Events

An outline of the events happening in Britain's Heritage Cities in 2010.

January

9: York Book Fair, York Racecourse. Tel: 01763 248400. www.pbfa.org

16: Historic Rally Car Register Open Day, Heritage Motor Centre, Warwickshire www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk

February

15 – 20: JORVIK Viking Festival, Tel: 01904 543403. www.jorvik-viking-centre.co.uk

16: Cheese Rolling and Pancake Race, Chester February 13 - March 28: HHA/Christies Garden of the Year Photographic Exhibition (Long Library), Blenheim Palace

20 February - 13 March: Shakespeare Unplugged Festival, Theatre Royal, Bath, Tel: 01225 448844

27 February – 7 March: Bath Literature Festival, Tel: 01225 463362

March

7: Nationwide Bath Half Marathon, Tel: 01225 422255

12 – 21: York Festival of Science and Technology, Tel: 01904 554493 www.sciencecityyork.org.uk/community

18 – 28: York Literature Festival, Tel: 01904 554316, www.readwriteyork.co.uk

April

1 – 11: Bath Comedy Festival, Tel: 01225 463362

2: Easter Egg Hunt, Herne Bay, www.hernebaytp.co.uk

3 – 5: Chester Food and Drink Festival, Chester Racecourse, www.chesterfoodanddrink.com

2 – 5: Great Blenheim Palace Easter Egg Challenge

3 – 5: Model Railway Show, York Racecourse, Tel: 01653 694319 www.yorkshow.freeserve.co.uk

6: Easter Trail, Canterbury, www.naturegrid.org.uk

16 – 18: York Open Studios, www.yorkopenstudios.co.uk

17: Bishop Auckland Food Festival, in the Durham Dales

23 – 26: Shakespeare’s Birthday Celebrations, www.shakespeare.org.uk

30 April– 3rd May: Badminton Horse Trials, Gloucestershire, Tel: 01454 218375

May

1 – 3: Bath Dance Festival, Tel: 01225 463362

1 – 3: Annual Bath Spring Flower Show, Tel: 01225 394041

1 - 3: Jousting Tournament: The Knights of Royal England, Blenheim Palace

1: Classic Car & Bike Show, Herne Bay, www.hernebaytp.co.uk

2: Heritage Land Rover Show, Heritage Motor Centre, Warwickshire www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk

3: May Day Celebration (supported by Herne Bay & Whitstable Lions) www.canterbury.co.uk

5 – 7: May Festival, Chester Racecourse.

8 - 9: The Thundersprint, Northwich. T: 01928 740498/ 01606 867531 www thundersprint.com

7 – 9: York National Centre for Early Music Jazz Weekend, Tel: 01904 658338, www.ncem.co.uk

9 – 10: Battlegroup North & Military Wheels & Wings Show, Yorkshire Air Museum. Tel: 01904 608595, www.yorkshireairmuseum.co.uk

10 – 16: The Kenilworth Festival, www.kenilworthfestival.co.uk

12 – 14 & 22: York Races, Tel: 01904 620911, www.yorkracecourse.co.uk

12 – 16: York Spring Festival of New Music, Box Office: 01904 432439 www.yorkconcerts.co.uk

22 May – 6 June: Northern Rocks: The North Pennines festival of Geology and Landscape.

23: Aston Martin Owners Club 75th Anniversary, Spring Concours Blenheim Palace

26 May - 6 June: Bath International Music Festival, Tel: 01225 463362

27 – 29: Durham Mystery Plays

28 – 31: Chester Folk Festival, www.chesterfolk.org.uk

28 May - 13 June: Bath Fringe Festival, Tel: 01225 463362

29 – 31: Art, Design and a Taste of Summer, Blenheim Palace

29 – 30: York Roman Festival, www.yorkromanfestival.com

29 May – 5 June: Screen Deva, Chester Film Festival, T: 01244 409113 www.chesterperforms.com

30: York Carnival , Tel: 01904 554253 www.yorkfestivals.com

30 – 31: Yorkshire Game Fair, Harewood House. Tel: 0113 2181010 www.harewood.org

June

2 – 5: The Royal Bath & West Show, Bath & West Showground, Tel: 01749 822200

2 – 3: Forest Tours 2010, Delamere Forest, Northwich T: 01606 889792

4 – 5: Couts International Polo Weekend, Chester Racecourse, www.chester-races.co.uk

4 – 19: Chester Summer Music Festival

5 – 6: Blenheim Palace Triathlon

5: Cultural Trail Day – Herne Bay, www.hernebayculturaltrail.co.uk

6: York Porsche Rally, Harewood House. Tel: 0113 2181010 www.harewood.org

6: The Porsche Show, Heritage Motor Centre, Warwickshire www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk

2 - 13: Classic and Vintage Commercial Show, Heritage Motor Centre, Warwickshire, www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk

11 & 12: York Races, Tel: 01904 620911, www.yorkracecourse.co.uk

12: Blenheim Palace Junior Sculling Regatta

12-13: Classic and Vintage Commercial Show, Heritage Motor Centre, Warwickshire, www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk

12 – 13: Durham Festival and Regatta

15 – 19: World Town Crier Championships, Chester

18 – 20: Middlewich Folk & Boat Festival, Middlewich, www.midfest.org.uk

19 – 20: Chester’s Midsummer Watch Parade

20: Vintage & Classic Vehicle Rally with Yorkshire Post Motor Show Harewood House. Tel: 0113 2181010, www.harewood.org

23 – 27: Glastonbury Festival, Pilton, Glastonbury, Tel: 0844 412 4626

25 – 26: Chester Races Midsummer Meeting

26: Grand opening celebration of Whistable Castle, www.whitstablecastle.co.uk

27: Supercar Sunday, Heritage Motor Centre, Warwickshire www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk

27: Classic Wings & Wheels Show, Yorkshire Air Museum, Tel: 01904 608595 www.yorkshireairmuseum.co.uk

July

1 July - 31 Aug: The Roman Baths by Torchlight, Bath, Tel: 01225 477785

2 - 3: Italian Market, Herne Bay, www.hernebaytp.co.uk

2 – 4: International Show Jumping, Chester Racecourse, T: 01244 304600 www.chester-races.com

3 – 4: Bath Food & Drink Festival, Royal Victoria Park, 01285 654566

3 – 18: Durham International Brass Festival

4: Gaydon Mini Festival, Heritage Motor Centre, Warwickshire, www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk

9 – 11: Lounge on the Farm, Live music festival – Canterbury www.loungeonthefarm.co.uk

9 – 10: Chester Races

9 – 17: York Early Music Festival, National Centre for Early Music. Tel: 01904 658338, www.ncem.co.uk

9 – 10 & 23 – 24: York Races, Tel: 01904 620911, www.yorkracecourse.co.uk

10: Durham Miners’ Gala

10-11: Porche Club GB National Event, Blenheim Palace

10 – 25: York Festival of the Rivers, Tel: 01904 554253, www.yorkfestivals.com

11: East Yorkshire Thoroughbred Car Club Rally, Yorkshire Air Museum. Tel: 01904 608595, www.yorkshireairmuseum.co.uk

11: York Dragon Boat Racing, Riverbanks and Museum Gardens area. www.yorkrotary.co.uk/dragonboat.htm

11 & 18: York Mystery Plays, www.yorkmysteryplays.co.uk

15 – 18: Bolesworth Castle Show Jumping Classic, Chester, www.bolesworthclassic.co.uk

17: Blenheim Palace Battle Proms Concert

18 – 19: The Chester Roman Games

22 – 24: Kent CAMRA Beer Festival, www.kentbeerfestival.com

23 – 25: WOMAD Festival, Charlton Park, Wiltshire, Tel: 0845 146 1735

23 July – 7 Aug: Bath International Guitar Festival, Tel: 01225 463362

24 – 30: Whitstable Oyster Festival, www.whitstableoysterfestival.com

30 July – 1 August: Continental Market , Herne Bay, www.hernebaytp.co.uk

August

Durham Streets of … (Folk, Dance, Play)

1: Family Fun Day at ChesterRaces

1: MGF 15th Anniversary, Heritage Motor Centre, Warwickshire www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk

6 – 8: Jousting Tournament ‘The Knights of Royal England’, Blenheim Palace

7: Whitstable Carnival, www.canterbury.co.uk

8: York Rolls Royce Rally, Harewood House. Tel: 0113 2181010, http://www.harewood.org/

14: Herne Bay Carnival, www.hernebaytp.co.uk

15: Thunder Day, Yorkshire Air Museum, Tel: 01904 608595 www.yorkshireairmuseum.co.uk

15: BMW Festival, Heritage Motor Centre, Warwickshire, www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk

17 – 20: York Races, Ebor Festival, Tel: 01904 620911, www.yorkracecourse.co.uk

20 – 22: F18 National Championships, Whitstable, www.wyc.org.uk

21: Castle Howard Proms Spectacular, Tel: 01653 648623 www.castlehoward.co.uk

21: Totesport Summer Festival, Chester Racecourse

21-22: Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club – Championship Dog Show, Blenheim Palace

22: Street Music Day, Herne Bay, www.hernebay.co.uk

29 - 30: Classic Car Motorcycle Show, Blenheim Palace

September

3: York Proms Spectacular, Harewood House. Tel: 0113 2181010 www.harewood.org

5: York Races, Tel: 01904 620911, www.yorkracecourse.co.uk

5: Allied Services Commemoration Day, Yorkshire Air Museum. Tel: 01904 608595, www.yorkshireairmuseum.co.uk

9 -12: International Horse Trials, Blenheim Palace

10: England v Pakistan one-day cricket international, Durham

10 – 11: York National Bookfair, York Racecourse. Tel: 01763 248400 www.pbfa.org

10 - 11: Chester Races

10 – 26: Chester Fashion Festival, www.chesterfestivals.co.uk

16-19: The independent Woodstock Literary Festival, Blenheim Palace

17 – 25: The Jane Austen Festival, Bath, Tel: 01225 443000

17 – 26: York Festival of Food and Drink, Tel: 01904 466687 www.yorkfoodfestival.com

18 – 19: Chester Kite Festival

24 – 26: Eurofair with the Kent Food and Drink Festival – Canterbury www.canterburyeurofair.co.uk

24 Sept – 3 Oct: Bath Festival of Children’s Literature, Tel: 01225 463362

25: Chester Races

October

Hallzooeen Month at Chester Zoo

Chester Halloween Ghost Tours Extravaganza, T: 0845 647 7868 www.ghostcity.co.uk

Durham Book Festival Chester Literature Festival, www.chesterfestivals.co.uk

1 – 3: Ryder Cup, Celtic Manor, near Newport, Tel: 0871 230 1086

1 – 10: Warwick Words Festival, www.warwickwords.co.uk

2 - 3: Cycling Extravaganza, Blenheim Palace

8 – 9: York Races, Tel: 01904 620911, www.yorkracecourse.co.uk

16 - 23: Bath Bach Festival, Tel: 01225 463362

16 – 30: Canterbury Festival, Kent’s International Arts Festival www.canterburyfestival.co.uk

23 – 31: Living History Interpretation, Blenheim Palace

29 Oct – 7th Nov: Bath Film Festival, Tel: 01225 401149

31: Special Halloween night, www.winghamwildlifepark.co.uk

31: Special Halloween Ghost Tour, www.canterburyghosttour.com

31 Oct – 5 Nov: York Halloween & Guy Fawkes Events www.visityork.org/seeanddo/whats-on

Late Oct – Early Nov: Illuminating York, Tel: 01904 550099 www.illuminatingyork.org

November

12 – 20: Bath Mozart Festival, Tel: 01225 463362

Nov 13 - Dec 12: Christmas at Blenheim Palace, www.blenheimpalace.com

14 Nov – 2 Jan: The Ice Factor, open air ice rink York, www.theicefactor.co.uk

18 & 25: Chester Lantern Parades

19 – 21: York National Centre for Early Music Jazz Weekend, Tel: 01904 658338, www.ncem.co.uk

25 Nov – 12 Dec: Bath Christmas Market, Tel: 0844 847 5256

26 Nov – 19 Dec: Christmas at Claverton, American Museum, Tel: 01225 460503

27 Nov –19 Dec: Christmas opening at Castle Howard, Tel: 01653 648333 www.castlehoward.co.uk

December

2 – 5: York Early Music Christmas Festival, Tel: 01904 658338, www.ncem.co.uk 2 – 9: Chester Winter Watch Parades

4 – 5: Durham City Christmas Festival

11 – 12: York Festival of Angels, The Quarter. Tel: 01904 610676

16: Chester’s Roman Saturnalia Parade

Mid Dec – Mid Jan: Traditional Family Pantomime, Theatre Royal, Bath Tel: 01225 448844