Dear Reader

The world is rather upside down at the moment - heatwave in March, hail and frost in April - yet, still the birds sing at dawn and dusk, building their nests as virginal green leaves unfold and the botanical wonder of spring continues.

Life in the great outdoors begins in earnest and you will not be short of things to do.  Amazing culinary treats and show-stopping experiences await at Althorp Food & Drink Festival (pages 8-9) and Oundle Food Festival (pages 38-39).  New events for this spring include the Oundle Vintage Festival (pages 14-15) and cidery tours at Saxby’s Cider, who also kindly offers readers of Village Connect the chance to win a voucher for a tour for two (pages 18-19).  Rockingham Castle hosts International Horse Trials and Jousting & Medieval Living (pages 28 and 73) or you can fly kites with your Dad on Father’s Day at Lyveden (page 62) or try sailing and pushing the boat out with RYA (page 36).  Corby Outdoors Festival (page 88) is not just about walking, but firm fitness fanatics can also take part in Titchmarch Running Races (pages 80-81) now in its 23rd season.  Music lovers can dance the day and night away at Foxton Locks Festival (page 16), The Music Barn Festival (page 46),  Raunds Music Festival (pages 66-67) or at Music in the Park at Wistow Hall, see pages 74-75 with ticket competition.

Earls Barton Literary Festival returns bigger and better (pages 30-31), and Oundle Festival of Literature (pages 58-59) covers a theme of survival with authors Duncan Barrett, Victoria Hislop and Raynor Winn, the latter with her inspirational memoirs: The Salt Path.  Murder and mystery fiction has been turned into plays performed at The Stahl Theatre (page 86) and cinema screenings (page 104) slowly move from indoors to outside.  The options are endless!

 

Vivi Sant Cole

Village Connect

Hillcrest House

Church Hill

Geddington

Northants

NN14 1AH

Tel: 01536 744700