👋 Hi Devon Fun Seekers,

Welcome to Go Devon!, a weekly newsletter with fun, interesting and unique things to do in Devon. Thanks for being here!

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All hands on deck for Plymouth Pirates Weekend 18th and 19th May

Being a pirate has captured the imagination of Plymouth locals and visitors, with around 10,000 people dressing up in 2023. That’s about 1 in 3 of those that attended.

Piratical costumes, sea shanties and drumming, kids entertainment, historic ships, stilt walking and rum tasting bring the city’s waterfront alive (video).

Returning to Plymouth this year is the Galeón Andalucía, a full-sized replica of a 17th Century Spanish galleon, and the Pascual Flores, an original example of a Spanish pilot boat.

Something or other to splice your mainbrace will be happening at the Barbican, Sutton Harbour and Royal William Yard on Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th May. Full details here.

Roll up for the Bideford bikestravaganza

You’ve probably never seen so many motorbikes.

Hundreds take over Bideford Quay on Sunday 26th May with proud owners showing off their gleaming chrome and paintwork.

This will be the 10th anniversary of the Bideford Bike Show, attracting supporters from all over the South West and raising money for local charities.

It’s a day of live music, food and drink and browsing past every style of bike you could imagine. Watch a slick drone video of the event.

12pm till 5pm. Bikes £3 each. Visitors free.

Untamed, unscripted and uncensored

He says what he thinks and isn’t afraid to offend, but he’s mellowed a bit.

Nearly 50 years after spitting and swearing his way to fame as Johnny Rotten, lead singer of the Sex Pistols, John Lydon is touring the country explaining what it was all about.

You can spend an evening with the punk legend, hearing his life story and tales of his unique career, and ask questions during his I Could Be Wrong, I Could Be Right show.

Axminster Guildhall, Wednesday 15th May. Tiverton Community Arts Centre, Thursday 16th May. Exeter Corn Exchange, Friday 17th May. Exmouth Pavilions, Wednesday 26th June.

Tickets from £33.

How about a Cheesy Bingo night?

It’s like no game of bingo you’ve ever played before. Music, madness, sing-a-longs, ridiculous prizes and surprises.

The host has got the bingo numbers, the DJ has the cheesiest party tunes, like S Club, Vengaboys and Wham.

Get your dabbers out and your dancing shoes on, and oh, somebody will be leaving with a giant inflatable unicorn.

7.30pm. Saturday 11th May, Exeter Corn Exchange, Market Street EX1 1BW

Tickets £16.50

Plan your escape from Dartmoor Prison

How good would you be at staging a jailbreak?

Dartmoor Prison Break is a endurance race where entrants get as far as they can from the jailhouse in a given time.

Organised by the volunteer Dartmoor Search and Rescue to raise funds for their service, the event is open to ultra-race runners and fun runners alike (or even run as a team).

Choose between being an Absconder (how far you can get in 6 hours), a Delinquent (12 hours) or a Felon (24 hours). Previous escapees have made it to The Lizard in Cornwall and into Somerset.

You can go anywhere using public rights of way. All escapees are monitored with a GPS tracker and emergency button, so no one can get lost, and friends and family can see where you are.

Saturday 1st June. Minimum age 18. Entries £39-£59.

Devon Curiosities #3: The House That Moved

When a bypass was built through Exeter in 1961 everything in its path was due to be demolished, but there was a problem.

A valuable Tudor merchant’s house was inconveniently in the way and after a preservation campaign and an incredible feat of engineering it was lifted and moved on rails to its present spot.

The House That Moved was built between 1420 and 1460 and is one of the oldest private dwellings in Devon, currently used as a wedding dress shop.

Each floor sticks out more than the floor below and the first floor overhangs by nearly 2ft. Back in the day houses were taxed according to their footprint.

Details of the move are fascinating. Weighing 21 tons, it had to be balanced on the rails, turned 90 degrees and then winched uphill with air compressors, while workers made sure it remained upright.

Watch the move happen (video).

The house is located near Western Way and Fore Street.

Listings

🌊 North Devon 

APRIL

Fri 19th

HISTORY | ⛵️ Smuggling and Shipwrecks - A talk by David Carter | Mortehoe Village Hall, Woolacombe EX34 7ED | Tickets £6.13

Sat 20th to Sun 21st

FLOWER SHOW | 🌷 National Rhododendron Show | RHS Rosemoor, Great Torrington EX38 8PH | Adult tickets £15.85, child £5.75

Sat 27th

CRAFT | 🧼 Beginner soap making course | Unit 7, Caddsdown Business Support Centre, Bideford EX39 3DX | Tickets £60

MAY

Sun 5th

CELEBRATING SUMMER | ☀️ Jack in the Green festivities | Ilfracombe EX34 | Free

EXERCISE AND WELLBEING | 🧘‍♀️ Park Yoga | Rock Park, Barnstaple EX32 9AQ | Free

Thu 9th

MAKE DO | 🧵 Clothes mending workshop | Studio KIND, Barnstaple EX31 1SY | Tickets £25

Thu 16th

HONEY | 🐝 Beekeeping Experience Day | Quince Honey Farm, South Molton EX36 3RD | Tickets £175

Fri 24th to Mon 27th 

FOOD AND DRINK | 🍻 Ilfracombe Beer Festival 2024 | The Landmark Theatre, Ilfracombe EX34 9BZ |

JUNE

Fri 21st to Sun 23rd

FESTIVAL | ☀️ GoldCoast Oceanfest 2024 | Croyde Beach, Braunton EX33 1NZ | Adult weekend tickets £99.25, children (6-17) £88.25

Sun 30th

CHALLENGE | 🏃 North Devon Marathon, Half Marathon and 10km race | The Green, Esplanade, Woolacombe EX34 7DJ | Registration 

🐬 South Devon

APRIL

Sat 27th

DAY OUT | 🍃 Green Man Spring Festival | Fore Street, Bovey Tracey TQ13 9AW | Free

MAY

Wed 1st

MAY DAY | ☀️ Dance on Dartmoor at sunrise with Dartmoor Border Morris | 5.15am, car park below Leedon Tor on the B3212 | Free

Sat 4th to Sun 19th

EXPLORE | 🚶 English Riviera Walking Festival | 20 guided walks around Torquay, Paignton and Brixham. Book here

Tue 14th

CAR SHOW | 🚘 Quay Side Classics | A chance to meet fellow classic car owners and enthusiasts | Kingsbridge TQ7 | Free

Fri 17th to Sun 19th

BIG WHEELS | 🚛 Devon Truck Show 2024 | Smeatharpe Airfield, Honiton EX14 4SP | Adult day tickets £15.50, child £7.50

Sat 18th

ENDURANCE RACE | 🏃‍♀️ Devon Coast to Coast Ultra Marathon | Wembury PL9 0AU | Registration

Fri 24th to Sun 26th

BEACH GAMES | 🏉 Exmouth Beach Rugby & Netball Festival | Exmouth Beach EX8 2AY | Enter a team here

Tue 28th

EXERCISE AND WELLBEING | 🧘‍♀️ Yoga in the Caves | Kents Cavern, Torquay TQ1 2JF | Tickets £11

Fri 31st to Sun 2nd June

FOOD AND DRINK | 🌯 20th Anniversary of Plymouth Flavour Fest | Amanda Way PL1 2AA | Free

JUNE

Sat 1st and Sun 2nd

FLYING HIGH | 🛩️ English Riviera Airshow | Paignton Green TQ4 6BQ | Free

🏆️ Win Devon prizes

We find Devon prize competitions so you don’t have to.

Closing dates in brackets. Terms and conditions apply, see individual websites for details.

You could win:

NEW!  🛏️ A family holiday to Devon with a 2 night stay in a cottage for 2 adults and 2 children (free registration to Waterstone Plus required) (9th May)

🐺 A family ticket for 2 adults and 2 children to see Exmoor Zoo (no date given)

🍾 A champagne afternoon tea at a top Plymouth hotel (no date given)

🍾 3 bottles of English sparkling wine and a vineyard tour (Today, 18th April)

🍇 One of 4 vineyard tours and lunch for 2 with Dartmoor views (Tomorrow, 19th April)

NEW!  🌊 A 2-night stay at Tors Park, Lynmouth (Instagram) (20th April)

 🐕️ A 3-night stay in an eco-conscious, dog-friendly luxury lodge, with up to 4 guests, and a welcome hamper for humans and canines. (21st April)

NEW!  🚚 A family ticket to the Devon Truck Show on May 18th and 19th (Facebook (25th April)

🏇 2 four-day tickets to the Bicton International Horse Trials, a food hamper and free camping pass on 23-26 May (25th April)

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 1 of 4 amazing 2024 family park holidays (30th April)

🇪🇹 Tickets to one of 2 rum and reggae festivals and £40 drinks vouchers (30th April)

🌊 A 2-night stay at the luxury Gara Rock resort (1st May)

🏡 An escape to a newly refurbished cottage in South Devon (10th May)

 🍷 A one‑night stay for two in a boutique North Devon venue and pub, a three‑course dinner for two and a farm tour worth a total of £375. (15th May)

Got a competition? Let us know.

That’s all for this week, but…

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With Devon love,

Andy, Esme, Lara and the Go Devon! team.