Weekly What's On guide in Notts

Here are some of the up-and-coming events – many of which are free – offering plenty of ideas for ways to fill your leisure time in Nottinghamshire.

Nottinghamshire County Council manages an annual What’s On Guide with many leisure listings offering lots of family fun with many free events.

To get your copy of the guide, download it at: www.nottscc.gov.uk/whatson where you can also order a copy or it is available from local libraries.
Selected weekly listings:

Friday 2 November
Bingham Library: Ask An Archivist! Library Surgery
Free, from 2-4pm
Nottinghamshire Archives team are getting out and about to hold surgeries in libraries around the County.
At each surgery an archivist will be available to talk about your local and family history and provide advice on sources both within the library and at archives. Come along and find out more!
No booking necessary. For more information contact Nottinghamshire Archives tel 0115 958 1634 or the individual library.

3 November
Treswell: The Joint Is Jumpin’
Treswell Village Hall, 7.30pm 01777 248719
The Joint is Jumpin’ is a fabulous music show featuring 52 Skidoo a three piece Harlem swing band, with comedy, theatre and more, in which the band turn back the clock to play a dazzling set of vintage American music to create an authentic 1920/30’s party atmosphere. www.52-skidoo.com

Saturday 3 November
Nottingham and Nottinghamshire’s Readers Day with Joanne Harris
Loxley House, Nottingham
9.30am - 4pm
For more details contact sheelagh.gallagher@nottscc.gov.uk

Monday 5 November – Saturday 10 November
Book and AV Sale
Arnold Library, during library opening times.
For more information call: 0115 920 2247. Proceeds will help raise money for additional stock allowing us to extend the range and number of titles we buy.

Tuesday 6 November
Meet the Author
Mansfield Library
Elizabeth Chadwick, popular author of historical novels, will be talking about her writing.
2pm

Tuesday 6 November
Southwell: According to Ancient Custom: Thynghowe and the Vikings of Sherwood Forest
Tuesday Southwell Library, 2pm
Talk by the Friends of Thynghowe about recent archaeological research and discoveries about a possible Viking settlement in Nottinghamshire.

Thursday 8 November
According to Ancient Custom: Thynghowe and the Vikings of Sherwood Forest
Thursday Bingham Library, 2pm
Talk by the Friends of Thynghowe about recent archaeological research and discoveries about a possible Viking settlement in Nottinghamshire.

Saturday 10 November – Sunday 23 December, weekends only.
Rufford: 11am – 4pm (last admission 3.30pm)
Santa’s Grotto
Rufford Abbey Country Park
£5 per child including small gift. Accompanying adults £2.
A simple but traditional way to create some magical Christmas memories for the whole family. Sing along as our charmingly ‘low tech’ ride transports you to the North Pole to meet Santa Claus in his winter grotto. Wrap up warm and come early to avoid the queues!

10 and 11 November
Rufford: Christmas Market 10.00am to 5.00pm
Free admission. Normal weekend parking charge applies. Stuck for Xmas gift ideas? Come and browse the stalls at our market, in the attractive setting of Rufford Abbey Courtyard.

Saturday 10 November
Edwinstowe: Sherwood Forest National Nature Reserve walk, 11.30am – 1pm & 2pm – 3.30pm
Free event
In 2002, Sherwood was granted National Nature Reserve status. Join a Ranger for a leisurely stroll through this magnificent ancient forest to learn about some of the history and wildlife associated with Sherwood and see what has been happening in the last 10 years.

November 10
The Adventures of Charles Dickens, from 7pm. Tickets are £8/£7 Gonzo Moose Theatre Company present the hilarious misadventures of Charles Dickens
Southwell Library 01636 812148

November 10
Newark Library
11.00am, free event
Saturday Quiz and Coffee
A general knowledge quiz for adults.
Refreshments available at a small charge.
Lorraine Gribbin or Vanessa Hodson 01636 703966

Sunday 11 November
Mansfield: Jazz Steps Live at the Library: Nicola Farnon Trio
Tickets £10/£8(concs)
Mansfield Library, 1pm, mansfield.library@nottscc.gov.uk 01623 651 337
With her unique talent as swinging vocalist and double bass player Nicola Farnon has performed with some of the world’s top musicians. Come along and enjoy a fantastic session of jazz music in a great setting.

11 November
Bestwood: 10am – 3pm
Hedge Laying Taster Session
Bestwood Country Park, £10
A one day taster session and very basic introduction to hedge laying skills. Suitable for beginners or improvers. Pre-booking & pre-payment essential on this course as places are strictly limited. Tel 0115 927 3674.

12 November
Southwell Library
Jazz In The Library, at 7pm
The Nicola Farnon Trio
£10 entry. Jazz in the library with the award winning Nicola Farnon Trio. Telephone Southwell Library 01636 812148

Monday 12 November
Retford Library: Ask An Archivist! Library Surgery
Free, from 4-6pm
Nottinghamshire Archives team are getting out and about to hold surgeries in libraries around the County.
At each surgery an archivist will be available to talk about your local and family history and provide advice on sources both within the library and at archives. Come along and find out more!
No booking necessary. For more information contact Nottinghamshire Archives tel 0115 958 1634 or the individual library.

Monday, 12 November
Arnold Library: Short story writing workshop as part of National Short Story Week, from 4.30pm and 5.30pm at the library in Front Street, Arnold.

Monday 12 November
Southwell: Jazz Steps Live at the Library: Nicola Farnon Trio
Tickets £10/£8(concs)
Southwell Library, 7.30pm, southwell.library@nottscc.gov.uk 01636 812 148
With her unique talent as swinging vocalist and double bass player Nicola Farnon has performed with some of the world’s top musicians. Come along and enjoy a fantastic session of jazz music in a great setting.

Tuesday 13 November
Worksop: Jazz Steps Live at the Library: Nicola Farnon Trio
Tickets £10/£8(concs)
Worksop Library, 7.30pm, worksop.library@nottscc.gov.uk 01909 53 53 53
With her unique talent as swinging vocalist and double bass player Nicola Farnon has performed with some of the world’s top musicians. Come along and enjoy a fantastic session of jazz music in a great setting.

November 13
Mansfield: myplace for the Children in Need appeal.
Young People and staff from the myplace @ Westfield Folkhouse Young People's Centre in Mansfield are taking part in a Bikeathon.
Exercise bikes will be in the foyer area at the centre with young people and staff riding them from 9am - 9pm. Different groups of young people who access the provision at the centre are getting involved.
Participants will be sponsored to take part, and there will also be a donation bucket in reception so all visitors can make a donation.
Staff in the building will also be wearing 'fancy dress' for the day, donating £2 for doing so, with a fine of £5 if they don't!. Cakes and 'Pudsey' biscuits are also being sold for the event.

Wednesday 14 November
Nottingham: Nottinghamshire Archives, 1pm
Lunchtime Talk – Thomas Cecil Howitt: Architect of Nottingham
£4, Archivist Sarah Cooley explores the built heritage and legacy of the eminent architect Thomas Cecil Howitt, including never-before-seen images of his life and work. For more information contact Nottinghamshire Archives tel 0115 958 1634.

Friday 16 November
Nottingham: Nottinghamshire Archives, 2.30 – 4pm
Archive Skills Workshop - Wikipedia Workshop
£4, Find out all about working with the online encyclopaedia Wikipedia and how to update heritage content in this brand new workshop. For more information contact Nottinghamshire Archives tel 0115 958 1634.

Saturday 17 November & Sunday 18 November
Rufford: 11am – 4pm
Christmas Paint a Pot Mugs
Rufford Abbey Country Park craft centre
£2 per mug
Come and make a hand painted mug for someone you love. Rufford will fire all the creations in time to collect for Christmas wrapping.

Saturday 17 November
Beeston: Broxtowe Variety Shows 4Uth at Beeston Youth and Community Centre
Acts needed to take part in the shows including dancers, singers, comedians, magicians, actors and more. If you are aged aged 10 - 19 years and would like to take part, please download an application form. Visit www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/broxtowevarietyshows tel 0115 9254575 ext 5.
Time: 6-10pm Free entry, £1 per activity

Saturday 17 November
Bestwood Village: 7pm
Chairman’s Charity Crystal Ball
Charity Crystal Ball in Aid of Nottingham Hospital’s Charity appeal for a new
Cystic Fibrosis Centre
A fundraising spectacular at Goosedale Conference and Banqueting Centre in Bestwood
Village.
£35
A fundraising spectacular hosted by the Chairman of Nottinghamshire County Council, Councillor Carol Pepper, the evening includes pre-dinner drinks, a three-course meal and dancing with music from Phil Rostance and The Marshall Band. For more information visit www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/chairmanscharity, tel 0115 977 4140.

Sunday 18 November
Bestwood: Sweat Lodge
Bestwood Country Park, Beneath a covered willow dome, hot volcanic stones are doused with water and herbs creating a therapeutic steam that cleanses both mind and body. For more information or to book please contact Jason Sewell on 0115 956 9603 or email jason@turtlelodgehealing.co.uk. A charge applies for this event.

Tuesday 20 November - Sunday 30 December
Rufford: All That Glimmers
Rufford Abbey Country Park craft centre Christmas exhibition
Free
A craft exhibition to dazzle and amaze this festive season, with an abundance of everything from ceramics to textiles, glass to jewellery, all handmade and making great gifts. Why not treat your loved ones or even yourself? For more information contact Nottinghamshire Archives tel 0115 958 1634.

21 November
Bestwood: Wellbeing Walk
Bestwood Country Park - enjoy the scenic outdoors in one of our country parks as part of a healthy lifestyle.

Wednesday 21 November
Nottingham: 2.45pm – 3.45pm, Nottinghamshire Archives
Wednesday Workshops – Southwell Minster Archives
£4, The Southwell Chapter was an important religious body in Nottinghamshire from the Saxon period to the nineteenth century. Its records are a great source of information for church history and the lives of ordinary people, from courts to schools, marriages to wills. For more information contact Nottinghamshire Archives tel 0115 958 1634.

November 22 at 7pm
Retford: Retford Library, Church Gate What is a Ghost? An evening with Richard Felix, the well-known ghosthunter. The event is £7 with concessions of £5, 01777 708724.
12 years ago, he opened the haunted Derby Gaol, scene of the last hanging, drawing and quartering in England.
10 years ago, Richard embarked on the Ghost Tour of Great Britain, visiting every county and recording their hauntings onto 50 DVDs. The success of these DVDs has resulted in them being put into book format.
Richard’s knowledge and expertise drew him to the attention of T.V. and Radio. He eventually became paranormal historian on TV’s ‘Most Haunted’, completing a total of 99 programmes.
For more details visit: www.richardfelix.co.uk

Saturday 24 November – Sunday 16 December, weekends only.
Edwinstowe: 11am – 4pm (last admission 3.45pm)
St Nicholas' Yuletide Grotto
Sherwood Forest National Nature Reserve
£5 per child including small gift.
The forerunner to Father Christmas and the traditional bearer of Yuletide gifts, St Nicholas will be in his medieval-style grotto ready to welcome visitors.

November 24
Rushcliffe: Rushcliffe Wedding Fayre 10am - 4pm
Rushcliffe Registration Office, The Hall, Bridgford Road, West Bridgford, NG2 6AT
Free The chance to view some of our registration offices, speak to our experienced team of staff and meet with a range of local wedding suppliers e.g. photographers, dress makers, florists, hair dressers and car hire companies. Tel 08449 80 80 80.

Saturday 24 November – Wednesday 2 January
Edwinstowe: 11am – 3pm (every weekend except Christmas weekend)
Yuletide Treasure Trail
Sherwood Forest National Nature Reserve
£1
Enjoy some of the forest’s midwinter magic on this self-guided weekend trail around the Major Oak path, with a ‘sweet’ reward for all those who complete the clues!

Saturday 24 November
Beeston: Beeston Poets
Beeston Library
£7/£5
7pm
Talk by poet Neil Astley. For more information 0115 9227340.

Sunday 25 November
Edwinstowe: 11am
St Nicholas Arrives
Sherwood Forest National Nature Reserve
Rumours abound that the Sheriff of Nottingham is in Sherwood Forest today to try and put a stop to any Yuletide celebrations – let’s hope Robin Hood is around to save the day! Come along to cheer for St Nicholas as he arrives at his medieval grotto. (This event involves some stunt fighting which may be worrying for younger children unless it is explained to them.)

Sunday 25 November
Edwinstowe: The Creswell Colliery Band
Sherwood Forest National Nature Reserve
The visitor centre will be filled with tuneful melodies from this local band. Enjoy your favourite carols and other seasonal tunes. From 2pm