Looking for inspiration for things to do this weekend? Here’s our round-up of exciting events in the Ipswich and Felixstowe area.
Ipswich Music Day, Christchurch Park, July 1
The biggest free one-day music festival in the UK is taking place in Ipswich this weekend, with six stages packed with a dazzling range of musical genres and artists. Soul Riot, Bouncing Off Concrete, Powderhead, The Super Things, Hemmingway, Saving Scarlett, Alfie Indra and the ELO Encounter are just a few of the bands set to feature. There will also be folk favourites Silbury Hill, Cliff Lane Primary Orchestra, Trianon soloists, Ipswich Gilbert & Sullivan Society and much more. Entertainment on offer for youngsters also includes bungee trampolines, fairground rides, henna, glitter tattoos and face painting, as well as street food and market stalls. The day runs from 12 noon to 8pm. To find out more, visit the website.
Felixstowe Book Festival, June 27-July 1
Top authors and book lovers will be welcomed to the town for this year’s festival, Now in its sixth year, the event has built a national reputation as a wonderful weekend of books on the Suffolk coast. Guests this year include BBC Woman’s Hour presenter Dame Jenni Murray, Call The Midwife’s Stephen McGann, novelists Amanda Craig and Salley Vickers, Sir Vince Cable will also be there with his explosive political thriller, Open Arms, and BBC producer, Oggy Boytchev with The Unbeliever, a tense Cold War spy novel based on true events. Events take place at different venues and you can book via the festival website.
Open Air Cinema, Christchurch Park, June 30
Now’s your chance to see three hugely popular films in the open air. Grab some popcorn and a deckchair and enjoy the experience. Children’s favourite Paddington 2 will be shown at 10am, with gates opening at 9am, Wonder Woman is at 1.30pm with gates opening at 12.30pm, and The Greatest Showman at 7.30pm, with gates opening at 6pm. Please note the films will go ahead even if there is rain or bad weather. Tickets are available from the Ipswich Regent and Corn Exchange website, but you’ll have to hurry to grab tickets for The Greatest Showman.
Labyrinth Challenge, Trinity Park, June 30-July 1
Are you up for a challenge? If so, this weekend you can tackle an obstacle course which stretches over 1,000ft. The Labyrinth Challenge, the world’s longest continuous inflatable obstacle course, stretches over 1,000ft, with 30 obstacles and five different zones. You need to be 10 or over to complete the course, but there is also a mini-version for ages five to eight. See the website for more details.
Barnum, Wherstead Park, June 28-July 1
The story of circus king PT Barnum, creator of the Greatest Show on Earth, has been in the spotlight thanks to the success of film The Greatest Showman. Now the hit musical Barnum is being staged by the Co-op Juniors with a live band, in the Circus Fantasia big top in the Manor House Grounds of Wherstead Park. Aerial artists Kizzy and Tilly Packham will be handling some of the amazing stunts in the show. Tickets can be booked via the New Wolsey Theatre website.
Sarah Millican, Ipswich Regent, June 27-30
Top comedian Sarah Millican has christened her tour ‘Control Enthusiast’, insisting that she’s not a control freak but an enthusiast. Sarah has such a strong following in the Ipswich area that she is performing at the Regent for four successive nights. Her show is funny, frank and unapologetically filthy, with only a few tickets left, so you’ll have to hurry if you want to see her. For more details, visit the Regent website.
Footloose - The Musical, Spa Pavilion, Felixstowe, June 28-30
The talented youngsters from CBM Theatre are staging another musical at the Spa this weekend. Footloose is teh story of a teenage boy, Ren, who moves from Chicago to a small town, Bomont. However, on arrival he falls out with the local reverend, who has persuaded the town to outlaw dancing - something which Ren just can’t accept! For details, see the website.
Westerfield Horse Show, Westerfield Hall, June 30
The annual horse show is being held for its 54th year this weekend A fun family day out is promised, with senior and junior qualifying classes, a gymkhana, showing classes and fancy dress. There will also be stalls and refreshments. The day runs from 9.30am to 5.30pm, in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support, fundraising for the Macmillan Woolverstone Unit at Ipswich Hospital. For more details, see the event’s Facebook page.
Tower Chamber Choir, St Mary Le Tower Church, June 30
If you are a fan of classical music, you can hear the Tower Chamber Choir perform Brahms’s A German Requiem at 7.30pm. Christopher Weston and Andrew Leach play the two piano accompaniments. Tickets are available from the church’s box office, 17 Tower Street, Ipswich.
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