🎅 Merry Christmas folks!

Here’s wishing you and your families a joyous and relaxing festive season.

Thank you for your support in 2023.

With love, cream and jam, in that order.

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

P.S. Go Devon! is taking a 2-week break. The next issue will be in your inbox on Thursday 4th January.

Don’t miss the Christmas Train of Lights

Ride on a dazzling vintage steam train or watch the brilliant spectacle from afar.

Either way, the Christmas Train of Lights, lit inside and out, is a beautifully atmospheric experience.

The trip from Paignton to Dartmouth and back includes a magical section where a wood has been lit with hundreds of lights, and later the lights of the train are reflected in the Dart river.

To view the Train of Lights on its journey, get to Goodrington Beach or Broadsands.

Trains run at 6.45pm and 8.45pm most days until 30 December. Tickets. Adults £31, children £22.

And if you’re looking for even more light fantastic visit Torquay’s free Bay of Lights Illumination Trail until Tuesday 2nd January.

The 1.5-mile accessible trail follows the waterfront from Abbey Park to the harbourside. There’s music until 9pm and lights are on until 11pm.

You could walk the trail then drive to a vantage point and watch the train.

Take a festive spin at Plymouth’s Winter City

Unlimited ride passes mean you can experience the UK’s fastest waltzer, ride the Naughty Elves dodgems and get frazzled on The Sizzler as many times as you like, all for £12.99.

Plymouth’s Winter City funfair offers an ice rink, Santa’s grotto and monster truck rides (on Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th December) as well as food, drink and live music.

Entrance and parking is free. Treeby Court PL4 9JG

Watch a Brazilian fusion of classical ballet and Latin American dance

Colourful. Flirtatious. Sleek and sexy. Some descriptions of Brazil’s finest dance company from Sao Paulo.

Mixing classical ballet elegance with the sensuality of Latin American, they’re appearing at the Theatre Royal Plymouth next year.

Anthem is an emotionally charged piece for 14 dancers, staged with dramatic lighting.

Gnawa draws on the Mediterranean colours of Valencia, powered by hypnotic and ritualistic music of North Africa.

The Agora finale explores time and rhythm, with each dancer’s body sculpted with Afro-Brazilian beats and bass grooves.

Friday 23rd and Saturday 24th February. Tickets from £23

Discover a world of rhythms and fun through drumming

Drumming is fun, promotes well being and is open to all.

So get ready for big beats, big breaks and big smiles at workshops in Paignton and Teignmouth starting in January.

Sessions run during term time with qualified teacher James Carr.

Within each block of 5 you’ll explore classic rhythms and a new piece, then develop more complex patterns as you become more confident.

• Mayfield College, Paignton, 7pm to 8.30pm starting Monday 8th January for 5 weeks

• The Old Riviera Cinema, Teignmouth, 7pm to 8.30pm starting Tuesday 9th January for 5 weeks

Booking required. Course of 5 sessions for £55.

Blow the festive cobwebs away with a bracing winter river cruise

The tranquility of the River Exe means cruising is possible through most of winter.

What better way to get some air after the excesses of Christmas than on a fascinating stretch of peaceful water (storms permitting).

The Exe has a range of wildlife and migrating birds that are amazing to watch in winter.

The Pride of Exmouth departs from Exmouth Marina, motors up towards Powderham Castle and returns to the seafront in a cruise that lasts up to 1.5 hours.

Indoors is heated and sells hot food and drinks, and there are blankets for outside.

The first trip of the year is on Tuesday 2nd January at 11am.

Tickets. Adults £9, children £6

Looking ahead: who loves a musical?

Choose from these 4 classics at Torquay’s Princess Theatre next summer.

An Officer and a Gentleman. Based on the award-winning 80s movie, this is a romantic story of love, courage, and redemption. Tuesday 2nd to Saturday 6th July.

Jesus Christ Superstar. The longest running West End musical in the 70s, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s rock opera interpretation of the Gospels has been revived with allusions to modern life and political events. Tuesday 16th to Saturday 20th July.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Absent-minded inventor Caractacus Potts restores a broken-down racing car with the help of his children Jemima and Jeremy. The family discover the car has magical powers, and they end up on a fantastical adventure. Tuesday 6th to Sunday 11th August.

Sister Act. Featuring songs inspired by Motown, this story of a murder witness who becomes a convent choir leader and is often described as a joyous and uplifting tale about finding your true voice. Monday 26th to Saturday 21st August.

Listings

🌊 North Devon

DECEMBER

Today until Sun 31st

THEATRE | 🎭 Immerse yourself in the magical and mystical world of Sleeping Beauty at this year’s panto | Queen’s Theatre, Barnstaple EX31 1SY | Tickets from £15

Fri 22nd

MUSIC | 🎧 Show off your best dance moves at the Howl at the Moon silent disco | Barnstaple Pannier Market, Barnstaple EX31 1SY | Tickets £16.50

Tue 26th

FESTIVITIES | 🍗 Enjoy mulled wine, music and food at Clovelly’s annual Boxing Day BBQ | The Quay, Clovelly EX39 5TF. Free entry to the village

Wed 27th

FORAGING | 🍃 Walk along a section of the South West Coast Path and learn some foraging skills | Meet Landmark Theatre, Ilfracombe EX34 9BZ | Tickets £16.96

2024

JANUARY

Tue 9th

DANCE | 💃 Bioform Dance workshop | Explore and embrace music and dance | Alternative dates between Jan and Mar 2024 | The Plough Arts Centre, 9-11 Fore Street, Great Torrington EX38 8HQ | Tickets £7

Fri 12th

TALK | 🎙️ Join BBC’s Bob Harris and journalist Colin Hall in an evening celebrating the Beatles | The Plough Arts Centre, 9-11 Fore Street, Great Torrington EX38 8HQ | Tickets £21.50

Sun 14th

ART | 🎨 Beginners oil painting workshop | Studio KIND, Corn Store, Barnstaple Pannier Market EX31 1SY | Tickets £50

Sun 30th

RUNNING | 🏃‍♀️ North Devon AONB Marathon, half marathon and 10K | The Green, The Esplanade, Woolacombe EX34 7DJ | Register here

FEBRUARY

Fri 2nd

HISTORY | 👻 Learn about the history and hauntings of Barnstaple with a guided tour through the town | Paternoster Row, Barnstaple EX31 1SX | Tickets £14.50

Mon 19th to Sat 24th

THEATRE | 🎭 Celebrate the 70th anniversary of the iconic production, The Mousetrap, by Agatha Christie | Queen’s Theatre, Barnstaple EX31 1SY | Tickets from £19.50

🐬 South Devon

DECEMBER

Tomorrow until Sat 13th Jan

PANTO | 🎭 Goldilocks and the Three Bears, starring Olympian Dame Kelly Holmes | Theatre Royal, Plymouth PL1 2TR | Tickets from £18

2024

JANUARY

Sat 6th

TOUR | ☕️ Explore Devon and Cornwall’s largest mosque and gain insight into Islamic faith | Piety Centre Plymouth, 19 Greenbank Avenue, Plymouth PL4 8PS | Free

Tue 9th to Sat 13th

ART | 💡 Crown and Coronation light display in Exeter Cathedral, highlighting the history and significance of coronations | Exeter EX1 1HS | Adult tickets £8, children £4

Sat 13th

SKILL | 🪨 Learn the ancient craft of blacksmithing in the Saxon era | Escot Park, Ottery St Mary EX11 1LU | Tickets £150 per person

Sat 20th

ART | 🎨 Take part in a life drawing workshop with a glass of Prosecco in hand | Woolwell Centre, Darklake Lane, Plymouth PL6 7TR | Tickets £41.88

Tue 23rd to Wed 24th

COMEDY | 🎙️ An evening with Romesh Ranganathan as he warms up for his new tour | Northcott Theatre, Exeter EX4 4QB | Tickets from £30.50

FEBRUARY

Sun 25th

SHOWTIME | 🎤 Did you think Rob Brydon was just a game show host? | Enjoy an evening full of comedy, singing and impressions | Theatre Royal, Plymouth PL1 2TR | Tickets from £39

MARCH

Mon 11th

ENTERTAINMENT | 🎤 Spend an evening with Dawn French and Darcey Bussell hearing their stories and connections with Plymouth | All proceeds to the theatre | Theatre Royal Plymouth PL1 2TR | Tickets from £27

Wed 20th to Sat 23rd

BALLET | 🩰 Birmingham Royal Ballet’s classic fairytale Sleeping Beauty, with music from the acclaimed Royal Ballet Sinfonia | Theatre Royal Plymouth PL1 2TR | Tickets from £27

Sun 31st

ENTERTAINMENT | 👨‍🎤 Aled Jones sharing his stories, songs and memories from the music and entertainment industry | Palace Theatre, Paignton TQ3 3HF | Tickets from £30

🏆️ Win Devon Prizes

We find Devon prize competitions so you don’t have to. Entry is free unless stated. Closing dates are in brackets.

💷 A £50 voucher for Affinity outlet shopping village Bideford (no date given)

🛏️ A 2-night stay for 2 at a chic manor house hotel in North Devon with breakfast and 3-course dinner (10 Dec)

🏖️ Luxury Torbay beach hut 2-night stay with breakfast, spa treatment, guided walk, 3-course meal and a £300 Gandys luggage gift card (21 Dec)

NEW! A 1-night stay in Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall’s River Cottage farmhouse and a Neal’s Yard Remedies hamper (24 Dec)

NEW! 🌲 A festive break at the Mole Resort (26 Dec)

🍖 A 1-day “fire school” BBQ cooking course in Axminster worth £225 (31 Dec)

🍾 A luxury one-night stay and a three-course meal for two at The Collective at Woolsery near Bideford (31 Dec)

Terms and conditions apply. See individual websites.

Got a competition? Let us know.

That’s all for this week, but…

Can we ask a festive favour? Forward this email to ONE Friend today and tell them to subscribe here to keep up with Devon events in 2024.