Northamptonshire Tourist Guide - Articles
Northamptonshire Festivals
When it comes to international festivals and world-class events, Northamptonshire boasts one of the best line-ups in Britain! Crowd-pulling Northamptonshire festivals include the Northampton Balloon Festival, Oundle International Festival, World Conker Championships and so much more …
Northampton Balloon Festival
Heralded as ‘Northampton's ‘flagship event, putting Northampton on the festival map nationally and internationally’, the popular Northampton Balloon Festival is into its 18th year, attracting visitors from far and wide. This spectacular ballooning festival also hosts a variety of additional attractions and family-style entertainment, with new, fun ideas being introduced each year. The 2008 Northampton Balloon Festival promises even more family fun with attractions including an animal petting farm, as well as a big-top circus.
Northamptonshire Balloon Festival Information 2008:
2008 dates: Friday 15th – Sunday 17th August
Tel: +44 (0)1604 838222
Official website: www.northamptonballoonfestival.com
Directions: Follow signs for Northampton, exit junctions 15, 15A & 16; from Northampton follow AA signs for Northampton Racecourse.
Oundle International Festival, Northamptonshire
Now into its 24th year, the Oundle International Festival is a series of not-to-be-missed events. Highlights of the 2008 Oundle International Festival include an amazing Fireworks Concert (Saturday 12th July, 2008) and several musical concerts in the lead-up to the July Oundle International Festival. All the musical performances described collectively as ‘Music in Quiet Places’ are being held in inspirational settings throughout the area.
Oundle International Festival, Northamptonshire Information 2008:
2008 dates: Friday 11th July - Sunday 20th July 2008.
Request a brochure: Tel. +44 (0)1780 470297
Email: information@oundlefestival.org.uk
Address: The Creed Chapel, Ashton, Oundle, Northamptonshire, PE8 5LD
General enquiries: Oundle Tourist Information Centre, Tel: +44 (0)1832 274333.
World Conker Championships, Ashton, Northamptonshire
Organised by Ashton Conker Club, the World Conker Championships are held on the second Sunday in October, every year, in the delightful village of Ashton, Northamptonshire.
Following its conception by handful of regulars at the village pub in Ashton, way back in 1965, the World Conker Championships quickly became established on Northamptonshire’s festival calendar as a major international event. By the year 1998, the charity-focussed World Conker Championships were attracting entrants from across the globe, with approximately 50 overseas players competing for the Men's title alone.
In terms of pure spectacle, the World Conker Championships, Ashton, takes some beating, with competitors slugging it out on eight white podia set up on the village green and the overall champion invited to take up the Conker Throne draped with conkers. The World Conker Championships provides a fun-filled day out for all the family with stalls, side-shows and much more.
World Conker Championships Information
Official website: www.worldconkerchampionships.com
2008 dates: Sunday 12th October 2008, opening ceremony starts at 10:30 a.m.
Location: Village Green, Ashton, Northamptonshire
Directions: Take A605 either from A1, A14, or A427 from Corby; then through Oundle to roundabout on outskirts of Oundle. Follow sign for ‘Ashton’ and ‘World Conker Championships’ (less than a mile).
Other Northamptonshire Festivals and Annual Events
The following are just a few more suggestions for Northamptonshire Festivals and annual events:
FIA European Drag Racing Championship: (May), Santa Pod, Northampton
Superbike World Championship: (May), Silverstone, Towcester
Althorp Literary Festival: (June), Althorp, Northampton
British Grand Prix: (July), Silverstone, Towcester
Proms in the Park: (July), Wootton Village Park, Northampton
Transport Gala: (early August), East Carlton Park
British F3/GT Championship: (August), Silverstone, Towcester
Althorp Autumn Garden Show: (September), Althorp, Northampton
Kites Day at Rockingham Castle: (September), Rockingham Castle, Corby
Opera for Autumn Evening: (September), Fawsley Hall, Daventry
World Conker Championships: (October), Ashton
Various annual events are also held at the Manor House Museum, Sheep Street, Kettering, Northamptonshire and include: ‘Tolkien Day’, ‘Inventors’, ‘Cartoons’, ’Tudors’ and ‘Historical Fayre’. For the latest information contact Manor House Museum on Tel: +44 (0)1536 534219.
For a full list of festivals and local events taking place in Northamptonshire, contact your nearest Northamptonshire Tourist Information Centre; see: Northamptonshire TIC for a list of Northamptonshire TIC addresses.
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Northampton Balloon Festival
Heralded as ‘Northampton's ‘flagship event, putting Northampton on the festival map nationally and internationally’, the popular Northampton Balloon Festival is into its 18th year, attracting visitors from far and wide. This spectacular ballooning festival also hosts a variety of additional attractions and family-style entertainment, with new, fun ideas being introduced each year. The 2008 Northampton Balloon Festival promises even more family fun with attractions including an animal petting farm, as well as a big-top circus.
Northamptonshire Balloon Festival Information 2008:
2008 dates: Friday 15th – Sunday 17th August
Tel: +44 (0)1604 838222
Official website: www.northamptonballoonfestival.com
Directions: Follow signs for Northampton, exit junctions 15, 15A & 16; from Northampton follow AA signs for Northampton Racecourse.
Oundle International Festival, Northamptonshire
Now into its 24th year, the Oundle International Festival is a series of not-to-be-missed events. Highlights of the 2008 Oundle International Festival include an amazing Fireworks Concert (Saturday 12th July, 2008) and several musical concerts in the lead-up to the July Oundle International Festival. All the musical performances described collectively as ‘Music in Quiet Places’ are being held in inspirational settings throughout the area.
Oundle International Festival, Northamptonshire Information 2008:
2008 dates: Friday 11th July - Sunday 20th July 2008.
Request a brochure: Tel. +44 (0)1780 470297
Email: information@oundlefestival.org.uk
Address: The Creed Chapel, Ashton, Oundle, Northamptonshire, PE8 5LD
General enquiries: Oundle Tourist Information Centre, Tel: +44 (0)1832 274333.
World Conker Championships, Ashton, Northamptonshire
Organised by Ashton Conker Club, the World Conker Championships are held on the second Sunday in October, every year, in the delightful village of Ashton, Northamptonshire.
Following its conception by handful of regulars at the village pub in Ashton, way back in 1965, the World Conker Championships quickly became established on Northamptonshire’s festival calendar as a major international event. By the year 1998, the charity-focussed World Conker Championships were attracting entrants from across the globe, with approximately 50 overseas players competing for the Men's title alone.
In terms of pure spectacle, the World Conker Championships, Ashton, takes some beating, with competitors slugging it out on eight white podia set up on the village green and the overall champion invited to take up the Conker Throne draped with conkers. The World Conker Championships provides a fun-filled day out for all the family with stalls, side-shows and much more.
World Conker Championships Information
Official website: www.worldconkerchampionships.com
2008 dates: Sunday 12th October 2008, opening ceremony starts at 10:30 a.m.
Location: Village Green, Ashton, Northamptonshire
Directions: Take A605 either from A1, A14, or A427 from Corby; then through Oundle to roundabout on outskirts of Oundle. Follow sign for ‘Ashton’ and ‘World Conker Championships’ (less than a mile).
Other Northamptonshire Festivals and Annual Events
The following are just a few more suggestions for Northamptonshire Festivals and annual events:
FIA European Drag Racing Championship: (May), Santa Pod, Northampton
Superbike World Championship: (May), Silverstone, Towcester
Althorp Literary Festival: (June), Althorp, Northampton
British Grand Prix: (July), Silverstone, Towcester
Proms in the Park: (July), Wootton Village Park, Northampton
Transport Gala: (early August), East Carlton Park
British F3/GT Championship: (August), Silverstone, Towcester
Althorp Autumn Garden Show: (September), Althorp, Northampton
Kites Day at Rockingham Castle: (September), Rockingham Castle, Corby
Opera for Autumn Evening: (September), Fawsley Hall, Daventry
World Conker Championships: (October), Ashton
Various annual events are also held at the Manor House Museum, Sheep Street, Kettering, Northamptonshire and include: ‘Tolkien Day’, ‘Inventors’, ‘Cartoons’, ’Tudors’ and ‘Historical Fayre’. For the latest information contact Manor House Museum on Tel: +44 (0)1536 534219.
For a full list of festivals and local events taking place in Northamptonshire, contact your nearest Northamptonshire Tourist Information Centre; see: Northamptonshire TIC for a list of Northamptonshire TIC addresses.
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