😎 Hello Devon People!

Devon’s exploding with fun events and activities!

There are some really super cool things going on in the next few weeks and months.

So without further ado…….

Enjoy atmospheric, sensory concerts in a market hall or a fish tank (bet you havn’t done that before)

Candlelight Summer concerts turn a live musical experience into a multi-sensory one with the simple twists of unusual locations and candles.

This summer hear string tribute versions of Coldplay, Queen (video) and Taylor Swift music at the National Marine Aquarium in Plymouth.

You’ll be sitting in the gentle glow of candlelight with fishes swimming in the background. That’s a new one for us.

At the Market Hall Dome in Devonport there are separate dim light tributes to Japanese film score composers Joe Hisaishi and Hans Zimmer, the music of the Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones films, and the Italian composer Vivaldi.

The Dome is designed for immersive experiences and together with candlelight promises an equally rare concert vibe.

Various dates in July and August. Tickets £15 to £40.

(Get 40 people together and you can book your own private concert.)

🎻 National Marine Aquarium, Rope Walk, Coxside, Plymouth PL4 0LF

🎻 Market Hall Dome, Duke Street, Devonport, Plymouth PL1 4PS

Chill out with cool tunes and well being at Blackpool Sands 21-22 July

Eurovision star Sam Ryder and Symphonica featuring Mr Switch headline the Tunes on the Sands music festival at Blackpool Sands, south Devon on 21 and 22 July.

You’ll also hear Martin Kemp’s 80s Party, Toploader and Stereo MCS in a weekend of dancin’ and chillin’ on the beach.

Bookable well being activities and treatments include silent disco yoga, wild swimming, reflexology and massage.

Adult day tickets £40, weekend camping £95.

Rugby and netball beach fun at Weston-super-Mare, 11-13 August

Enter a team and enjoy sunshine, sand, music and beach sports. When the rugby and netball are finished get your fancy dress on for the Beach Party!

The Weston Beach Rugby Festival is 5-aside tag rugby suitable for all levels, with mens, womens, and mixed/family sections, a maximum 10 players and rolling substitutes.

There’s beach netball for the first time, with squads of up to 7 and 5 aside games, for ladies and mixed teams.

Team entries: Rugby £150. Netball £100. Veterans £50. Weston-super-Mare beach. BS23 1AS

If you prefer small, intimate festivals, Altitude 27-29 July is for you

Tucked away in Blackborough near Cullompton, Altitude styles itself as “Devon’s little festival with the big heart” showcasing original independent music of all genres.

The first Altitude took place in a neighbour’s field in 2015. Now it’s run by a not-for-profit company passionate about supporting country living with events and music.

Camp and listen to an eclectic selection of more than 40 acts from around the world over 3 days (Thurs 27, Fri 28 and Sat 29 July).

You’ll hear world folk, funk, dub, hip hop, drum ‘n bass, alternative, soul, latin, electronic, indie, punk, ska folk, reggae and rap, sometimes all mixed together.

If that’s not enough, don’t worry, we probably missed some out.

Tickets from £35. Parking charges extra.

Blackborough, near Cullompton EX15 2HP

Enjoy the magnificant landscaped Flete House gardens, 30 July

View the enigmatic and fascinating Flete House gardens, an elegantly landscaped parkland estate, on a rare open day later this month.

The Italianate gardens, shrubbery and water gardens are complemented by excellent specimen trees and panoramic views of South Hams.

It’s an exclusive day organised by and on behalf of the Plymouth cancer charity St Luke’s Hospice.

Tickets are £6 on the day. Free for U16s.

Flete House, Ermington, Ivybridge PN21 9NZ

Other gardens supporting the charity with open days are Lewtrenchard Manor, Okehampton, Sunday 6 August, and Bowringsleigh, West Alvington, near Kingsbridge, Sunday 2 September.

A unique way to celebrate the struggle of the salmon

Run with the salmon along the River Exe and celebrate the journey of the iconic fish to their spawning grounds on Exmoor.

Wild Running has organised runs for everyone from serious ultra runners to new joggers for the 2023 version of the Salmon Run on 24 September.

The 50 Mile Ultra Marathon covers multiple terrains and starts at Exmouth Mamhead Slipway and follows the salmon's migratory route to Tarr Steps, the prehistoric bridge on Exmoor.

There’s a separate relay version (with salmon batons, no less) for those who don't want to run the full 50 miles.

For new runners or the slightly less hard core, the Salmon Run 5k community run starts at Salmon Pool and finishes at Exwick.

Fees. Ultra £30, Relay (4-8 people) £15, 5K £5.

Under starters’ orders for sheep racing…and much more

We’re hard pushed to think of a place offering more for a family day out than The Big Sheep Farm & Theme Park.

Set in 40 acres of parkland near Bideford, the attraction has welcomed 2.5m visitors over 30 years.

Among the mains draws are the Sheep Race, complete with jockeys, race track and betting (no sheep are harmed), The Rampage roller coaster and giant jumping pillows.

But there are loads of other outdoor rides and indoor shows and you can watch sheep shearing, feed a lamb, and meet goats, pigs, puppies, chicks, rabbits, and donkeys. Animal heaven!

Opening times and online booking. Adults and children £14.95. Children under 3ft £6. Babies under 1 £1. Carers/disabled £12.95.

Abbotsham Rd, Abbotsham, Bideford EX39 5AP

Listings

🌊 North Devon

JULY

Fri 14 to Sun 16

LIVE MUSIC | 🎸 Funk Up The Farm 2023.| A 3-day micro dance music festival featuring drum ‘n bass, funk and break acts | Wrights Farm, Kentisbury, Barnstaple EX31 4NQ | Tickets from £38.32.

Sat 15

OUTDOOR CINEMA | 🎞 Grease, the most successful film musical | Gates open 8.15pm, film starts at 9.45pm | Arlington Court, Arlington, Barnstaple EX31 4LP. Tickets from £17.18.

Fri 28 to Sun 30

FOOD FESTIVAL | 👨‍🍳 Devon Street Food Festival with Moroccan, Caribbean, Greek, Mexican, Afghan, and Uzbek tastes | Victoria Pleasure Gardens, Ilfracombe EX34 9AR | Free entry.

AUGUST

Wed 2

COUNTRY SHOW | 🐄 North Devon Show with livestock, parades, crafts, live music | 8am to 6pm | Umberleigh Barton, Umberleigh EX37 9DX | Advance tickets, adult £16, child 5-15 £3.

SEPTEMBER

Fri 1 to Sun 3

LIVE MUSIC | 🤘 Shebfest, north Devon’s largest music festival, with Razorlight and Liberty X | Allacott Farm, Shebbear, Beaworthy EX21 5TF. Day tickets, adult £62, U18 £52.

🐬 South Devon

JULY

Sat 15

OPEN DAY | ⚓️ Britannia Royal Naval College opens it doors to the public for the first time since 2019 | 10am - 4pm | College Way, Dartmouth TQ6 0HJ | Free entry.

Fri 21 to Thur 27

MUSICAL THEATRE | Shrek the Musical based on the Hollywood film | Theatre Royal Plymouth PL1 2TR | Tickets from £30

Sat 22

MUSIC | 🎶 90s Silent Disco at Powderham Castle with 3 different music channels | 7.30pm | Exeter EX6 8JQ | Tickets from £27.43

Wed 26

COUNTRY SHOW | 🐤 Yealmpton Show, Kitley Lawns, Yealmpton, Plymouth PL8 2NN | Tickets. Adult £13, child 5-16 £4, child U5 free. Free parking. Some disabled parking.

Sat 29

TRIBUTE ACT | 🎸 Pure Queen | Sheldon Centre (outdoor venue), Doddiscombsleigh, Exeter EX6 7YT| Tickets. Adult £18, child U14 £12, child U3 free.

AUGUST

Fri 4 to Fri 11

LIVE MUSIC | 🎸 Sidmouth Folk Festival with concerts, ceilidhs, folk dances, children’s festival, storytelling, workshops and dance displays | Events range from free to £37. Tickets.

SEPTEMBER

Sat 2

CHARITY EVENT | ☀️ The Great Big Paddle Board Parade | World record paddleboarding attempt and fund-raiser for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) | Torbay | Standard tickets £15 per paddler.

Sat 9

SWIM / RUN | 🏊‍♂️ 🏃‍♀️Rocky Horror Swim Run | Choice of distances. Long: 4 swims (2 km) and 3 runs (15 miles), medium: 3 swims (1.5 km) and 2 runs (12 miles), short: 2 swims (1 km) and 1 run (7 miles) l Start 1.30pm | Hope Cove, Galmpton TQ7 3EY | Solo, relay or pair tickets from £25.

Mon 18

GEOLOGY | ⛏ Day Trip with Stuart Line Cruises. 6.5 hour seaborne tour of South Devon’s coastal geology | Exmouth | 10.30am to 5pm. £25 per person.

OCTOBER

Sat 2

CYCLE CHALLENGE | 🚴 Tour of the Moor around Dartmoor for all abilities in aid of St Luke’s Hospice | Harrowbeer Airfield, Yelverton PL20 6BU | Register.

Want your event listed? Email us.

Want even more ideas?

As a lifelong Devon fan I’ve come up with my list of the most exciting and interesting activities, attractions and curiosities.

Whether indoor or outdoor, active or relaxed, family or individual, there’s something for everyone so long as you like getting out and about!

Discover 50 unique, unusual and “different” things to do in glorious Devon (downloadable PDF) today when you refer a friend

More exciting, surprising, interesting and cool things to do next week.

With love, cream and jam (in that order).

🌊 Andy and the Go Devon! team