What's On in and around South Molton

Chittlehampton Concerts presents - The Bovver Boys from Umberleigh Skiffle and More!

At St Hiertha's, Chittlehampton

7.30pm

Tickets: £6 in advance, £8 on the door.

Snowdrop Valley 2012

Near Wheddon Cross, Exmoor

This hidden valley is owned by the Badgworthy Land Company and is an ESA (Environmentally Sensitive Area) and situated on the River Avill.

The Park and Ride scheme from Wheddon Cross to Snowdrop Valley is run by Cutcombe Parish Council with ENPA, Badgworthy Land Company and Exmoor Farmers thus enabling visitors to reach the valley without having to take their cars down the narrow country lanes that lead to it.

WALKING Wear appropriate clothing and footwear for winter walking. Allow at least 1 � hours for return trip.

Snowdrop and Spring Flower Weekend

at Hartland Abbey - As seen on BBC Antiques Road Show

11.00am - 4.00pm (Abbey, Shop & Museum open 12-4pm)

Adults £3.50, Children Under 5 Free, Children Over 5 £1.

Come and enjoy our wonderful snowdrops, some planted hundreds of years ago, and early daffodils, camellias, hellebores and spring flowers. Explore the grounds, the woodland and walled gardens and the walk to the beach.

Wellies advisable!

Discover the newly restored Summerhouse, lost in the woods since World War II. More new paths open too.

Family Treasure Hunt & Barbecue. Delicious Hot Pasties and Cream Teas in aid of St Nectan's Church, Stoke.

North Devon Hospice Invites You to A Sponsored Knit-In

at Age Concern, South Molton

2.00pm - 4.00pm

Please bring a pair of size 8 (4mm) knitting needles and some double knitting (50 gram) wool if you have some spare.

Refreshments

Sponsorship forms available from Age Concern

Battle of Torrington Commemorative March

in Great Torrington

Torrington 1646 in association with the Great Torrington Cavaliers and the Sealed Knot would like to invite everyone to a day and evening of fun and fireworks in the 17th Century to commemorate the Battle of Torrington in 1646. The day will start with Al Mitchell, the Town Crier, accompanied by the Mayors Guard marching around the town proclaiming the event open. During the day Torrington 1646 will be open giving a taste of life in the 17th Century, including a living history display and demonstrations of musket and pike drill by the Sealed Knot. The Falconer will be showing his birds of prey and the Barber Surgeon will also be in attendance demonstrating his very own version of the NHS (No Hope Surgery). There will be a bar in the grounds of 1646 and the cafß will be open all day. In the evening there will be a torchlight parade through the town led by the Great Torrington Cavaliers. The march will start from Great Torrington School car park at 7.00pm (muster at 6.30pm) and end up in the town square approximately 20 minutes later. The day will conclude with a fireworks display in South Street car park and free hot drinks at Torrington 1646.

Everyone is welcome to join in the march and torches will be on sale in the school car park.

Please note that this is a free event.

Table Top Sale

at the Village Hall, West Buckland

2.00pm - 5.00pm

Tables £5 - Early Booking Advised.

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy - Certificate 15

is Showing at Romansleigh Church

7.30pm

Tickets: £3.50 - Available on the door.

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is a 2011 British espionage film directed by Tomas Alfredson, from a screenplay written by Bridget O'Connor and Peter Straughan based on the 1974 novel. The film stars Gary Oldman as George Smiley, and co-stars Colin Firth, Tom Hardy, John Hurt, Toby Jones, Mark Strong, Benedict Cumberbatch and Ciaran Hinds. Set in London in the early 1970s, the story follows the hunt for a Soviet double agent at the top of the British secret service.

It is advisable to bring a cushion!

Beaford Arts & Westbuckland Hall Committee present - the Moscow Drug Club

at West Buckland Parish Hall

7.30pm

Price: Adult £8, Under 18s £5.

You are cordially invited to share a wry smile with us as you enter the darkly comic world of Moscow Drug. Their Music provides an intoxicating and intimate experience. Suitable for all ages.

Non Alcoholic Bar, Light Refreshments. Disabled Access.

Profits for Hall Refurbishment.

Spring Tractor Run - Organised by South Molton Vintage Rally Club

Assemble at South Molton Central Carpark for a 10.00am departure.

The North Devon & Exmoor Walking Festival

The UK's most scenic walking festival - Now in it's 12th year.

Among UK's best walking country. Knowledgeable guides. Learn more about the local history, heritage and wildlife. Wide choice of walks with a range of topics and terrains. Short walks to all-day adventures.

New For 2012 - Clovelly Folk Festival

Clovelly Village

Tickets: Adult £15, Family (2A+2C) £35.

This new event is shaping up to be a spectacular 'must see', with well known local folk bands, buskers and Morris dancers at different venues throughout the village over the whole weekend and Special Celebrity Guest performance.

Local camping available. See website for further details.

Devon County Show

at Westpoint Showground, just 3 minutes from junction 30 on the M5

The Devon County Show is the largest event in the county calendar and is the perfect place to enjoy a virtual tour of rural life.

Thanks to top quality local ingredients, magnificent livestock, bountiful food and drink, a glorious flower and garden marquee and great side dishes of family entertainment it is the perfect recipe for a great day out for all.

Clovelly Celebration of Local Ales and Cider

at the Red Lion and New Inn bars, Clovelly

Normal Admission Charges Apply

Enjoy a range of tasty local brews. These unique local ales and ciders are not industrially manufactured, but created with passion by small North Devon breweries.

So come along and raise a glass to support North Devon's brewers and cider makers.

North Devon Festival

Various locations across North Devon

Mixture of Free and Paid Events

The North Devon Festival is rapidly establishing itself as one of the key UK festivals. It is a celebration of the rich and diverse cultural life in North Devon, with a wide range of activities that reflect the character of the region.

The Hunting of the Earl of Rone

This annual custom, unique to the village of Combe Martin, on the coast of North Devon, takes place each year over the four days of the Spring Bank Holiday weekend at the end of May, and involves some 600 villagers.

Over the four days of the Spring Bank Holiday weekend, the Grenadiers, Hobby Horse, Fool and villagers hunt through the village for the 'Earl of Rone', finally finding him on the Monday night. He is mounted back-to-front on a donkey and paraded through the village to the sea. He is frequently shot by the grenadiers and falls from the donkey only to be revived by the Hobby-horse and Fool, re-mounted on the donkey, and carried onwards to his fate. At the final shooting on the beach, he is not revived, but thrown into the sea.

South Molton Vintage Rally

at Coombesland Cross near South Molton

A full programme of vehicle displays, local attractions and special events, including the annual Club Challenge, as well as lively entertainment in the refreshment tent on the Friday and Saturday evenings, ensure a fun and varied experience for all.

Country & Western Weekend

at Riverside Caravan Park, South Molton

Friday (Devon) Rodeo man, Saturday Curtis Brothers, Sunday Dean Austen.

If you wish to book for a weekend with entertainment at the caravan park it would be advisable to book in advance.

South Molton Olde English Fayre

Events in the Square, Assembly Rooms and Pannier Market

Free

Entertainment throughout the day including Punch and Judy, Face Painting, Displays. Market stalls in the Pannier Market, Craft & Charity stalls, Crowning of the Queen, The Floral Dance, Followed by a family evening in the Assembly Rooms.

Programmes will be available nearer the time from South Molton Tourist Information

UK National Sandcastle Competition

On Woolacombe Beach, North Devon

Now in its 15th Year, the competition is firmly established as one of the summer's highlights. Past competitions have seen competitors construct elaborate recreations of Spaceships, Spider-Man and a number of Simpsons characters.

Clovelly Maritime Festival in support of North Devon Hospice

at Clovelly Harbour

Normal Admission Charges Apply

10.00am - 5.00pm

This great day out is packed with attractions, including rousing shanty singers, Punch and Judy, maritime themed entertainment, local stalls and more.

Enjoy fresh seafood or a succulent spit roast on the quay and delicious, fresh strawberry and cream teas at the New Inn.

Mid Devon Show

at Hartnoll Farm, Post Hill, Tiverton, EX16 4NG

One of the best one day Agricultural Show in the West. Non-stop activity from 9.00am until 5.30pm.

North Devon Show

at Umberleigh Barton Farm on the A377 at Umberleigh

Gates Open at 8.00am, Show Opens at 8.30am, Show Closes at 6.00pm

This is North Devon's premier Agricultural spectacle. The annual event is a celebration of North Devon's agricultural roots. A host of livestock classes occupy the arenas throughout the day with Alpacas, Cattle, Horses, Sheep, Show Jumping and Open Dog Show. Attractions, Displays, Demonstrations and Trade Stands for all.

The show site is a completely level area of approximately 50 acres with an adjacent car parking area of 42 acres with good access on to the A377.

Ilfracombe Rescue Day

On the Pier at Ilfracombe

The Rescue Day runs from 10.00am - 6.00pm, the bazaar is open between 9.00am and 3.30pm.

On the day: Adults £7, Children £3.50, Family £20 (2A/ 3C), Under 4's Free.

Fancy an unforgettable day out? Stuck for something to do in the holidays that will appeal to the whole family? Look no further - Rescue Day is Britain's biggest Emergency Services display event and this year it is bigger and better than ever before. Live displays include: RAF 22 Squadron helicopter hoists with the RNLI all weather and inland lifeboat, Coastguard with Exmoor Search & Rescue scaling down the hillside, Massive chip pan fire, Roof getting cut off a car, Drugs/Firearms dog, Handheld flare display, Mountain-Rescue 75th anniversary "Then and Now" enactment and a motorcycle crash scenario.There will be a Big Screen which will give a good close-up view of the action for all. Cameras are a must.

Great value and all for local charity.

Porlock Christmas Weekend and Late Night Shopping

in and around Porlock

6.00pm - 9.00pm

Saturday evening-Village shops and other amenities open, and mini Christmas market at the Visitor Centre. Carol singing at the Village Tree.Craft Fair Saturday and Sunday at the Village Hall.

Dunster by Candlelight

Dunster

Friday - 5.00pm to 9.00pm, Saturday - 4.00pm to 9.00pm

Dunster by Candlelight takes place every year on the first Friday and Saturday in December when this remarkably preserved medieval village turns its back on the present and lights its streets with candles.

To mark the beginning of the festival on Friday at 5.30pm, there is the Lantern Lighting Procession.The procession starts on the Steep and continues through the village until all the lanterns in the streets have been lit. The procession of children and their families is accompanied by colourful Stiltwalkers in fantastic costumes who put up the lanterns. During both evenings there are a variety of street entertainers who include Carol Singers, Morris Dancers, Hand Bell Ringers, a large Fairground Organ and Choirs in the Parish Church.

The atmosphere is both traditional and exciting, truly an event for all ages.