Rowntree Park birthday party

The annual summer fair will take place on Sat 13 July 2013, 2pm to 5pm and promises to be a great day out for all the family. The event is being organised by City of York Council’s ranger team and the Friends of Rowntree Park.

The Rowntree Company gave Rowntree Park as a gift to the people of the city 92 years ago on 16 July 1921 in memory of workers who fell during the war.  Every summer a ‘birthday party’ is held to remember this event, and a cake will be cut during the celebrations in honour of the park and its origins.

Attractions at the birthday party include a birds of prey display, live music, face painting, community stalls, food and drinks, ice creams, bouncy castle, yarnbombing, story telling, willow weaving and a fun dog show.

Parking is limited to disabled badge holders only, so other visitors are asked to walk or take public transport.  Please note the car park will be closed all day to allow time to set up and take down.

For more information contact Jenny Cairns tel: 07833 436832 or email: jennifer.cairns@york.gov.uk  

Will your children dare take the challenge?

Join this year’s Summer Reading Challenge running in every York library from Sat 13 July to Sun 15 Sept 2013.

Our Theme is a mysterious adventure called “Creepy House”.  We challenge all 5 to 12 year olds to read 6 books in 3 stages.

Stage 1: The Awful Upstairs - read two books and collect stickers to reveal its residents.

Stage 2: The Gruesome Ground Floor - read two more books to discover who is hiding there.

Stage 3: The Spine-tingling Cellar - read two final books and complete the challenge by unveiling the bone shaking Skeleton Family Robinson.

Every time you read a book there will be a small prize and everyone who completes the challenge will be entered into a draw to win a Kindle Fire HD .  There is also a mini challenge for Under 5s to collect stickers as they read.

The challenge launches at Explore York Library with a day of activities on Sat 13 July 11am to 4pm, but don’t worry if you can’t get there you can join up any time over the summer at any York library.

Roll back the years with Hula-cise!

Thur 11 July 8pm to 9pm at Tang Hall Community Centre

Hula Hooping is the newest fitness craze sweeping the nation.  Come and join us for a free taster session and learn how to reap the amazing benefits from this fun, low impact, calorie burning workout.

For further information or to register your interest then please contact Catriona at catriona.sudlow@york.gov.uk or on 01904 553377.

York Festival of Ideas

The Festival of Ideas is taking place from Thu13 to Sat 29 June at various venues across the city.   The Festival is organised by the University of York along with many other partners, and hosted by multiple venues including York Explore, the Mansion House, Yorkshire Museum, the University and Explore Acomb Library.

This year's programme, with a theme of North and South, brings together a range of world-class speakers, exhibitions, performances and a host of stimulating and interactive experiences for people of all ages, including York residents and visitors to the city.

Headline speakers including Nobel Laureate Seamus Heaney, broadcaster and novelist Melvyn Bragg, screenwriter of Cranford and Call the Midwife, Heidi Thomas, archaeologists and broadcasters Michael Wood and Michael C Scott, and novelists including Judith O’Reilly and Jenni Fagan.

For further information visit: http://yorkfestivalofideas.com/2013/

Celebrate the past, the present and the future...

Sun 30 Jun, 12noon to 4pm in Parliament Street and St Sampson's Square

York has a long standing association with the militiary, of which it is extremely proud.  This event will have representatives from the Army, Navy and Air Force and will provide entertainment and fun irrespective of age.  From the Variety Marquee featuring a variety of acts including the Military Wives Choir, the sight and sound of the Yorkshire Regimental Band to a paint balling experience and many other activities.  There will even be a field hospital, military kitchen and weapons display as well as military vehicles and a world war 1 cinema!.

For further information please go to www.yorkfestivals.com 

All the fun of the fair

West Bank Park will be transformed into a festive focus for the community, when it's annual summer fair takes place.

At the West Bank Park Fair on Sun 30 June, from 1pm to 4pm, families will be entertained with a falconry display and fun dog show with classes including best pooch smooch and dog most like its owner.

There will be a bouncy castle, climbing wall and for those who prefer to watch and listen, people can pull up a chair for the musical entertainment from live local bands.

Over 20 community stalls will be run by groups selling cakes or plants or offering games, tomboloas and showing people the sort of work they do.  There will also be face painting and henna tattooing, and a chance to drive model cars or try your hand at playing bowls. Besides trying out street sports or having a football kick-around, why not try arts and crafts activities including storytelling, juggling and willow weaving?

The event is being organised by City of York Council in conjunction with the Friends of West Bank Park, and is financially supported by the Holgate Ward Committee. Jenny Cairns, a City of York Council ranger said: "This is usually a very well-attended summer fair and is a great demonstration of what a traditional summer fair is all about. The park will be buzzing with activity on Sunday afternoon with something for everyone to enjoy."

Entry is free but there is no parking on site so all visitors are encouraged to walk, cycle or use public transport. West Bank Park is in Holgate, with entrances on Acomb Road, New Lane and Hamilton Drive. For more information contact Jenny Cairns tel: 07833 436832 or email: jennifer.cairns@york.gov.uk  

Saints and sinners

Sun 30 Jun, 1.30pm to 3.30pm at York Explore

See our historic city through Medieval eyes as we explore the people and human stories behind the facades of the great monuments. This guided walk tells of good and evil, of saintly intentions and of worldly ambitions as grand knights and flamboyant churchmen assert their status. Discover also the people in the shadows - the devotees of alchemy and the occult. This is a rich and varied portrait of a tempestuous era.

We will all meet in the Garden Room at York Explore Library to enjoy a nice cup of tea or coffee with a delicious slice of cake. This will give everyone a chance to meet each other and for the tutor to give a quick briefing.  The walk will then start and end at the library.

To book a place, please contact York Explore on 01904 552828 or exploreyork@york.gov.uk or book online through the Inspire website: www.feelinginspired.co.uk