Date: Tuesday, 28th May
Time: 10:30am

Activities:

• Sowing Seeds: Learn about gardening and plant your own seeds to take home.
• Creating Flowers: Craft beautiful flowers using various materials.
• Making Bugs: Get creative with fun bug-making crafts.
• Nature Exploration: Discover the natural themes hidden within the intricate carvings and stunning stained glass of Ripon Cathedral.

Cost: £3 per child (includes refreshments)
Payment: Cash or contactless payment available on the day

To book your place, please email yvonnejefferies@riponcathedral.org.uk.

Join us for a morning of fun, creativity, and exploration in the beautiful setting of Ripon Cathedral

Activities at Fountains Abbey:

1. Making Faces Tree Trail

   – Dates: Saturday, 25th May – Sunday, 2nd June

   – Time: 10am – 4:30pm

 This activity invites children and families to explore the grounds while participating in a creative trail. Participants will use natural materials to create faces on trees, blending nature with artistry in a fun and engaging way.

2. Spring Craft

   – Dates: Saturday, 25th May – Sunday, 2nd June

   – Time: 11am – 3pm

The Spring Craft sessions provide an opportunity for children to get hands-on with various craft activities. These sessions are designed to inspire creativity and connect with the natural beauty of the abbey grounds.

These events at Fountains Abbey offer a wonderful combination of outdoor exploration and creative expression, making them perfect for families looking to enjoy the spring season while engaging in educational and entertaining activities.

We are coming up to one of the most beautiful and colourful times to visit the Hutts Himalayan Gardens and Sculpture Park. The rhododendron, azalea bushes, and magnolia trees are flowering and the gardens have been adorned with 60 new sculptures. The gardens are 8 miles from Ripon City Centre and opened for the season just last week. Admission is bookings in advance only https://www.himalayangarden.com/admissions-tickets/

Markenfield Hall, just 4 miles out of Ripon on the Harrogate Road, has opened for the season. It is a very grand medieval, moated home with an entry in the Domesday Book (1086). The hall has an interesting, not always peaceful, history which will be shared with you on one of the ‘Tiny Tours’ that can be booked.

“Markenfield is the seat of the Grantley family – builders of nearby Grantley Hall – and is the much-loved family home of the widow of 7th Lord Grantley and her second husband. Together, Lady Deirdre and Ian Curteis continue the restoration of the Hall and the wider Estate.” https://markenfieldhall.com/

Visiting is from Tuesdays to Sunday from April through June and Wednesdays to Sundays from July until 2nd November. It is also open on Bank Holiday Mondays.

The estate has restrictions upon it for the number of visitors so bookings for ‘Tiny Tours’ are in advance https://markenfieldhall.com/tiny-tours/ or for organised events https://markenfieldhall.com/whats-on/

Delightful, quirky, fun, dramatic, moving, daring, colourful – these are just some of the words used at the launch at Ripon Arts Hub on Thursday evening to describe the performances booked to take part in this year’s Theatre Festival.

Comedy cook George Egg entertained those attending the launch with a hilarious evening of banter, entertaining analogies, and his highly resourceful cooking style. Cooking utensils included a wallpaper steamer and domestic irons.

Venues for the festival in July include The Ripon Inn, The Old Deanery, Ripon Cathedral, Newby Hall, Ripon Library, Wetherspoons, Storehouse bar, Fountains Abbey, Ripon museums, Valentino’s restaurant, The Little Book Shop, Ripon Marketplace, Spa Gardens, among others.

There will be family theatre, circus workshops, puppet shows, story tellers, dancers, stilt walkers, and so much more, from local community groups as well as performers and artists from Wales, Scotland, Ireland, and England.

Volunteers are needed to help for all manner of tasks (see the website for more details) Contact info@ripontheatrefestival.org to offer help.

https://www.ripontheatrefestival.org/events

George Moss at Ripon Arts Hub, Allhallowgate, Ripon

Reasons to bring the kids to Ripon and stay during the Easter School Holidays

• All 3 museums are open and there are very reasonable package prices, as well as plenty to do over the Easter holidays.

• Lightwater Valley theme park is open from 28^th March for kids big and small. Get an early bird deal by typing Easter24 at the checkout.

• Fountains Abbey and Deer Park. There are always lots of activities for the children over school holidays and an Easter egg hunt too! Saturday 23 March to Sunday 7 April, from 10am to 4pm. Prices are £3 per trail which includes an Easter trail sheet, bunny ears and dairy or vegan and Free From* chocolate egg.

• Brimham Rocks for climbing and exploring, as well as some fabulous scenery.

• Ripon Scenic Cruises. Boat rides start from Friday 29^th March and run every half hour. There are special Easter ‘Hop Aboard’ trips and afternoon tea packages.

• Newby Hall and Gardens. Opening on 28^th March, this is a fabulous example of an Adams House. There are beautifully kept gardens, a miniature railway, boat rides, an adventure playground, a water feature, shop, and dolls house exhibition. The children will not be bored.

• Ripon Library. Children can make your own stained-glass style Easter egg to hang in the window. Ripon Library holds a story time for under 5’s at Ripon Library on Wednesdays 10.30am & Fridays 10.30am.