🎉 Happy New Year Devon Fans,

Here’s to fun-packed times in 2024!

Runners! You’re in for dark and bracing racing

Is there something about running at night that makes it seem faster?

We can’t put our finger on it, but thousands are getting into night running as something different, or maybe as a way to get a personal best?

And what more exciting conditions than wild, wet and windy Dartmoor lanes and tracks on a cold February night. Bracing racing!

Fully marked courses are in place for the 9 mile Wild Night Run and the 5 mile Wild Night Mild Run from South Brent.

The long route goes north through Lutton, Didsworthy, Shipley Bridge and close to the Avon Dam Reservoir before looping east for lots of offroad back to Shipley Bridge and home.

The short race goes to Lutton and Didsworthy before performing a loop and coming back the same way.

Watch the video from last year.

Saturday 17th February. Start 6pm. South Brent Old School Community Centre, Totnes Road TQ10 9BP

Tickets £27

Enjoy yourself, it’s later than you think

In the running for the earliest 2024 Devon music festival is Emma’s YODO (you only die once) Fest.

A festival in February kind of makes sense if you’re just getting on with having fun and creating memories. Why not?

There’s a night of live performances from local bands Bicycle Repair Man, Sound of the Sirens, Small Town Jones and Charley Charlesworth.

Bring the whole family and your own booze and enjoy a complimentary cocktail on arrival. Street food will be on sale.

Instructions from Emma: “Be prepared to laugh, cry and dance till it hurts.”

From 6pm, Saturday 3rd February. Quince Honey Farm, South Molton EX36 3RD

Tickets £11.55 (includes charity donation)

Learn the secrets of what holds the Tamar Bridge up

Around 16 million vehicles cross the Tamar road bridge each year.

Now you can go on a tour that shows you the engineering supporting that incredible weight.

Large anchors, or anchorages, are at both ends of a bridge to act as counter weights to hold the ends of the main cables.

On the tour you’ll go inside the anchorage and under the bridge in areas normally closed to the public.

The tours are every month and tickets are from £10.

The next one is on Friday 12th January between 10am and 11.30am. Minimum age 11.

Tamar Bridge Visitor Centre, Pemros Road, St Budeaux PL5 1LP

Moving with the trees: A winter walk with easy Tai Chi

Appreciate trees and wildlife in an ancient woodland while tending to your own wellbeing through Tai Chi movements.

The event is organised by the Devon Wildlife Trust which wants more people to connect with the countryside.

As being in nature is good for us, the idea is that putting Tai Chi and the natural world together creates a win-win.

The movement system of Tai Chi is made up of natural moves and principles that people usually find inspiring and easy to connect with, even beginners, who are all welcome.

The walk is led by Dartmoor-based Tai Chi expert and nature supporter Angus Clark.

Sunday 21st January 10am to 12pm. Andrew's Wood Nature Reserve, Loddiswell, Kingsbridge TQ7 4EA

Tickets free (£5 suggested donation).

Make your own flower basket (even beginners)

Sarah Le Breton has designed and created this cut flower basket for you to make.

Her all-day Willow Day workshops are suitable for “adventurous beginners” and those with existing basket weaving experience.

All materials, tools and refreshments are provided. The willow is sourced from the Somerset Levels.

There’s a special lunch menu (payable on the day) or bring your own.

Thursday, 29th February, at the Village Hall, Chevithorne, Tiverton EX16 7PU, and dates throughout the year. Tickets £105.

A tight, lean version of Rhapsody in Blue

The London Gershwin Players will perform the exciting original score of Rhapsody in Blue in Plymouth on Saturday 27th January.

This tighter, leaner, more focused version than the orchestral arrangement was written for the 22-piece Paul Whiteman Band in New York City.

It’s part of a Gershwin celebration evening and the 100th anniversary of Rhapsody in Blue. Piano will be played by the university Arts Institute’s Director of Music Dr Robert Taub (video).

Other works in the 2.5 hour programme include the Overture to the Musical Girl Crazy, the Porgy and Bess Fantasy, and American in Paris.

Levinsky Hall, Roland Levinsky Building, University of Plymouth PL4 8AA

Tickets £12

Listings

🌊 North Devon

JANUARY

Tue 9th

DANCE | 💃 Bioform Dance workshop | Explore and embrace music and dance | 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

Sat 20th

WORKSHOP | 😆 Art of Comedy Stand-Up for Beginners Course | The Palladium Club, Bideford EX39 2DE | Tickets £71.13

Sun 30th

RUNNING | 🏃‍♀️ North Devon Area of Outstanding Nautral Beauty 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

Wed 7th

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

Fri 16th

MUSIC WORKSHOP | 🥁 Take part in an African drum workshop | Immerse yourself in the rhythm of the music | Holsworthy Library, Holsworthy EX22 6HA | Tickets £1

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

MARCH

Sun 10th

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

🐬 South Devon

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

Fri 23rd and Sat 24th

DANCE | 💃 São Paulo Dance Company | A blend of classical ballet and Latin American dance | Theatre Royal, Plymouth PL1 2TR | Tickets from £23

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.

New!  🛖 A River Dart Hideaway 3-night stay for 4 (15 Jan)

New!  🛀 A luxurious family hot tub break near the idyllic waterside village of Stoke Gabriel (31 Jan)

New!  🌊 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)

Terms and conditions apply. See individual websites.

Got a competition? Let us know.

Next week…choose from 6 award-winning Devon campsites for your 2024 summer holiday!

That’s all for this week, but…

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