This Week’s Highlights

It’s official half term this week so lots of family friendly events and activities for the children, and plenty for the fully grown too. It’s also the week closest to Halloween with the highest density of youngsters looking for a fright, so look out for the themed-events, too many and too broadly spread to list in our calendar. 

KIDS AND FAMILY FUN: FROM PADDINGTON TO POPPINS

Mary Poppins drops in for tea at the Pavilion Theatre Cromer, Fri 26 Oct

Here’s hoping the autumn continues this year’s run of wonderful weather because there’s lots for the youngsters to do outside this week. For starters’ orders it’s a family day out at Fakenham Races on Fri 19 Oct. All children under 16 enter for free. On Sat and Sun the Beach Café in Wells has a piratical theme, with games, competitions, dressing up and of course a treasure hunt. The event is aimed at ages three to 10. Mon 22 Oct Wells Maltings has a kids’ matinee, appropriately and simply titled: ‘Your Toys’, and Paddington 2 on screen in the evening. Over in Cromer area, Felbrigg Hall has several outdoor nature events and the Pavilion Theatre Cromer rounds off the week with a Mary Poppins Tea Party on Fri 26 Oct.

FAMILY: BLAKENEY FIREWORKS

The quay at Blakeney will be flooded with people (for a change) for the Fireworks on Sat 20 Oct

On Sat 20 Oct, Blakeney bursts into flames. It’s the annual bonfire and fireworks event. Official start time is 5pm and the fire is usually lit just before 7pm. In the meantime there are food and drink stalls, serving hog roasts and homemade soup, and of course the pubs will be doing roaring trade. The firework display, which is always spectacular over the salt marshes, will start at approx. 7.30pm. Parking is free at the village hall and there is no ‘ticket’ required, but buckets will be doing the rounds for local charity. A popular viewing spot is the grassy mound up the High St and off to the left behind the Guildhall.

MUSIC ROCK: BIG TRIBUTE ACTS AND LOCAL ORIGINALS

Renegade 12 at the Rampant Horse, Sat 21 Oct Photo: Chris Bushe

The Pavilion Theatre Cromer and the Princess in Hunstanton – neatly bracketing the area – have a regular plethora of music events in the lead up to their Christmas shows and pantos taking over in late Nov and Dec. Mostly it’s tribute bands, all of a high standard, and a few old and bold who are still on the circuit in person. Check the calendar for the full list. More local and low level but with perhaps a little more ‘freshness’, the Rampant Horse in Fakenham is beginning to show form with local bands. Evening Sat 21 Oct they’re hosting Renegade Twelve. We’ve checked them out and they look promising. Think Thin Lizzy. Blakeney Harbour Room hosts regular bands, of the heavier type, while the cosy bar on the Albatros in Wells has music three times a week, usually a duo. And folksters can get their fix at the Weybourne Folk Club on Sun 21 Oct.

TALKS: HENRY BLOFELD, ROADSIDE NATURE RESERVES AND PRISONS

Henry Blofeld talks a good game of cricket on Fri 26 Oct in Cromer

Old Blowers (Henry Blofeld), the voice of test match cricket, might have retired from the box but he’s very much ‘not out’ of the publicity circuit. The charming raconteur will be talking about his latest book and – we hear a rumour – his own French wine, on Thu 25 Oct at the Pavilion Theatre in Cromer. Two other, more serious, talks this week: on Thu 25 Oct afternoon, Roger Jones at the NWT Cley will teach you where and what you can find in our ‘roadside nature reserves’ and on Fri 26 Oct the South Creake Lecture Series has Professor Nick Hardwicke describing ‘What Goes on Behind Prison Walls’.

COMEDY: CHUBBY BROWN, PATRICK MONAHAN AND MICHAEL BRANDON

Best leave Mother-in-Law with the children for Chubby Brown on Fri 19 Oct

We’ve left this til last on the assumption that the children are in bed by now. Several comedy shows across the week, starting with a clash on Fri 19 Oct between Roy Chubby Brown over in Hunstanton and Patrick Monahan in Wells at the Maltings. Of the former, his wiki page says: ‘the controversial nature of his act means he rarely appears on major television channels’, while the latter’s highlights how he holds the world record for the longest hug (25 hours an 25 mins). On Sun 21 Oct at the Princess Theatre Hunstanton actor Michael Brandon gives a new twist to ‘Stand Up’ with his tales of trying to break into Hollywood.

STICK AROUND FOR…

Creake Abbey, a perfect setting for a Halloween movie

… Halloween movie night at Creake Abbey on Fri 26 Oct, and the sequel, the next night - those ruins can be spooky, the Makers’ Market in Fakenham on Sat 26 Oct and Farmers’ Market at Sandringham on Sun 27 Oct, Sunny Ormonde, radio star of the Archers entertaining the audience at Wells Maltings on Sun 26 Oct evening, and another race meeting at Fakenham on Wed 31 Oct.

CURRENT ART SHOWS

Shelley Perkins, Norfolk Wildlife Trust Cley, Wed 17 Oct to Tue 30 Oct. 10am to 5pm, www.norfolkwildlifetrust.org.uk

Tracey Ross, Norfolk Horizons, Creake Abbey Café, to 16 Oct, 9am-5pm, www.creakeabbeycafe.com

Drawings and Photographs, Harry Cory Wright, Monkswell, Station Rd, Burnham Market, 20 to 28 Oct, 10am-6pm. 07774 211191