Tags
Classic cars & bikes, National Civil War Centre, Newark area, Steam threshing, Tourism, Vintage vehicles
September 6th & 7th 2014
I’m ashamed to say that after 24 years of living in the Newark area, this is the first time that I had visited the Sutton on Trent Festival.
Taking place every year on the first weekend of September, it has become a well-loved feature of the village and the whole Newark & Sherwood district. Originally set up as a celebration of harvest time when the farmers and volunteers set about processing the locally grown wheat with a steam driven threshing machine.
The event has grown over the years to include other steam engines, vintage vehicles, classic cars and bikes which parade through the arena and are on display all weekend in this beautiful village setting.
There is also plenty happening throughout both days for all the family. In the main arena we were treated to a display from a gymnastics team called Dako Flying Angels. Boys of varying ages literally flew through the air with the aid of trampolines and expert timing!
Next up was Ye Olde Redtail Falconry Display. Ray & Wendy Aliker are in huge demand throughout Europe for their performances and their birds of prey even appeared in the film “Robin Hood Prince of Thieves”. They had a real talent for involving the audience with their Flying displays and invited children in to the arena to help handle the birds.
Later on each afternoon there was a Fun Dog Show, a parade of Retired Greyhounds, Dancing displays, Children’s Sports Day Races and even a giant trifle eating competition. Around the rest of the show site there was a great buzz too with quite a crowd out enjoying the early autumn sunshine. The queue for the BBQ was huge and the local Thaymar ice cream van was popular too! There was plenty of music – from brass bands to young, up and coming acoustic bands to entertain you as you were queuing though, so everyone had a smile on their face.
This is a real traditional village event with all the old favourites like Tombola, Punch & Judy, crafts, bric-a brac and endless supplies of home-made cakes, pavlova and cream scones.
My colleague Julie and I were in the crafts tent (next to the tea and cakes!) promoting “Totally Locally”: https://www.facebook.com/TotallyLocallyNewark and Invest Newark & Sherwood: http://www.newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk/investnewarksherwood/ with a number of local businesses offering a helping hand throughout the weekend. This is a photo of Julie wearing some replica Civil War armoury to promote the forthcoming opening of the National Civil War Centre in Spring 2015. http://www.newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk/nationalcivilwarcentre/
I can’t believe that I have missed out on this hugely enjoyable day out all these years but I will definitely be back next year!
Visit Newark & Sherwood 