White knuckle driving rallies, horse and carriage rides and a brain teasing quiz were among the special activities enjoyed across Ipswich for Suffolk Day.
The town had plenty on offer for people of all ages to mark the occasion, which aims to celebrate everything that is wonderful about our county.
Suffolk Food Hall had six of the county’s native animal breeds on display, including the much-loved and critically endangered Suffolk Punch horse.
It also hosted the launch of the Suffolk Young Poets Competition with Poetry People, and an assault course drive with the Suffolk Land Rover Owners Club.
Pupils from Birchwood Primary School and Holbrook Primary School visited the venue, and were joined by children on an exchange trip from India.
Suffolk Food Hall director Oliver Paul said: “It’s been an utter delight to see the expressions of interest from the children.”
Around 25 clients from Headway Suffolk who live with an acquired brain injury spent Suffolk Day in Holywells Park.
They enjoyed a picnic and outdoor games, performed a play and sang an original song about what the charity means to them.
Trina Robus, team leader at the Headway Suffolk Ipswich hub, said: “All our staff are getting hugs from the clients because they have had such a lovely day.”
Miss Robus praised the team of Headway staff and drivers who helped make their Suffolk Day such a success.
Suffolk Day spirits were high at Isaacs on the Quay along Ipswich Waterfront.
James Hazell from BBC Radio Suffolk presented his show live from the balcony.
The business also held tours of its machine room and is hosting a special Suffolk Day quiz this evening to test punters’ knowledge on the county.
An Elma the elephant statue, which will be part of the Pigs Gone Wild style public art trail in Ipswich next summer, made a special appearance at Isaacs.
Lindsay Coughlan, who works in the marketing team at Isaacs, said: “It’s been nice and we had a good atmosphere.”
Mental health charity Suffolk Mind hosted a storytelling event at its Quay Place base in Ipswich.
Families set up camp with blankets and chairs to hear tales of magic and wonderment.
Jon Neal, chief executive, said: “Around 20 people came to our family storytelling event and listened excitedly to Justine de Mierre, the founder of East Anglian Storytelling Festival, demonstrating ‘extreme storytelling’ by taking the families on a journey through comic, tragic and romantic terrain.
“They then listened to our head of mental health, Ezra Hewing, telling the Hatmaker’s Tale and the Lion Who Saw Himself in the Water, which explore the need to feel safe and to face our fears. We were really pleased with the turnout and hope all the families enjoyed some entertaining stories.”
St Elizabeth Hospice will round off the day with a poignant Suffolk Day vigil tonight at Felixstowe seafront gardens.
The event, called Suffolk Remembers, will see people come together to light 4,000 candles in memory of a loved one.
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