There's always a lot going on in our little town. Much of it is described in the calendar section of our two-monthly What's On Richmond publication (free from most Richmond shops and the Information Centre). Because there's so much activity, we can't squeeze every event into the calendar. That's why we have a separate section in the back of What's On, for regular and recurrent events. Look out for it! Here's a little selection. Whether you're local or just passing through, you'll be made very welcome at all these events. (Most of them have links you can click for further details.)
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Richmond Castle is currently opening at weekends only, but will offer extended opening over the coming half-term holiday (hooray!).
From 10 February to 18 February the magnificent Norman castle will be open from 10:00 to 16:00. Let your imagination run riot as you explore the huge building, or climb to the top of the keep, or look across the rushing River Swale to the jousting fields on the far side... Tickets can be bought at the door, but advance online bookings at englishheritage will save you a handy 10%. Family tickets could save you even more. If you're an English Heritage member, you get in free. (You can even sign up on the day.) The Museum's been closed for winter maintenance, and re-opened to visitors on Monday 5 February. The current special exhibition is Great Escapes, which runs until 20 April; the exhibition looks at the plight of captured soldiers during WWII, and highlights how luck, courage and the kindness of strangers could affect their fate if they were determined to be free. Entry is included in the price of Museum admission. Later in the year a new exhibition will mark the 80th anniversary of the Normandy Campaign in 1944. The Museum offers fascinating insights into Yorkshire's celebrated 'Green Howards' regiment and into Richmond's history as a military town. Details and tickets are at greenhowards.org.uk. Richmond's famous 'Georgian' - the oldest theatre in Britain which is still running in its original form - is coming out of its post-Panto hibernation with a sparkling new season of drama, comedy, popular and classical music. Visitors can look forward to hearing the great actor-director Barrie Rutter, celebrating the launch of a new Richmond-based chamber orchestra, relishing classic drama from Shakespeare and Ibsen and unbuttoned fun from Gilbert and Sullivan, the Budapest Cafe Orchestra, foot-tapping jazz and much, much more. The season starts with a heart-warming comedy, These Things Do Happen, set in a North-Eastern farming community in the 1930s. If you're just visiting Richmond, and can't come for a show, then come for a guided tour round the auditorium and into the hidden world of the back stage, the under-stage, the dressing rooms... You can almost smell the greasepaint! Guided tours re-start on Monday 12 February. These Things Do Happen is on Friday 16th. More information, and tickets, are at georgiantheatreroyal.co.uk. Jazz... Cocktails... Cocktails... Jazz... Sounds just the thing for a dismal January evening! Get over the winter blues and sashay down to The Station Cafe/Bar for a delicious two-course meal with live jazz. We guess there'll be drumsticks, one way or the other. Tickets are £25 (drinks are extra) and the evening kicks off at 19:30. There are still tickets available as we write, but don't delay! Call 01748 825967 or visit thestation.co.uk to book Elemental is a group of four Cumbria-based artists who produce contemporary abstract and semi-abstract paintings of the northern landscape and seascape. Each artist has a very different approach. The exhibition takes place in the wonderful surroundings of The Station, Richmond's restored Victorian-era railway terminus, so you can enjoy tea and cakes or a meal in the cafe/bar, or a film in one of the three cinema screens, after you've been browsing.
All the paintings are for sale - why not start the new year with a fabulous new artwork for that gap on your wall..? Entry is free, and the exhibition runs 19 - 30 January. As always, our Lucky Dip is drawn at random from Richmond What's On; published every two months, the print edition is available in 20 or so outlets around Richmond, or you can see an online version here. Many old towns have a tradition of mummers (strolling players) performing strange songs and dances on special days. The tradition in Richmond is particularly strange! On Christmas Eve the poor old hoss (or t’owd ‘oss, or poor old horse) appears in the Market Place at about mid-day. He is a hobby-horse, with a real horse-skull on a pole as his head. He is accompanied by mummers in huntsman costumes, who sing his special song and bring him back to life with a blast on a hunting horn when he 'dies', accompanied by much merriment and mayhem. The custom is recorded back to the seventeenth century, and probably has pagan origins. Seeing the poor old hoss is believed to bring good luck for the following year. It's a remarkable tradition, but one that really ought to come with a PG rating - so if you're with youngsters, be sure to have a consoling bar of chocolate handy for them. And don't let the horse pinch it... The weather's a bit yucky; there are stockings to be filled and puddings to be steamed; in short, we're not getting many takers for our guided walks at the moment, and for good reason. So our walk leaders are also taking a little break, and our guided walks won't resume until 13 January at the earliest. We'll post something here when they re-start. Meanwhile, if you'd like to book a walk after that date, or you'd like us to take a party of visitors, you can still contact us through walks@richmondinfo.net. We'll be happy to hear from you, and keen to walk off the mince pies! Cards and gifts - we've got them all in our shop in the Market Hall. Cards: the biggest selection of charity Christmas cards in town. Children's charities, animal charities, veterans' charities, medical charities, refugee support charities, homelessness charities... You're sure to find cards to suit your giving preferences. Gifts: books, of course... Our new book on Swaledale by local newsman Joe Willis is a snip at £5.99, and has been rushing out of the door. The Short History of Richmond Racecourse and its Grandstand is £10 but is still discounted to just £7.50. And we've got dozens more books for walkers, cyclists, photographers, history buffs and everyone interested in Richmond, Swaledale and North Yorkshire. 2024 calendars too, like the lovely Dalesman one pictured. Gravy bones, too! Gravy bones..? Yes, why not. Bring your dog in to visit. |
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March 2024
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