Welcome to Go Devon!,

Stuck for something to do? Don’t be. Just open Go Devon! every Thursday to find great ideas all in one place!

From watching Morris Men and that leafy chap Jack-in-the-Green welcoming in the May Day, to having fun at pirate and balloon festivals, Devon is coming alive as the weather warms up.

You can ride a new e-bike in Plymouth, or book your seat at one of 4 outdoor cinema venues in Devon this summer. Visit a food fair or attend a craft workshop. There’s so much to do.

Get out there and have fun!

Andy and the Go Devon! team

Get Your Jingle On: Watch Authentic Dartmoor Morris Dancing At Sunrise On May Day 

🔔 Welcome to the lively and energetic world of Dartmoor Border Morris dancing, a unique tradition experiencing a modern revival.

With their colourful and tattered clothes, vibrant ribbons and feathers, watch this fun lot stomp, jump and beat sticks to music while weaving in and out of each other. Oh, and there are jingling bells and whooping cries as well.

What's the reason for this madness, you might ask? Morris dancing is believed to bring good luck and prosperity to communities, so why not, and it’s fun to watch as well.

As tradition has it, Dartmoor Border Morris will dance in the sunrise on May Day (Monday 1st May) as the sun rises over South Hessary Tor, whatever the weather (so they say).

Take in the stomping up close in the car park below Leeden Tor on the Yelverton to Princetown road from 5.15am.

For those who work up an appetite just watching these things, The Foxtor Cafe in Princetown is opening early and serving breakfast.

Outdoor Cinema Coming To 4 Devon Venues This Summer: Elvis, Grease, Pretty Woman and Top Gun Maverick

🎥 Watch a family film outdoors in a choice of picturesque Devon locations this summer. There’s a mix of classics, musicals, blockbusters and family genres showing at Tiverton, Barnstaple, Plymouth and Torquay.

This season it’s Elvis, Grease, Pretty Woman and Top Gun Maverick, although not all films are on in all venues. All you have to do is buy a ticket and pack your picnic, camping chairs and blanket. See video.

What happens if it rains? The show goes on, according to the organisers. Knowing our weather, you just have to check the forecast on the day and come prepared. Then it’s over to the Great British spirit and living in the moment!

The pop-up cinema screens are up for 2 or 3 nights at each location and have varying evening start times. Tickets are non-refundable. Parking and toilets provided. Picnics welcome. No dogs, smoking or glass bottles. Tickets £17.18 including fee.

Here are the venues:

🍿Torquay Recreation Ground, The King's Drive TQ2 6NX. Friday 5th May and Saturday 6th May.

🍿Saltram House, Plymouth PL7 1UH. Friday 26th May to Sunday 28th May.

🍿Arlington Court, near Barnstaple EX31 4LP. Friday 14th July to Sunday 16th July.

🍿Knighthayes Court, Bolham, Tiverton EX16 7RQ. Friday 1st September to Sunday 3rd September.

Experience The Magic Of The Devon Balloon Festival 2023: New Venue, Night Glow Show, And Live Music Galore

🎸In 2023, the Devon Balloon Festival live music event is running between Friday 12th May and Sunday 14th May at a new venue, Escot Park.

Previously known as Exeter Balloons and Tunes, expect 12 - 15 hot air balloons on site for the Night Glow Show, local food and drink, film characters (grab a photo with a superhero or princess), fun fair, and over 20 music acts.

Don’t miss the Camelot jousting and live reenactment, monster truck show and giant outdoor cinema showing 2 films per day. And for bike fans there are BMX stunts.

Free parking. Escot Park, Ottery St Mary, Exeter EX11 1LU. Tickets. Adults £10.84. Children £5.42.

On Your Beryl Bike! An Affordable And Environmentally Friendly Way To Explore Plymouth (And Easier Up The Hills)

🚴‍♀️ Want to whizz around Plymouth with assistance on those pesky hills? You need an “eco-friendly” Beryl e-bike costing just £1 flat fee plus 5p per minute (£3 an hour). Find a nearby bike, unlock it using a smartphone app, then park where you finish in a designated area.

How it works: When you start pedalling, the electric motor assist starts automatically. You'll feel the motor giving you a boost as you pedal. The assist is capped at 15.5 mph. Once you reach this speed, the motor will no longer assist but you'll be able to continue pedalling as normal. Pedal smoothly and let the motor do some of the work!

There are 125 of the blue electric battery powered bikes in 28 Plymouth locations and plans for 510 bikes to be available if the idea takes off.

You can pay per ride or buy a membership. 2 hours riding time per month costs £12, or pay £40 a month for unlimited rides. You have to stay in the city zone, and there are charges if you don’t return the bikes to designated bays. Happy whizzing!

Ilfracombe's Jack-in-the-Green Parade: A Leafy Spectacle To Welcome The Spirit Of Summer!

🌲The annual Jack-in-the-Green event in Ilfracombe is about “releasing the spirit of summer”. A green-clad procession, revived in 2000, includes Jack and his leafy coverings, parading with giants, Brigid, a symbol of growth and renewal, her partner Bres, and a new tree giant, Thorne.

They are accompanied by drummers as they march through the town to the seafront led by the Town Crier. Watch the procession gather at the muster point at 10.45am in Wilder Road Car Park and follow it through the High Street, Fore Street and St James Place ending at the Clapping Circle above Wildersmouth Beach.

At the Clapping Circle where they dance the Maypole, children from the audience are invited to join in, then Jack will be stripped of his leafy coverings to welcome the Spirit of Summer.

Everyone is welcome to join or watch the parade on Sunday 30th April – just turn up and if possible wear something green. Starting point, Wilder Road, Ilfracombe EX34 8BL.

Listings

North Devon

Saturday 22nd April

LIVE MUSIC | 🎶 RNLI Appledore ABBA tribute concert with Take a Chance On Us | St Mary's Church, Churchfield Road, Appledore EX39 1RL | 7.30pm to 10.30pm. Tickets £15

TALK | ^_🗣Neurodiversity: theory, research and lived experience | Open University psychology in the community talk | Barnstaple Library, Tuly Street, Barnstaple EX31 1EL | 10am to 1pm | Free. Reserve a seat

Sunday 23rd April

CRAFT WORKSHOP | ^_✂️The Art of Printmaking | Linocut landscape all-day print workshop | Studio KIND, 3 Velator Way, Braunton EX33 2FB | 10am to 4pm | Tickets £45

Saturday 29th April

MUSIC & DANCE | 💃 Stepping Out Cabaret & Ceilidh | Pollyfield's Community Centre, Avon Rd, East-the-Water, Bideford EX39 4BL | 7.30pm - 11pm. Tickets: £10 Concessions £7

FOOD & DRINK | 🥮️ Lynton Town Hall Spring Market | Food, drink and craft stalls | Lee Road, Lynton EX35 6BT | 10am to 4pm.

South Devon

Friday 21st April

FOOD & DRINK | 🍵 Open day on Dartmoor Estate Tea plantation | Furzeleigh Farm, Ashburton TQ13 7JL | 11am to 4pm. | Free Tickets.

Friday 21st and Saturday 22nd April

FOOD & DRINK | 🍺 Maltingsfest beer festival, formerly Tuckers Maltings | Osborne Park, Newton Abbot TQ12 4AA | Tickets from £5.

Saturday 22nd April

LIVE MUSIC | 🎸 Party in the Park with The Long Faces alternative band | Flete Park, Ermington PL21 9NU | Tickets £15.

Sunday 23rd and Monday 24th April

CLASSICAL MUSIC | 🎶 Vaughan Williams Sea Symphony with the Dartington Community Choir and Sinfonietta Orchestra | Dartington Hall, Totnes TQ9 6EL | Adults £22. Students and U16s £10. Book.

Sunday 23rd April

FAMILY FUN | 🐑 Lambing Day and Prize Dog Show | Martinsfield Farm, Broadclyst, Exeter EX5 3JH | 11am to 4pm. | Dog show starts at 12pm. £3 | Tickets. Adults £6. Children Free.

Tuesday 25th April

LIVE MUSIC | 🎸 Former Ultravox front man Midge Ure and band Electronica - Voice and Visions Tour | Princess Theatre, Torbay Road, Torquay TQ2 5EZ | Tickets £33.55.

Friday 28th April

TALK | ^_🗣 Inspirational words from British ski-jumper Eddie “The Eagle” Edwards | 7pm-10pm | Ocean Exmouth, Queen's Drive, Exmouth EX8 2AY | Tickets from £22.68.

Saturday 29th April to Monday 1st May

FAMILY FUN | _☠️ Brixham Pirate Festival | Brixham TQ5 9AF | Free.

That’s all for this week. Enjoy your outings everyone!

More from us this time next week.

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

Andy and the Go Devon! team

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