What’s On News

30 years of Christmas Magic at Blackthorpe Barn

Dippy at Night!

Norwich Cathedral is bidding farewell to Dippy the Diplodocus at the end of October and plans are in place for a unique evening spectacle to celebrate his visit. Dippy at Night will take place on most nights in the last week of the Dippy on Tour exhibition and will see the Natural History Museum’s muchloved dinosaur spectacularly lit up in an entirely new way in the Cathedral’s Nave. Visitors can also enjoy seeing the wider Dippy exhibition by night, including the walk-through wave of 3,000 fish, and explore the rest of Dippy’s medieval home in its evening splendour. www.cathedral.org.uk Snuggled in the heart of Rougham Estate just outside Bury St Edmunds, historic Blackthorpe Barn is home to a Christmas event that is celebrating 30 years this year. Starting in late October, the Christmas festival is a world of festive delights complete with a Country Christmas shop, craft weekends and Rougham Estate’s famous Christmas trees which have been in pride of place outside 10 Downing Street in recent years. The Country Christmas shop has decorations, wreaths, aromatics and wrap, plus wonderful gifts for all. The eagerly-awaited Christmas craft weekends showcase some of the country’s most talented artists and craft-makers. There are woven and knitwear designs and textiles, ceramics, glassware, metalware, wood creations, natural beauty products, leather items, jewellery, books, baskets and so much more. Many exhibitors change each weekend so there are new crafts to be explored each visit. The weekends start with a special unveiling of a 30th anniversary sculpture on November 6th and continue each weekend until December 12th. www.blackthorpebarn.com

Fire on the Water

The Venetian Waterways of Great Yarmouth will play host to 15 night-time show extravaganzas with its brand new Fire on the Water experience from October 21st to November 6th. The popular Norfolk seaside resort, renowned for its remarkable and outrageous performances including the 13th Out There Festival, will wow its visitors as the Venetian Waterways are transformed into an impressive night-time show spectacular that will take its visitors on a 60minute (or optional 30 minute) entertaining and enthralling trail. ‘Bringing together dynamic and dramatic outdoor dance and acrobatic performances, hypnotic water projections, light installations and a night-time fire show, this will make unforgettable entertainment, all taking place during October Half Term,’ said Joe Mackintosh, director of Out There Arts. There will be a ‘Relaxed Night’ on Wednesday 3rd November to accommodate young people and adults with autism and other sensory sensitives. www.outtherearts.org.uk/fire-on-the-water