Web Log

Ghoulish ghouls, wicked witches and devilish devils return to Kings Lynn this Halloween!

The Vancouver Quarter shopping centre and King's Lynn Town Centre will be hosting the unique USA-style trick-or-treat event again this year following the success of last years event. Shoppers are invited to participate in the free event which takes place on Saturday 31st October.

The spooktacular family-friendly event includes performances from a group of parkour free runners from 2pm onwards - parkour also known as the art of movement is an extreme sport where individuals free run using street furniture and buildings. As well as entertaining shoppers with their athletic stunts the group will also be raising money for the charity ActionAid. There will also be performances from Alison's street dance.

The thrilling trick-or-treat event will be taking place from 4pm-6pm with the majority of shops in the Vancouver Quarter and Town centre handing out sweets and chocolate goodies to trick-or-treaters. Children and their mums and dads are invited to come along to the event in costume and take part in the fancy dress competition for a chance to win some fantastic prizes.

Labels: events, ghosts

Lynn's Vancouver Quarter will be joining in the fun of the Borough Council organised Hanse Festival on Friday 31st July. The centre piece attraction will be a fantastic, fully interactive pirate pandemonium show which will be performed on board an amazing pirate ship!

Shoppers will be entertained by the pirate captain and his four new young recruits who will be put through their paces learning to become a pirate - walking the plank, sword fighting, counting the doubloons, hiding the treasure and treasure map reading! There will be plenty of slapstick humour as the recruits do not always come up to scratch and the captain will have to invite members of the audience to see if they can do better! So it's "shiver me timbers - me hearty's" and full speed ahead to the new recruits! Show times on Friday 31st July are 11am, 1pm, and 3pm.

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2009 Holkham Events

Sunday 12th & Monday 13th April, 12-4.00pm
Easter Trail in the Bygones Museum

Sunday 3rd May, 7.30pm
Celebrity Concert - Gresham’s School Choir

Sunday 14th June
Open Air Concert - Elton John

Friday 3rd July, 7.00pm
Diva Opera - La Bohème

Saturday 4th July, 7.00pm
Diva Opera - Orpheus in the Underworld

Saturday 18th & Sunday 19th July
Holkham Country Fair

Sunday 26th July, 7.00pm
Outdoor Theatre Production - The Taming of the Shrew

Thursday 30th July, 6.00pm
Outdoor Theatre Production - Cinderella

Thursday 13th August, 6.00pm
Outdoor Theatre Production - Merlin the Magician

Thursday 20th August, 6.00pm
Outdoor Theatre Production - The Three Musketeers

Thursday 27th August, 6.00pm
Outdoor Theatre Production - Babe, The Sheep-Pig

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Our Regular Events Page has been updated. New entries include Gaywood Parent Baby and Toddler Group, North Norfolk Karate Club and the St Ann's Garrison Roleplay and Wargames Club (with a link to their website)

Lots more events on there too!

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It's all go in the Festival office and the programme for the 59th King's Lynn Festival is well on the way. Summer 2009 in King's Lynn will be a feast of sights and sounds for all as possibly the most varied programme of events yet, takes over the town from 12 to 25 July.

For lovers of classical music, the Berlin Symphoniker visits the Festival for the first time to perform an all-Beethoven programme on the final night, the ever-popular clarinettist Emma Johnson, makes a welcome return, accompanied by Andrew West, while one of Europe's top chamber orchestras, the European Union Chamber Orchestra is joined by pianist and Festival Vice-President Freddy Kempf. EUCO teams up with the King's Lynn Festival Chorus to perform Faure's Requiem in St Nicholas' Chapel and Mendelssohn's wonderful Octet is performed by the Academy of St Martin in the Fields in the Guildhall. The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment provides 'a grand tour of Italy' in St Margaret's Church with music by Vivaldi and Corelli.

Blake are making their debut appearance in King's Lynn. Winners of Album of the Year at the Classical BRIT Awards in 2008, they bridge the gap between pop and opera.

An exciting list of authors includes Dame Stella Rimington, the first-ever woman to head up MI5 and prolific writer and observer A.N. Wilson who will speak at the Literary Dinner, while Tony Mallion is in conversation with Rt Hon Shirley Williams. Audiences of previous David Starkey lectures will delight in his return for another, uniquely delivered and enlightening, round on the Tudors.

And then there's the jazz, the folk and the children's events with a tribute to great jazz violinist Stephane Grappelli by the Mike Piggott Hot Club Trio, legendary folk-duo Martin Carthy & Dave Swarbrick, and a delightful children's concert The King, The Minstrels & The Restless Jester with lots of opportunity for audience participation.

Not enough? Then how about the coffee concerts and the chance to see rising stars in the setting of the Town Hall and enjoy home-made cakes and a chat before the concert. Or how does The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain sound? This group of 'uke' players have taken the UK by storm with sell-out concerts. Come along and see for yourself what all the fuss is about - it promises to be quite an evening!

This year's Festival Exhibition will feature works by Robert Whitmore (1908-1993), who was educated in King's Lynn. The list of umbrella events organised by many communities and individuals throughout Norfolk during the Festival fortnight provides a rich array of things to do and see.

www.kingslynnfestival.org.uk

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Once again, showmen from around the country will gather in King's Lynn on Saturday 14 February for the ceremonial opening of the Mart, which will take place as usual on Dodgems.

Details of the history of the Mart can be found on our Town History page.

Historic photos of Lynn Mart have been compiled in an Internet gallery by the National Fairground Archive at Sheffield University. To view the online gallery Click here

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Pictures from the town of Santa, reindeer, huskies,the Snow Queen and Frosty the Snowman.



Pictures of the lights coming soon...

Labels: christmas, events

Here are the latest pictures of what's happening in the town.


More pictures soon. Looking forward to seeing Cyril Grant from the X-Factor switching on the lights in the Tuesday Market Place round about 6.30. Get there early to avoid the rush - last year the town was in grid-lock.

Labels: christmas, events

Lynn's first ever Santa Run will take place on Sunday November 23. The 2km run is open to everyone, all ages and abilities - even dogs and babies in pushchairs can come along!

There is no emphasis on 'running' - walkers and joggers are more than welcome. Get in contact with Jessica to get your Santa suit and raise money for you local children's hospice!

The run starts from the Vancouver Quarter Bridge, Broad Street at 11am. contact: Jessica Hiscocks, phone: 01953 715533

More info at website: www.each.org.uk/events/santaruns

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This year Lynn's Christmas Lights switch-on takes place on Friday November 21st. It will be a spectacular all-day event. Here's the full programme:

All Day Continental market in the Tuesday Market Place

12noon and 4pm Ice Skating Show, near Argos.

2pm Mayor opens Santa's Grotto next to the Card Factory in the Vancouver Centre.

5pm - 7pm Various events in Tuesday Market Place including KL.FM, local band The Brink and characters from Aladdin.

5.30pm Santa and his reindeer start procession around town from Saturday Market Place, via High Street, Norfolk Street, Broad Street and New Conduit Street.

6.30pm Cyril Grant (from the X-Factor) switches on the lights in the Tuesday Market Place.

All times are approximate.

We plan to add pictures of the events to our gallery on Saturday.

Labels: christmas, events

Lynn's Vancouver Quarter will be transformed this Christmas into a winter wonderland spectacle, providing Christmas shoppers with a festive family fun atmosphere.

The exciting centre piece attraction this year is an eco-ice-skating rink which will be installed between Argos and Westgate Department Store. The eco-ice-rink will be open daily from Friday 21st November until Sunday 4th January 2009, including late night sessions on Thursdays and Fridays to coincide with late night shopping.

The grand opening on Friday 21st November, the night of the light switch on celebrations, will be a magical event. Throughout the day there will be spectacular 'Disney' quality performances and acts from several winter wonderland characters. Performances include Snow Queen and Jack Frost, two interactive characters who will be entertaining shoppers with an ice-themed pantomime.

Frosty the Snowman, a love-able and hug-able, cheeky faced character who will be melting the hearts of young and old. Finally majestic stilt walking, silver icicle Christmas trees will add a great visual spectacle to the winter wonderland festivities.

The shopping centre is guaranteed to be a white Christmas, with visitors 'Walking in a Winter Wonderland' complete with very realistic snow and spectacular icicle lights that will be brightening up the darkening nights.

The shop between Carphone Warehouse and Card Factory will be transformed into a magical Santa's Grotto, complete with wonderful animated scenes, characters and animals. The Grotto also has a magical Santa sleigh ride simulator which will enthral and excite children. The sleigh ride is very realistic, seating 12 children at a time with animated reindeer and moving scenery that depicts a magical journey.

Finally for those children who have been good this year they can meet Santa and his little helpers and tell him their Christmas wishes. Children will also get a personalised photo with Santa and a Christmas toy.

Vancouver Quarter Manager Brad Curcillo says "We are very excited to have the eco- ice rink and Santa's Grotto at Vancouver Quarter, the grand opening on Friday 21st November will be a winter wonderland spectacle not to be missed, shoppers will think Lapland has come to King's Lynn!"

For more information please contact either Vancouver Quarter Manager Brad Curcillo on 01553 819901 or Sophie Butler on 01926 611700 or sophie@lmmc.co.uk.

For more information about the eco-ice-skating rink, including opening hours and prices, visit www.ecoiceskate.com

Labels: christmas, events

The What's On Calendar has been updated for October with dozens of interesting ideas for things to do in and around Lynn. Auctions, jumble sales, car boots, concerts, bingo venues, gigs, fascinating talks, special markets plus much more ...
What's On Calendar

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King's Lynn Mart will be opening on Thursday 14th February at 12 noon.

Featured rides on the Tuesday Market Place this year include the Giant Grasshopper, Sizzler Twister, Dodgems, Extreme, Waltzers, Superbob, High Energy and this year's star attraction The Mighty Booster.

The Mighty Booster is a 130ft "white knuckle" ride, and is the highest ride to ever visit the Mart.

Opening Hours:
Thursday 14th - Saturday 16th: 12noon till late.
Monday 18th - Friday 22nd: 6pm till late.
Saturday 23rd: 12 noon till late.
Monday 25th & Tuesday 26th: 6pm till late.

Friday 15th is Children's Day from 12 noon, with all big rides costing £1, Mighty Booster £2, and Children's Rides 80p.

There will be no parking on Tuesday Market Place, but there will be 700 spaces in St James multi-storey car park.

Labels: events

Labels: christmas, events

The countdown to Christmas has already begun in earnest and shopping in the town is set to be better and brighter than ever before.

King's Lynn has a packed programme of events for the festive period and is set to sparkle when the lights are officially switched on. The town will benefit from new energy efficient lights'

The fun will begin on 23 November when Santa and his reindeer pay a visit to the town to make the switch on of the lights as magical as possible. From 4pm onward there will be plenty to entertain young and old alike. Around the town there will be appearances of the Princess Theatre's pantomime Queen and elves, who will no doubt be getting up to elfish mischief, as well as a performance of 'Jack and the Beanstalk' by Kult Theatre, a young person's theatre group and a host of street entertainers.

From 5 pm KLFM will be helping to get the crowds in the festive mood in the Tuesday Market Place, and rhythm and blues band, Blues Tubes, will have them merrily toe-tapping. At 5 pm Santa and his reindeer, the Mayor and official party will leave the Saturday Market Place to walk through the town with carol singing stops along the way.

At 5.40 pm the procession will reach Baxter's Plain (outside Argos) for carol singing, there will also be a snow making machine to add to the atmosphere. Children can join the parade at Baxter's Plain, which will depart at 5.55pm for the Tuesday Market Place for the switch on ceremony.

At 6.30 pm the town will be set aglow as Santa, the pantomime Queen and two lucky competition winners, hit the button that will bring electrifying results as the new lights go on all over the town!

If the new lights are not enough to bring a glow to the cheeks, then the Christmas grotto, situated in the Vancouver Quarter, should. The grotto will open after the switch on and remain open throughout the lead up to Christmas, so whilst you'll be playing Santa searching out those gifts to fill the family's stockings, you can take a break from the hustle and bustle of the high street and get a flavour of what it's like for the man himself by taking a trip on a virtual sleigh ride.

Nostalgic images of white Christmases are never far from our thoughts at this time of year, but whatever the weather you will be guaranted a winter wonderland with the snow machine located in the Vancouver Quarter and you will have the opportunity to put the shopping on ice and take a turn on the eco-ice rink that will be situated at the Tuesday Market Place. The opening of the rink will coincide with the switch on of the Christmas lights on 23 November and will be open 4pm-10 pm Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 10 am - 10 pm Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturday and 10 am -8 pm on Sundays until 6 January.

On the switch on evening the rink will have a truly magical appearance enhanced by a miniature elf village. Children will marvel at the tiny houses, each of which have been designed and decorated by local artists. You will also find market stalls surrounding the rink so you can squeeze in a little more gift shopping before you leave the market place.

The evening market is not the only new, extra shopping opportunity available in King's Lynn this year. Both Thursday and Friday evenings have been designated as late night shopping during the run up to Christmas, which should help to make shopping a little less frantic as well as being far more family friendly.

Labels: christmas, events

King's Lynn really starts getting into the Christmas mood next Friday, 23rd November.

You can meet Santa's reindeer outside Argos from 1pm - 4.30pm. Then Santa and his Christmas Parade hit the town at 5pm, accompanied by the Mayor and Santa's naughty elves!

You can visit Santa in his Winter Wonderland on Broad Street, open from 7pm on the Friday,and then every day from 12pm - 4pm, and longer on late night shopping days.

The Christmas lights will be switched on at 6.30pm in the Tuesday Market Place. Late night shopping will be until 8pm on Friday 23rd november, then every Thursday and Friday.

Check out our Events Pages for more Christmas events.

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Spine chilling tales and haunting gothic music and films will send a shiver through libraries during Gothic Norfolk month this November.

Delve into the past and discover more about gothic mystery, myth and legend with our programme of events including talks on Hammer horror films, gargoyle clay modelling, an on-line Gothic Norfolk map offering an insight into spooky local lore and much more.

Gothic Norfolk Events
Gothic Norfolk Map

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