Events Watch

It’s here – the prospect of longer days and warmer weather – so make sure you have some top family entertainment in the diary! There are some excellent events back on the cards this year, so celebrate the start of the new, more hopeful season ahead and plan an action-packed spring.

Wednesday 6th & Thursday 7th April; Wednesday 13th April A whole heap of Fun Stuff is happening at Weston Favell this Easter

This Easter join the Favell Fun Club at a FREE* Teddy Bear workshop! On Wednesday 6th and Thursday 7th April, your little ones can build their very own fluffy friend to take home (£2 booking fee will be required). Then on Wednesday 13th April, you can take your new cuddly friends on a bear hunt throughout the centre! Join the Fun Club team at their teddy bear picnic and enjoy a pom pom craft activity before heading off to meet a surprise guest. These fun-filled events are free for children to join in and will take place between 10am - 2pm. *suitable for years 3+ W: www.westonfavellshopping.com/fun-club

Easter Bank Holiday Friday 15th – Monday 18th April Hop along to Delapré Abbey for an Easter Eggstravanza

Can you find the eight decorated eggs that have been hidden in the Walled Garden at Delapré Abbey? Follow the trail and match the patterns to your bingo card to win a chocolate prize! Little ones and their grownups are guaranteed an egg-cellent time taking part in craft activities, lawn games, planting seeds and more. The Easter Eggstravanza runs from Friday 15th to Monday 18th April, 10am-4pm. The historic house will also be open on the Sunday for you to continue the fun indoors. Entry to the house is £8 for adults and free for under 18s. Visit their website to find out more and book.

W: www.delapreabbey.org

Easter Bank Holiday Friday 15th – Sunday 17th April Festival Of Power at Santa Pod Raceway

Santa Pod Raceway presents The Festival of Power once again! Feel the power of nitromethane burning dragsters and funny cars, along with fire breathing side by side Jet Cars! Plus, 240mph+ Pro Mods take to the track, along with the first round of National Championships! Off track action includes an all-out Live Action show – two car crushing Monster Trucks, the world class Terry Grant & Lee Bowers and Herve Franquin in the ‘seen to be believed’ jet powered Peugeot 205! Off track entertainment includes an African Acrobatics Circus, Trials Stunt Team, Bumblebee Experience and Helicopter Pleasure Flights. Tickets start from £30 (booking fees apply). W: www.santapod.com Easter Bank Holiday Saturday 16th, Sunday 17th & Monday 18th April Easter Egg Specials will be a tasty treat for the whole family!

Relax and have fun aboard the Northampton & Lamport Railway and celebrate Easter with a fun train ride and a chocolate treat! Yes, that’s right - all children aged 2-16 will receive a free, delicious Creme Egg when you travel aboard one of their Easter Egg Specials! Trains run on the 16th, 17th and 18th April. Enjoy a tranquil journey through the attractive Northamptonshire countryside and take time to browse around their souvenir shop, stocked full of nostalgic memorabilia as well as a wide range of toys. When needed, re-hydrate the troops from their buffet coach serving hot and cold drinks, tasty snacks and freshly prepared hot food. W: www.nlr.org.uk

Easter Sunday 17th & Monday 18th April Kelmarsh Show offers a fantastic line-up to entertain the whole family

The Kelmarsh Show arrives within the fantastic grounds of Kelmarsh Hall over the Easter Bank Holiday. From the awesome Red Devils Parachute Display Team and amazing falconry displays, to fast-paced action from the Mounted Games of Great Britain and Jamie Squibb Freestyle Motocross, there is something for the whole family to delight in! There’s a dedicated Kids Zone where youngsters can enjoy face painting, model balloons and even hunt for treasure, all of which are completely free! Try the tempting local cuisine at the Food Village, immerse in some amazing sounds at the Folk Roots Festival and shop the latest countryside accessories across the showground. W: www.kelmarshshow.co.uk

Saturday 23rd April The Jurassic giants return for a free family fun day

Europe’s biggest T Rex is returning to Northampton town centre, and he’s bringing a whole host of new friends with him. Following in the giant footsteps of last summer’s hugely popular dinosaur festival, the Jurassic beasts will be returning for one day only on Saturday, April 23rd from 11am to 4pm. Ritchie the Raptor, Zeus the T Rex and Tank the Triceratops will once again appear in Market Square and Abington Street, with a host of activities lined up for young adventurers including an augmented reality Dino Trail available through the Explore Northampton app – giving families the chance to hunt down 10 friendly dinosaurs hidden around the town centre and grab a selfie with their favourite. There will also be a prize draw for the opportunity to win one of two family tickets for the Jurassic Earth performance at the Deco theatre on Saturday, 30th July. W: www.discovernorthampton.co.uk/the-dinosaursare-coming-to-northampton-town-centre/

28th May-12th June Rushden Celebrates hosts a full, family programme of entertainment

As part of an extended ‘Rushden Celebrates’ line-up and in honour of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, Rushden has a full events calendar! Taking place from 28th May to 12th June, events include: 2nd June: Rushden Jubilee Beacon Lighting and Torchlight Procession - with performances from a live Piper, Bugler and Choir. 5th June: The Big Jubilee Lunch in Hall Park’s Walled Garden – take a picnic or purchase refreshments onsite and enjoy a variety of family entertainment. 12th June: Rushden’s Soap Box Derby at Hall Park - build your own Kart to race or cheer on your favourite team!

There will also be a Jubilee Park Skateboard Festival, Music in the Park, Art in the Park and more! A full programme will be available from early May on their website.

W: www.rushdentowncouncil.gov.uk

Saturday 11th June Head to Northampton Carnival and celebrate “A Summer Of Jubilation”

Northampton Carnival Arts Consortium are delighted to be planning the first live event in three years. This year the theme is A SUMMER OF JUBILATION, to reflect positive hopes and dreams for the future! The theme fittingly coincides with The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee to inspire a regal twist and make this the best, free multicultural community affair to date! There are opportunities for schools, groups, paraders, troupes and individuals to get onboard and start planning their costumes, floats and routines, as well as stall holders, local artists/musicians, singers/dancers, to perform on the main stage. Keep an eye on their social media platforms for updates on their free Carnival workshops. To get involved, visit www.northamptoncarnival.co.uk or email northamptoncarnival@yahoo.co.uk