Hello Devon Fun Seekers,

Exciting events are coming up in the next few months. Book early to avoid disappointment.

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Sprightly Sting’s Plymouth summer session

You could say the line up for the series of concerts in Plymouth this June is aimed at attracting the older generation.

In a new 4-night concert series, Summer Sessions are expected bring up to 15,000 fans to The Hoe each night.

Age is no barrier for music stars including Sting (72), Bryan Adams (64), Tom Jones (83) and Blondie (Debbie Harry is 78).

Support acts Gabrielle, Madness, and Lightning Seeds confirm the feel of an 80s and 90s revival concert.

All sessions start at 4pm and end at 10.30pm with tickets starting from £61.60. VIP places at £95.20 get you right in front of the stage with upmarket catering on offer and posh loos.

Thursday 13th June. Tom Jones, Gabrielle. Tickets

Friday 14th June. Bryan Adams, Cassyette. Tickets

Saturday 15th June. Madness, Lightning Seeds. Tickets

Sunday 16th June. Sting, Blondie. Tickets

If Quentin Tarantino had directed a circus…

Bizarre circus acts, a sinister story and the darkest of magic performed to an original rock score.

Circus of Horrors is performing in Exeter and Plymouth with a new show entitled Dr Haze’s Cabaret of Curiosities (video).

Enjoy an exciting ride through acts featuring sword swallowers, aerialists suspended by their hair, whirlwind jugglers, twisted contortionists, voodoo acrobats and pickled people.

Says Dr Haze: “This is all killer, no filler, a circus show like no other.”

Due to nudity and adult humour U16s must be accompanied by an adult.

💀 Wednesday 13th March, 7.30pm. Corn Exchange, Exeter. Tickets from £20

🤹‍♂️ Thursday 14th March, 7.30pm. Plymouth Paviliions. Tickets from £20

Challenge yourself with the Breakwater and Drake’s Island swims

Sign up for the popular Plymouth Breakwater Swim challenge in 2024 and test your endurance over a 3.2 kilometre course.

The Chestnut Appeal Breakwater swim is due to take place on Sunday 14th July with a swim time of around 9am.

The £55 entry fee covers organising costs, but organisers stress that it’s the money raised by competitors for male cancer patients and their families that matters.

Swimmers board the event boat at Mount Batten jetty. The trip to the eastern end of the Breakwater close to Bovisand Pier takes about 20 minutes.

The route is along the coastline across Jennycliff Bay, finishing at Mount Batten beach. Swimmers will be flanked by paddleboarders for guidance. Register.

🏝️ The Drakes Island 2024 swim is on Sunday 22nd September with a swim time around 9.30am.

The swim starts on the beach at Firestone Bay with swimmers setting out for the island, round marker buoys and making their way back to the beach a distance of around 1.5 kilometres. Register.

Where to see amazing Devon snowdrops

If you’re looking for a Spring uplift, Devon gardens are opening and ready to show off their stunning snowdrops.

The National Open Garden Scheme kicks off its 2024 programme with 3 rarely accessible gardens, all promising fine snowdrop displays.

🪷 Friday 2nd, Friday 9th and Saturday 17th February. Higher Cherubeer, Dolton, Winkleigh EX19 8PP £5

💮 Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th February. The Mount, Delamore, Ivybridge PL21 9QP £7.50

🌷Sunday 25th February and Sunday 3rd March. East Worlington, Witheridge, Crediton EX17 4TS. £5

Independent garden charity, The Garden House, Yelverton PL20 7LQ, has a fantastic collection of more than 400 snowdrop varieties appealing to experts and general visitors. £15.

Let yourself go at an ecstatic dance retreat

We can’t promise you’ll be on a high or de-stressed afterwards, but if you are new to ecstatic dance, here’s a chance to give it a try.

Ecstatic dancing is when you release yourself to the rhythm and move freely. It can lead to a trance and a feeling of ecstasy. Some feel more connected to other people, and to their own emotions, and it can be seen as a form of meditation.

Join others at Embercombe, an eco retreat near Exeter on the edge of Dartmoor for a 4-day, 3-night experience.

Days consist of Qi Gong, guided movement classes, free time, workshops, and end with an ecstatic dance session.

For accommodation choose between a shared or private yurt or camping.

All meals (organic, vegan) are provided.

Friday 29th March to Monday 1st April. Tickets from £450

A psychic show for the curious and sceptical

Psychic performances are everywhere these days.

People who claim to be able to commune with the dead perform in theatres, television and even do home visits.

What if you’re interested but sceptical?

Would you like to see how “psychic” phenomena can be faked?

Magician, escapologist and comedy performer Greg Chapman has created The Non-Psychic “Psychic” Show to help us look inside the world of mediums.

He takes you through a fun and thought-provking exploration of some of the fraud and trickery that has been presented in the guise of talking to people’s dead relatives, while remaining neutral on whether it is possible.

Friday 15th March, 7.30pm. Lympstone Village Hall, School Hill, Exmouth EX8 5JY. Tickets from £10.50

Listings

🌊 North Devon

FEBRUARY

Wed 7th

BALLET | 🩰 A Royal Opera House screening of the ballet Manon | The Landmark, Ilfracombe EX34 9BZ | Tickets from £14

Sat 10th

MUSIC | 🎙️ One of the best Bon Jovi tribute acts hits North Devon | Queen’s Theatre, Barnstaple EX31 1SY | Tickets from £26

Sat 10th to Sun 18th

GARDENING | 🌷 World on your Windowsill | Half-term garden-based activities for all the family | RHS Rosemoor, Torrington EX38 8PH | General admission fee

Sun 11th

MOTORING | 🏍️ Bideford Classic Motorcycle Show | Bideford Pannier Market, EX39 2DR | £1 entry, U12s free

Sun 25th

FOOD AND DRINK | 🌯 South Molton Festival of Food and Drink | South Molton Pannier Market EX36 3AB | Free

Thu 29th

CRAFT | 🌸 Willow Flower Basket Workshop | Chevithorne Village Hall, Tiverton EX16 7PU | Tickets £105

MARCH

Sat 2nd

PRODUCE | 🥬 Ilfracombe Farmers Market | Get your hands on some local chutneys, baked goods and crafts | The Lantern, Ilfracombe EX34 9NH | Free

Sun 3rd 

OUTDOORS | 🥾 Ilfracombe Four Peaks Walk | Meet at The Landmark Theatre EX34 9BZ | Free

Sun 10th

ENTERTAINMENT | 🔮 Volunteer to take part in The Hypnotist show with Robert Temple | Queens Theatre, Barnstaple EX31 1SY | Tickets from £10

Sat 30th

THEATRE | 🎭 The Hound of the Baskervilles | Queen’s Theatre, Barnstaple EX31 1SY | Tickets £26

🐬 South Devon

FEBRUARY

Today to Wed 28th

ART | 🪐 Mars: War and Peace, Luke Jerram’s new exhibition | Exeter Cathedral EX1 1HS | Tickets £6

Sat 10th and Sun 11th

CONVENTION | 🎮 A weekend of all things anime, manga and pop at Plymouth’s 10th Animangapop | Future Inn PL6 5ZD | Tickets from £16.40

Wed 14th

ENVIRONMENT | 🌳 Family Tree Planting Morning with the National Trust | Wembury Beach PL9 0HP | Free

Fri 16th

HISTORY | 🕰️ Blast from the past | Encounter a Roman soldier and other historical characters | Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery, Exeter EX4 3RX | Free

Fri 23rd

CRAFT | 🎨 Create your own block printed notebook | Buckland Abbey, Yelverton PL20 6EY | Tickets £38

MARCH

Sat 9th

DRINK | 🍸 The Gin To My Tonic Festival | Gin, rum and vodka at Exeter Cathedral | EX1 1HS | Tickets from £17.50

Mon 11th

SCIENCE | 🌉 Tour the anchorage holding up the Tamar Bridge | Pemros Road, St Budeaux, Plymouth PL5 1LP | Tickets £10

Sun 17th

BUILDING TOYS | 🧱 Plymouth Brick Festival | A day dedicated to Lego lovers! | Plymouth Life Centre, Mayflower Drive PL2 3DG | Adult tickets £7, children £5, under 5s free.

APRIL

Thu 18th to Sat 20th

FESTIVAL | 🍺 Maltingsfest 2024 | Over 280 craft beers, ales and ciders from some of the South West’s finest brewers | Osborne Park, Newton Abbot, TQ12 4AA | Entry from £5

Fri 26th

HAUNTING FUN | 👻 Fulford Manor Ghost Hunt Experience | Fulford Manor, Dunsford, Exeter EX6 7AJ | Tickets £49

🏆️ Win Devon Prizes

New!  ❤️️ A Valentines Day stay (Instagram) for 2 people at the Hotel Indigo, Exeter (9 Feb)

New!  🥾 A two-night accessible adventure break at Calvert Exmoor (12 Feb)

🍸️ A 7-night luxury lodge stay for 4 people in South Devon (23 Feb)

🌊 A 3-night weekend stay for 4 in a cabin on The Flete Estate and paddleboarding on a private beach, plus 2 other holidays. (11 Mar)

🪙 £250 worth of vouchers towards a Devon break (31 Mar)

Terms and conditions apply. See individual websites.

Got a competition? Let us know.

That’s all for this week, but…

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Devon love,

Andy, Esme, Lara and the Go Devon! team