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Line up revealed for first-ever Notts Day Festival

Some of the county’s  most talented and exciting young artists are set to take to the stage for the first-ever Nottinghamshire Day festival on Saturday 27 August between 11am-8pm.

Continuing  the celebrations for the second-ever Nottinghamshire Day on Thursday 25 August , the festival, led by Nottinghamshire County Council working with partners, will revel in all things Notts and take places near the  Sherwood Forest Visitor Centre in the heart of Robin Hood Country.

Hosted and headlined by local soul and R&B star Rob Green,  the line-up will include 15 acts - all hailing from Notts - featuring everything  from indie music to Indian classical, from afro-pop to acoustic sets. 

Rob, who also hosts his own show on BBC Radio Nottingham said, 

" Every show I ever do I always make a point of letting people know I’m from Notts.

"I’m so proud to be from such a creative county. Spending an entire day celebrating the people who make it such a artistically rich place to live, hosting the stage and headlining the festival is such an honour.  I just know is going to be so inspiring for us all.

"It’s going to be so exciting to be able to get together and celebrate our community in all its diversity and creative richness. I am buzzing!!"

The free event will have plenty of family-friendly activities including Robin Hood and Marian and their band of outlaws who’ll  do battle against the Sheriff and Prince John in an exhilarating two-part  combat show ‘Lionheart’.

There’ll also be a chance to experience their medieval camp and try out axe throwing, crossbow shooting and catapulting,  courtesy of the Sherwood Outlaws in partnership with the team from Notts Outdoors, the council’s outdoor and environmental education service.

Festival-goers will be greeted by two magnificent horses, Eclipse and Galahad. There’ll also be pony rides available, all courtesy  of the Sherwood Outlaws.

Football lovers will have  chance to have a selfie with the European Cup, which newly- promoted  Nottingham Forest famously lifted twice in 1979 and 1980. Members of the  Nottingham Forest Community Trust will also be on hand to talk about their work. 

Robin Hood will also come  to life at the event – as part of the world-first 5G Connected Forest research which is led by the county council, working with academic researchers and local businesses to boost tourism and the environment. 

Visitors will get a chance to try out one of the world’s first interactive holographic movies, starring the legend himself, using multi-media headsets. 

The project also includes the UK’s first forest-protecting  robot dog, Gizmo, who will  also be on display.

Council Leader Ben Bradley, MP said,

“We are very proud to be holding  the first-ever Nottinghamshire Day Festival to showcase some of the best things about our county. This includes great music,  fascinating history, world-famous legends, top sport teams  and a  reputation for being  pioneers in technology and science. 

“Everyone is welcome and will be great way to kick-start the bank holiday weekend.

“Last year #NottsDay trended across social media  and we promised 2022’s celebrations would be bigger and better and form part of a milestone year of feel-good events. 

“This has already included  the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations last month and we still have the Tour of Britain cycle race, the UK’s  biggest free-to-attend sporting event, coming  to the county on 8 September.”

Working with our partners RSPB, which manages the Sherwood Forest  National Nature Reserve  on behalf of the county council, this event coincides with the return of the much-loved Robin Hood Festival which is taking place over seven weekends from 16 July to 29 August. Robin Hood Festival 2022 – Sherwood Forest (visitsherwood.co.uk)

Nottinghamshire Day Festival entrance is free and for those travelling via car, parking will be £10 per vehicle,  per day in line with all events at this venue  between 27-29 August.

Nottinghamshire County Council is also working with the Inspire Culture Learning and Libraries' Youth Arts team to help bring this incredible musical line-up to the stage. 

Inspire Youth Arts has worked with a number of the these artists as part of their record label eNGine Room, and on other projects, mentoring them with song writing, music production and recording, performance opportunities and promotional activities, to help them develop as professional artists within the industry.

Other festival highlights will include replica ice age artefacts from Creswell Crags and displays from the National Civil War Centre to showcase  the many aspects of the county’s history. 

For the full line and more details go to: Nottinghamshire Day Festival | Nottinghamshire County Council

Stagecoach run services to Sherwood Forest on the Sherwood Arrow route. 

An all-day, gold group day rider costs £20 for five people on any Stagecoach service in the Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire South and West Yorkshire area. For more details  Live Bus Times & Timetables | Stagecoach (stagecoachbus.com)


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