An outline of the events happening in Britain's Heritage Cities.
9 March - 12 May: Transmitter/Receiver Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery www.tulliehouse.co.uk
10: Carlisle City Aquathlon Morton Pool www.sportinaction.co.uk
14 - 24: Rogues Gallery A free performance, art and digital media festival taking place in empty shops around Chester city centre http://www.chesterperforms.com/
17: St Patrick's Day Raceday Carlisle Racecourse www.carlisle-races.co.uk
23 March - 23 June: Outside In Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery http://www.tulliehouse.co.uk/
28: The Long Walk - Ha Ha Hadrian's Wall Charity Walk Bowness-on-Solway to Newcastle www.hadrianswallcharitywalk.weebly.com
28 March - 1 April: International Market Carlisle City Centre www.discovercarlisle.co.uk
28 March - 1April: Nantwich Jazz, Blues and Music Festival http://www.nantwichjazz.com/
30: Easter Saturday Family Day Carlisle Racecourse www.carlisle-races.co.uk/
30 March – 1 April: Chester Food, Drink and Lifestyle Festival Chester Racecourse. The festival for all those who love food, drink, homes and gardens. 10am - 5pm. Tel: 01244 355474 www.chesterfoodanddrink.co.uk/
4 - 21: Great North festival of Transport at Beamish There is something for everyone to enjoy as three mini events make up the Great North Festival of Transport’ at Beamish – The Living Museum of the North this April. 20 - 21: Bishop Auckland Food Festival The Bishop Auckland Food Festival spans across two days for the first time in 2013. The festival will be packed with stalls featuring food and drink, arts and craft, plus demonstrations and entertainment. http://www.thisisdurham.com/whats-on/bishop-auckland-food-festival-p605711
21: Talkin Tarn Duathlon Talkin Tarn Country Park www.sportinaction.co.uk/
21: Sandbach Transport Festival www.sandbachtransportfestival.co.uk
22 - 28: Big Kids Circus Bitts Park www.bigkidcircus.co.uk
May – August: Chester Town Crier public proclamations http://www.chestertowncriers.com/
3 - 5: Stepping Stones Festival Stones Barn, Roweltown http://www.steppingstonesfestival.co.uk/
4-5: Pirelli International Rally Kielder Forest finishing at Carlisle Racecourse http://www.pirelliinternationalrally.co.uk/
4 May – 22 September: Discover A Medieval City Exhibition at Chester's Grosvenor Museum and events programme http://www.grosvenormuseum.co.uk/
8 - 10: May Festival - Stan James Cup Day, Boodles Ladies Day, Boodles City Day Chester Racecourse Tel: 01244 304615 http://www.chester-races.com/
8: Circus Starr Bitts Park http://www.circus-starr.co.uk/
25: Matthew Clark Roman Day Chester Racecourse Tel: 01244 304615 http://www.chester-races.com/ 24 – 27: Chester Folk Festival http://www.chesterfolk.org.uk/
25 May - 02 June: Carlisle Music City Various locations http://www.carlislemusiccity.co.uk/
27: Upperby Gala Hammond's Pond www.discovercarlisle.co.uk
30 May - 2 June: Bolesworth Showjumping Classic Bolesworth Castle near Tattenhall. The UK’s most innovative and entertaining equestrian event featuring the world’s top competitors plus family entertainment. http://www.bolesworthclassic.co.uk/
31May - 1 June: Coutts International Polo Weekend Chester Racecourse http://www.chester-races.co.uk/
8: Halewood International Chester Racecourse Tel: 01244 304615 http://www.chester-races.com/ 8: Cumberland Show Carlisle Racecourse www.cumberlandshow.co.uk/
14 -16: Cholmondeley Pageant of Power Cholmondeley Castle, Malpas Enjoy some of the world’s best marques racing around the track at Cholmondeley, power boats, and fantastic aerial displays. http://www.cpop.co.uk/
14-16: Middlewich Folk & Boat Festival This delightful festival is a medley of boats, folk music and entertainment with the stunning backdrop of the canal. http://www.midfest.org.uk/
15: Chester Regatta http://www.chesterregatta.org/
15 - 16: Chester Rocks (The Wanted and Jessie J) Chester Race Course www.chester-rocks.com
18 – 19: Cheshire County Show, Tabley, Knutsford. http://www.cheshirecountyshow.org.uk/
19 - 23: Lanercost Festival Lanercost Priory www.lanercostfestival.co.uk
22 – 23: Midsummer Watch Parade The annual Midsummer Watch Parade. Follow the visual spectacle of the parade as it winds its way through the city. 2pm.Tel: 01244 976741 http://www.midsummerwatch.co.uk/
22: World Worm Charming Championship Willaston, Nantwich A host of worm charmers come from around the world to employ various methods of charming worms from the soil! http://www.wormcharming.com/
22: The Wall Ultra Run Carlisle to Newcastle www.thewallrun.com
26: Glastonbury Festival 2013, tel: 0844 412 4626 26: The Lloyd Motor Group Bell and Cumberland Plate Day Carlisle Racecourse http://www.carlisle-races.co.uk/
29: Stella Artois Midsummer Festival Chester Racecourse Tel: 01244 304615 http://www.chester-races.com/ 26 June – 13 July: The Chester Mystery Plays Chester Cathedral http://www.chestermysteryplays.com/ 28: Ladies Evening Chester Racecourse Tel: 01244 304615 http://www.chester-races.com/
1 July – 30 September: Lindisfarne Gospels Durham This once in a lifetime exhibition tells the incredible tale of St Cuthbert and one of the world’s greatest books – its creation, its journey and its special symbolism for people of the north. http://www.lindisfarnegospels.com/
1- 16: Chester Summer Music Festival A celebration of great choral works and solo voices, from international artists to local community choirs. http://www.chesterperforms.com/
4 July- 18 August: Grosvenor Park Open Air Theatre Grosvenor Park, Chester Enjoy theatre in the great outdoors - bring a picnic, blanket and all the family! http://www.chesterperforms.com/
5 - 21: Brass: Durham International Festival International acts bring Durham to life this summer with the sound of Brass. Bands perform jazz, funk, classical and traditional music during a packed programme of live entertainment this summer. http://www.thisisdurham.com/whats-on/brass-durham-international-festival-p688211
6: The Stobart Group Summer Family Festival Carlisle Racecourse http://www.carlisle-races.co.uk/
6 July - 10 November: Solway Wildlife Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery http://www.tulliehouse.co.uk/
9-14: Llangollen 2013 International Eisteddfod Llangollen, North Wales Featuring dancers, musicians and choirs from across the world in friendly competition plus concerts by well-known artistes. www.international-eisteddfod.co.uk/
10 - 15: Carlisle Festival Carlisle Cathedral http://www.carlislefestival.org.uk/ 12 - 13: Golden Square Ladies & Gents Evening, Corbettsports City Plate Day Chester Racecourse Tel: 01244 304615 http://www.chester-races.com/
18 - 21: Music on The Marr The Marr Village Green, Castle Carrock http://www.musiconthemarr.com/
20 July - 13 October: George Howard Exhibition Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery http://www.tulliehouse.co.uk/
25 – 28: RHS Flower Show Tatton Park http://www.rhs.org.uk/
4: Family Funday Chester Racecourse Tel: 01244 304615 http://www.chester-races.com/ 5: The Edinburgh Woollen Mill Ultimate Ladies Night Carlisle Racecourse http://www.carlisle-races.co.uk/
9 -13: England v Australia 4th Investec Ashes Test Series The eyes of the sporting world will be on Durham this summer as one of the largest sporting events ever to be held in the region takes place at the Emirates Durham International Cricket Ground. The test will be the 4th in the series from Friday 9 to Tuesday August. http://www.thisisdurham.com/whats-on/england-v-australia-the-investec-ashes-p614341
10: Dalston Show The Showground, Dalston http://www.dalstonshow.co.uk/
17: Chester Racecourse Tel: 01244 304615 http://www.chester-races.com/
18: Etape Mercia Charity Cycle Event Oulton Park (start and finish) www.talkingwestcheshire.org/ETAPE
22 - 26: International Market Carlisle City Centre www.discovercarlisle.co.uk/ 23 - 25: Creamfields Daresbury, Warrington http://www.creamfields.com/ 30 - 31: Ladies Day Chester Racecourse Tel: 01244 304615 http://www.chester-races.com/
August Bank Holiday: Streets of Summer Festival The streets of Durham will burst into life this August bank holiday when the city plays host to some of the best musicians and street performers from around the world.
6 - 7: Roodee Challenge Cup Polo Weekend Chester Racecourse http://www.chester-races.co.uk/
7 - 8: Wolsingham Agricultural Show A weekend of family entertainment includes a variety of different animals competing to be prize winners, a country fair, show jumping, dog trials, farmers Olympics and much more. 12 - 15: Heritage Open Days Various locations http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/
14: Stella Artois Autumn Festival Chester Racecourse Tel: 01244 304615 http://www.chester-races.com/ Tbc: Kite Festival Chester RaceCourse, Chester's annual Kite Festival, huge professional and family flying areas. 10am - 4pm. Tel: 01244 976741 28: Chester Finale Chester Racecourse Tel: 01244 304615 http://www.chester-races.co.uk/
6: Cumberland Building Society Great Cumrian Run Starting at Carlisle Castle www.carlisleleisure.com
11 - 20: Durham City Book Festival This annual celebration of all thing books takes place in October each year. A host of household names take over the city with book-based discussions and interactive events.
Chester Halloween Ghost Tours Extravaganza, T: 0845 647 7868 http://www.ghostcity.co.uk/
27: Rugby League World Cup New Zealand v Samoa The Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington www.rlwc2013.com/fixtures Chester Literature Festival
November
2: Carlisle Fireshow Bitts Park http://www.carlisle.gov.uk/
3: Countryside Family Day Featuring the Cumberland Chase Carlisle Racecourse http://www.carlisle-races.co.uk/
3: Rugby League World Cup Wales v USA Glyndwr University Racecourse Ground, Wrexham www.rlwc2013.com/fixtures
8 - 10: Roger Albert Clark Rally Brampton http://www.rogeralbertclarkrally.org/
8: Carlise Blues and Rock Festival Swallow Hilltop Hotel www.carlislebluesfestival.com
11: Armistice Day and Remembrance Sunday Carlisle city centre http://www.carlisle.gov.uk/
14 - 17: Lumiere For four nights in November 2013 Durham City will once again be transformed by a series of light installations from leading regional, national and international artists. Enjoy a real sense of celebration and explore the new nocturnal landscape of the city. http://www.thisisdurham.com/whats-on/lumiere-2013-p681601
16: Rugby League World Cup Quarter Final Glyndwr University Racecourse Ground, Wrexham www.rlwc2013.com/fixtures
17: Rugby League World Cup Quarter Final The Halliwell Jones Stadium www.rlwc2013.com/fixtures
17: Carlisle Christmas Lights Switch On Carlisle City Centre www.discovercarlisle.co.uk
December
4 - 8: International Market Carlisle City Centre www.discovercarlisle.co.uk
5 & 12: Chester's Winter Watch Parades www.midsummerwatch.co.uk
6 - 8: Durham City Christmas Festival The cobbled streets of Durham City will be filled with entertainers this December, and there will be over 150 quality craft, gift and food stalls, in a huge marquee on Palace Green.
13 - 31: Snow White The Sands Centre www.thesandscentre.co.uk
15: Family Day with a Christmas Theme Carlisle Racecourse http://www.carlisle-races.co.uk/