with a treasure hunt theme – looping around the betterknown sights, as well as some of the more unusual and quirky ones, which combined make Windsor a charming place to explore! Resident or just visiting, you'll see things you've never noticed before. As well as the two walks, you'll get detailed directions, maps, clues (with answers in the back!), and interesting snippets about the history of Windsor and the people that have shaped it. Buy in booklet or instant download format from https://www.curiousabout.co.uk/ windsor.html and explore in your own time. One booklet is enough for four people of all ages to enjoy.

Windsor Town Centre, Starts: Windsor Castle, Peascod Street, Windsor SL4 1LN Tel: 0115 950 2151

SATURDAY 4TH APRIL 2020 SWINDON JAZZ & SOUL FESTIVAL TIME: 12:00

Over 12 hours of live music across two performance areas, bars, stalls, and swing dancing - an event for Over 70 performers and the days event headlined by RAY GELATO & THE GIANTS!

Advance Tickets £12 (under 16’s free) online, from the venue or at The Royal Oak’s #JazzOnTheCorner Tuesday

nights from 8pm.

1ST MAY – 2 MAY 2020 THE GIN TO MY TONIC FESTIVAL SWINDON 2020

Friday 1st May 2020 6.30pm - 11.00pm Saturday 2nd May 2020 12.00pm - 4.30pm Saturday 2nd May 2020 6.30pm - 11.00pm Your ticket will provide you with guaranteed entry to the session of your choosing, along with a beautiful 'Gin To My Tonic' Copa balloon glass, tote bag, pen, and a Gin Explorer guide detailing the range of gins available and brief tasting notes. The Gin To My Tonic Festival brings together over 100 different gins from across the UK and beyond. Each gin stocked behind the bars has been selected based on outstanding craftsmanship, delightful flavour and the most enjoyable drinking experiences. The festival is here to take you on a journey of gin discovery! What's more, we believe gin should be served correctly which is why we offer 35ml serves (as opposed to the average 25ml) as standard! The Gin To My Tonic Festival will take place at STEAM Museum, a beautifully restored Grade II listed railway building in the heart of the former Swindon railway works. We pride ourselves on our relationship with distilleries, and are therefore delighted to be able to bring together a range of established and emerging craft gins in person to enrich your gin experience. You'll also be able to pick their brains and discover even more about everybody's favourite juniper-based tipple. The bar will operate on a token system with each token costing £5 for a 35ml measure of gin, garnish and an appropriate mixer. Cash and card payments are accepted. There will also be live music to get you into the party spirit and a few gin 'surprises' along the way!

Love gin? Then join us for something totally unique! TICKETS £14.50 PER PERSON

Museum of the Great Western Railway Fire Fly Ave, Swindon SN2 2EY Book your tickets online at www.thegintomytonic.com

2ND MAY 2020 - 3RD MAY 2020 MAPLEDURHAM FOOD FESTIVAL

A tantalising line up of chefs, artisan producers, free interactive features and children’s entertainment in store for the whole family. 10am - 5pm Each Day - Free Car Parking available onsite

Admission Prices In Advance: (Available until 9pm 1st May 2020)

Adults: £6.00. Seniors: £5.00 Children (Age 6 - 16 years): £1.00 www.mapledurhamfestival.co.uk

Mapledurham House, Mapledurham, Near Reading RG4 7TR

FRIDAY 22ND MAY 2020 FOR 4 DAY(S) CHIPPENHAM FOLK FESTIVAL

A festival which still retains its 'village' atmosphere, providing three and a half days packed with song, dance, workshops and dance displays. Described as "one of the friendliest festivals" with "a superb town setting" and "a great line up", we think it really is the best way to start your summers folk activities.

Chippenham, Wiltshire TICKETS: www.chippfolk.co.uk

SATURDAY 6 JUNE 2020 TO SATURDAY 13 JUNE 2020 SWINDON'S OLD TOWN FESTIVAL

Old Town Festival Swindon is back after an extremely popular event last year! The festival is by the people of Swindon, for the people of Swindon and offers many performance opportunities from the very young to those in their golden years. Join Old Town Festival this year for a week of events in June, starting with the Old Town Festival Parade on the 6th of June. During the week, you can enjoy various heritage events at Christ Church and at the Swindon Museum and Art Gallery before finishing the week at the Bowl for an evening of local pop and rock bands.

The Old Town Festival 2020 will be a themed VE Day celebration marking 75 years since the end of World War Two.

The Old Town Festival isn’t just about bringing the community together and showcasing the very best of what our area has to offer, but it also raises funds for its Charity of the Year White Horse Folk Festival website takes place in Grove, near Wantage in rural Oxfordshire. It is a small, intimate, relaxed festival for folk fans who enjoy making new friends, and has an emphasis on creating an inclusive atmosphere where everyone can play a part in the weekend’s events.

The festival guests host workshops, miniconcerts or give special presentations as well as performing in the Saturday evening concert in the Village Hall. They are encouraged to be part of the general goings-on over the weekend, and there is plenty of opportunity for everyone to sing, play or tell a story with singarounds (sometimes set around a particular theme) and music sessions every day. It has been described as just like a weekendlong party - and that’s just how we like it!! For tickets and pricing visit www.whitehorsefolkfestival.co.uk

Grove Rugby Club, Recreation Lane, Grove OX12 0AA For more information: E-mail: WhiteHorseFolkFestival@gmail.com Mobile: 07510-353066

21 JUNE 2020 - 11.00AM TO 1PM BUBBLE RUSH

The UK's foamiest fun run is coming to Reading for second incredi-bubble year! Bubble Rush is a fun run with a difference – lots of coloured bubbles! You'll start in a sea of foam and then take on four different coloured bubble stations, where foam canons create a 4ft deep bubble bath! Run, walk, toddle or dance your way around the family-friendly course. Don't worry if you're not a runner – the event isn't timed so you're not racing against anyone and there's no time limit. The course is suitable for pushchairs and wheelchairs, and there's no minimum or maximum age limit, so everyone can take part. The event isn't timed, so you're not racing against anyone and there's no time limit. Bubble Rush - Reading is raising funds for Marie Curie

Your ticket price only covers the cost of putting on the event. However all proceeds from fundraising, individual and corporate sponsorship and event day activities including bag drop and merchandise sales will go directly to the charity.

Location: Prospect Park Liebenrood Road READING RG30 2ND Tel: 01270 524075