There’s some spooky goings on this week with Halloween in Nottingham and, riding in to save the day at the end of the week, it’s the Robin Hood Pageant!
What’s on for Halloween?
Visit Newstead Abbey for their Children’s Twilight Adventure Walk – 29 October 4 – 6pm – and explore Newstead in the twilight, following the paths through the gardens and woods. Wrap up warm and bring a torch! Includes refreshments in the cafe for children. £8 child, £4 adult. Book on 01623 455916. Or try the Trick or Treat Trail – 24 – 28 October! Halloween fun for all the family – follow the pumpkin trail around the grounds. Once you find them all, head to the shop to claim your prize! £1 per trail. Also, on Saturday 29 October 3pm, Newstead Abbey hosts its Pumpkin Competition! Bring along your carved pumpkin and enter it into our competition. Judging is at 3.30pm in the cafe courtyard. Prizes for the best pumpkins!
It’s grizzly game, spooky set and monstrous match at Nottingham Tennis Centre on Friday 28 October for the Halloween Tennis Spooktacular – Lights will be dimmed, glow sticks will be out, music will be loud! Tennis, table tennis and multi-sports for all the family. Prizes for the best fancy dress and pumpkin carving as well as a spooky treat for all participants…. book now for free entry.
There’ll be Spooky Campfire Tales on 28 October at Highfields Park 5 – 6pm £5 per child, accompanying adult FREE! Join us for a feast of terrifying tales, along with foul and gruesome snacks and treats. To book, call the box office on 0115 846 7777.
Plus, there’s loads of Halloween Half-Term fun at the Galleries of Justice and the City of Caves! This thrilling family friendly Halloween tour offers a fascinating look at the true-life witch trials that took place in the past. Visit The Galleries’ courtroom to learn about the hysteria that led to the accusations being made and discover the evidence which led to the trials. Or, explore a hidden world beneath your feet and journey through a maze of original sandstone caves on our actor-led family tours and discover the fascinating history beneath the streets of Nottingham.
Gruesome Green’s Windmill has sessions in Halloween Biscuits – Thursday 27 October 11am – 2pm and Halloween Mask Making – Sunday 30 October 11am – 2pm. Come down and bake some spooky biscuits to get into the Halloween mood – £4 per child – or make your own decorative Halloween mask – £3 per child.
Halloween is also happening at Children’s Centres – see what’s on in your area.
Clifton
Spooky Wooky Party – all welcome for fun event at Clifton Young People’s Centre, Thursday 27 October, 12 noon-2pm, booking essential, call 0115 876 2625
Bestwood,Basford, Top Valley and Bestwood Park
The Ridge Adventure Playground – arts and crafts for five to 11-year-olds at the venue in Ridgeway, Saturday 29 October, 1pm-3pm, come and enjoy popcorn on an open fire, call 0115 876 1890
Fun events – games for 11 to 19-year-olds, including archery, arts and crafts, pool table, games console, table-top games, The New Whitemoor Baptist Church Hall, Whitemoor Avenue, Tuesday 25 October, 7pm-9pm
The Meadows
Spooky Party – fancy dress welcome, Meadows Children’s Centre, Kirkby Gardens, Wednesday 26 October, 12 noon-2pm, booking essential, call 0115 876 1320
BulwellandBulwell Forest
Play, Stay and Learn – Messy!, Messy!, Messy! – explore a variety of messy play activities which stimulate children’s learning and development, Bulwell Riverside, Friday 28 October, 1pm-2.30pm
Wollaton, Dunkirk, Lenton and Lenton Abbey
Spooky Wooky Party – all welcome for fun event at Dunkirk Community Centre, Marlborough Road, Monday 24 October, 12 noon-2pm, booking essential, call 0115 876 1320
Sneinton
Spooky Stay Play and Learn – come and join in with your under-fives, Sneinton Children’s Centre, Friday 28 October, 10am-11.30am, call 0115 876 1700
Hyson Green, Radford
Stay, Play and Learn – Goose Fair theme – drop in and play at Hyson Green Children’s Centre, Gregory Boulevard, Monday 24 October, 1pm-2.30pm, call 0115 883 8202
Baking cakes and biscuits – put on your apron and get baking, Forest Fields Play Centre, Russell Road, Thursday 27 October, 3.30pm-5.30pm
St Ann’s South
Spooky Messy Play – fancy dress welcome, St Ann’s Valley Centre, Tuesday 25 October, 10am-11.30am, call 0115 876 1700
At the end of the week, Nottingham’s favourite outlaw comes to town – it’s the Robin Hood Pageant 2016 – Friday 28 – Sunday 30 October!
The grounds of the Castle will be transformed into a medieval village encampment complete with a range of colourful characters, sight and sounds, allowing visitors to travel back in time to the 12th century and relive the life and times of the city’s most famous legend.
Two exciting Night Jousts will take place following their reintroduction as part of 25th anniversary celebrations in 2014, on Friday and Saturday night.
Also happening this weekend, there’s a FREE Robin Hood Day Fun – Saturday 29 October
Visit Nottingham Central Library for free Robin Hood themed crafts and activities, from 10:30am until 4pm. Kids will be able to make puppets, design the Sheriff of Nottingham’s money (and decide whether to steal it to give to the poor!) and hear stories about Robin Hood and his merry men.
Nottingham Caves Festival – 17 – 23 October in Old Market Square
A Caves Festival hub marquee will be in Old Market Square from Monday 17 to Sunday 23 October, hosting free events and activities – open daily 10.30am – 6pm.
Visitors will be able to discover the history of Nottingham’s awe inspiring caves with free activities including:
Discover the fun side of archaeology with Trent and Peak archaeology. Grab a trowel and get digging – who knows what you might find?
Book onto an amazing virtual reality exploration (using a real virtual reality headset!) of two caves, using innovative technology developed by Nottingham based Hot Knife. Visitors can wander around the caves, learn about their history and even go into passageways that aren’t accessible in real life
Enjoy a talk with Nottingham’s official archaeologist, Scott Lomax, and learn about recent archaeological discoveries in the city
Go on a guided walking tour of the city using the Nottingham Caves app, and learn how to see the caves beneath your feet
Experience ‘artificial caving’ in a cave designed and built by Hangfast – no need to go underground! See what it’s like to explore and navigate a tight space in limestone tunnels similar to those found in the Yorkshire Dales (available Mon-Fri only)
Half-Term fun at the Galleries of Justice and the City of Caves
This thrilling family friendly Halloween tour offers a fascinating look at the true-life witch trials that took place in the past. Visit our courtroom to learn about the hysteria that led to the accusations being made and discover the evidence which led to the trials. See what’s on at GoJ. Or explore a hidden world beneath your feet and journey through a maze of original sandstone caves on our actor-led family tours and discover the fascinating history beneath the streets of Nottingham. See what’s on in the Caves.
What’s On at our historic sites? Wollaton Hall, Green’s Windmill and Newstead Abbey
Visit Wollaton Park and their Museum Explorer Activity Trail – 17 – 28 October. Go on a journey of discovery with a FREE trail of the Hall and Park. Collect yours from reception in the Great Hall. Drop by at Green’s Windmill for Cupcake Baking – Saturday 22 October 11am – 2pm – and bake some delicious cupcakes with our own flour. £3 per child. Or, try Children’s Twilight Adventure Walk – 15, 22 and 29 October 4 – 6pm at Newstead Abbey! Explore Newstead in the twlight, following the paths through the gardens and woods. Wrap up warm and bring a torch! Includes refreshments in the cafe for children. £8 child, £4 adult. Book on 01623 455916.
High Ropes – places are limited so call 0115 947 6202 (ext 238)
to book your place now!
Colwick Adventure Centre
Monday 24th October 10.30am – 12.00pm or Friday 28th October 10.30am – 12.00pm
Canoeing – places are limited so call
0115 947 6202 (ext 238)
to book your place now!
Colwick Adventure Centre
Monday 24th October
1.00 – 2.30pmWednesday 26th October 10.30am – 12.00pmFriday 28th October
1.00 – 2.30pm
Family Lakeside Yoga
Highfields Park
Sunday 23rd and 30th October 10.00 – 11.00am
REBO Wall Tennis Challenge and Archery For All
Southglade Park, Forest Recreation Ground or Queens Walk Recreation Ground
Monday 24th October 2.00 – 4.00pm (Southglade), Tuesday 25th October 10.00am – 12.00pm (The Forest) or Thursday 27th October 2.00 – 4.00pm (Queens Walk)
There’s Half-Term Mardi Gras Fun from 17 – 28 Oct in across our libraries
Join us for Mardi Gras fun in our libraries – come dressed in your most colourful carnival outfits, ready for games and crafty fun. Get in the carnival mood at: Sherwood Library – Wednesday 19 October 11am-12pm, Southglade Park Library – Friday 21 October 2pm-3pm, Basford Library – Tuesday 25 October 2pm – 3pm, Clifton Library – Wednesday 26 October 11am-12pm, Meadows Library – Wednesday 26 October 2pm-4pm, Bulwell Library – Thursday 27 October 2pm-3pm, or Radford/ Lenton Library- Friday 28 October 2pm-3pm!
Aspley, Broxtowe and Bilborough
Stay, Play and Learn – Autumn – Have fun at the Phoenix Adventure Playground, Monday 17 October, 10.30am-12.30pm
Stay, Play and Learn – Music – Come and make some noise at Aspley Children’s Centre, Friday 21 October, 10.30am-12.30pm
Sherwood and Edwards Lane
Stay, Play and Learn – Fitness – fun and physical activity for all the family, Edwards Lane Community Centre, Tuesday 18 October, 11.30am-12.30pm
Celebrating Difference and Cultural Awareness –take part in the parade for five to 13-year-olds, try on costumes, play instruments and sing cultural songs, Forest Fields Play Centre, Friday 21 October, 3.30pm-5.30pm
Clifton
Autumn walk with Nutrition Team – walking to Flower Park and back for lunch from Clifton Young People’s Centre, Wednesday 19 October, 11am-2pm (meet at 10.45am) booking essential, call 0115 876 2625
The Meadows
Messy Play – come and have fun making mess, Meadows Children’s Centre, Kirkby Gardens, Tuesday 18 October, 10.30am-12 noon, call 0115 876 1320
Bulwell and Bulwell Forest
Play, Stay and Learn – Messy Play – come along and have fun getting messy around the theme of autumn, Bulwell Children’s Centre, Steadfold Close, Monday 17 October, 1.30pm-3pm, call 0115 876 2220
Dunkirk, Wollaton, Lenton and Lenton Abbey
Craft session – try your hand at a number of creative activities, Wollaton Children’s Centre, Arleston Drive, Wednesday 19 October, 10.30am-12 noon, call 0115 876 1320
Sneinton
Messy Play – get involved and get messy at Sneinton Children’s Centre, Thursday 20 October, 1.30pm-3pm, call 0115 876 1700
Hyson Green, Radford
Stay, Play and Learn – Goose Fair theme –drop in and play at Hyson Green Children’s Centre, Gregory Boulevard, Monday 17 and 24 October, 1pm-2.30pm, call 0115 883 8202
St Ann’s South
Stay, Play and Learn – Babies – bring along your tots for a play session to St Ann’s Valley Centre, Monday 18 October, 10am-11am, call 0115 876 1700
Today nearly half a million people go to Nottingham Goose Fair, making it one of the biggest funfairs in Europe – but its early origins have as much to do with cheese fights and trouser sellers as Geese. ‘Gooseh’ as some people affectionately call it, can actually be traced back 1,000 years to the arrival of the fair of the Feast of St Matthew, which later became the Goose Fair when livestock sales became its main theme. But the fair used to be famous for being the place where you could buy just about any form of pre-industrial revolution nibble or fashion accessory.
Horse sales were the fair’s biggest draw in part of the middle ages and cheese was also sold by the ton for decades. This led to no less than a full scale ‘Cheese Riot’ in 1766! An account of the disorder, reproduced in a guide by the long-defunct Nottingham Information Department in the 1950s, describes the moment fun turned to fromage fury:
“Cheeses were picked up and hurled at stall holders. This started a riot in which stalls were overturned and cheeses bowled along the ground. The mayor himself was knocked over by a flying cheese, and finally the magistrates had to call out the Dragoons [mounted soldiers], Nottingham then being a military centre.”
The phrase ‘Goose Fair’ first appears in 1542 in one official record about the purchase of a pair of trousers at the ‘Goose Fair Nottingham’, by John Trussell, a steward of the Willoughby family from Wollaton.
“It was actually a very small event at one time,” says David Cross, who runs who runs historical walking tours of Nottingham.
“When it first became widely known there was already a big fair at Lenton Priory which was larger. The fair as we know it today is absolutely massive compared with what it once was.
“When farming was done by hand a lot of the crops would get left on the ground and wasted. Unless you let birds like geese go into the field and eat the grain to fatten up. This is the practice which first led to the current name emerging in the 16th Century.”
The fair’s current home on the Forest Rec is also a relatively new development in the course of its history. Prior to 1937 it was always held on Old Market Square, before it completely outgrew the site.
Rumour has it when the council house was being built on the square in the mid-1930s local officials became nervous about the increasingly rowdy and noisy fair leading to damage of the new building. So they shunted it up the road to keep the rabble out of the way.
The first rides appeared in the latter part of the 18th century starting with roundabouts operated by hand, and by the 19th century the fair’s status as a trading point had diminished as it became more an event of pleasure than business.
Since then it has gradually grown to now attract more than 400,000 people over the five days. Livestock sales have long gone but dozens of decades-old traditions remain – including the Cockrell-on-a-stick lollipops and mint sauce and mushy peas.
“One of my favourite stories is the year when 22,000 geese came through the fair,” added David.
“I’ve worked out this meant 60 Geese a minute were sold that year at the fair.
“There have only been odd interruptions. The Plague stopped it 1646 and there were pauses during both world wars. But it’s now one of the biggest events of its type throughout Europe and is known across Britain. It’s really gone on to put Nottingham on the map.”
Blog reproduced from NottsTV and you can sign off your visit to Goose Fair on OppNotts by clicking here!
