Vintage Classics events guide

is an ideal family event and entry is FREE. It is held on the greens in this picturesque village 6 miles south of Salisbury. Over 250 craft and other interesting quality stalls, some under cover in marquees. Starts 10:00

• Downton
• Salisbury
• Wiltshire

The 100,000 square feet show will feature around 200 display cars indoors, and another 1250 per day outdoors. You can also pick up advice, parts and automobilia from the 250 major car clubs and exhibitors, and buy or sell your own classic vehicle at Sunday's auction (2nd May).

• Royal Bath & West Showground
• Shepton Mallet

A four–day equestrian event taking place in the heart of Gloucestershire..

• Badminton Horse Trials
• Badminton
• Gloucestershire
• GL9 1DF
• Tel:  +44 (0) 1454 218272

To the beat of the Drum and the zing of the Accordion it swings and swaggers through the town, flicking the air with its long tail, a bright shiver of ribbons and ostrich plumes, chasing the children, accosting the men and catching the women. The Hobby Horse is still a vibrant part of the English traditional landscape. Long may it stalk the streets of Minehead on Mayday.

• Original Sailors’ Hobby Horse
• Minehead
• West Somerset
• TA24 8SB
• Tel: 07841 500788

This year is the 30th year of Abbey Hill so to mark this momentous occasion in any rallies history we have decided that the rally will open on the Friday and allow local school's access to the site in the hope that we will all inspire the youngsters of today to continue the traditions of yesteryear's and enable not only Abbey Hill but other rallies to continue for a number of years to come. Situated on the A37 just south of Yeovil towards Dorchester, over looking the rolling hills of Dorset. It features something for everyone. From Traction Engines to Motorcycles it's all at this fun family day out. Show Opening Hours Each Day 10:00 am to 6.00pm

• Yeovil Showground on A37 towards
• Dorchester
• Tel: 01935 891664
• http://www.abbeyhillrally.co.uk/
• Tel: 07841 500788

Over 350 kite flyers from Britain and overseas. Stunt kites, giant parafoils, kite competitions, fighting kites, kite stall village, musical displays

• Weymouth Beach
• Weymouth
• DORSET
• DT4 8ED
• +44 (0)1305 785747

Featuring “The Knights of Royal England” Brave knights meet on the South Lawn for a mighty jousting contest including Falconry displays  and other attractions

• Blenheim Palace
• Woodstock
• Oxfordshire
• OX20 1PX
• www.blenheimpalace.com

The Annual Spring Flower Show now in its 24th year, is held over the May Bank Holiday weekend in the beautiful surroundings of the Royal Victoria Park. The Show was commissioned to celebrate the centenary of the Botanical Gardens (in 1987), a stone’s throw away from the showground, and well worth a visit for its beauty and peace.

The Show’s appeal is not just to the gardener. There is a wide array of displays and activiites going on throughout including a beautiful Floral Art Marquee display by members of the area’s Floral Art Clubs, the Horticultural Sundries Marquee, the Bath Beekeepers exhibit and much more.

British Food and Farming have a marquee where you have an opportunity to buy first class British farm produce. There will be cookery demonstrations. Local Women’s Institutes and Townswomen’s Guilds have their own marquee with competition entries and delicious home baked cakes and preserves.

• Royal Victoria Park
• Bath
• BA1 2NQ
• Tel: +44 (0) 1225 394041

Abbey Square Bath – cabarets, street performances, workshops, dances to join in and much more.

• Bath Festivals Box Office
• 2 Church Street
• Abbey Green
• Bath
• BA1 1NL
• Tel: 01225 463362
• http://www.bathdancefest.org.uk/

Can you guess what is depicted by the scarecrows dotted around the village?

• Starts & Finishes Village Hall
• High Street
• Wanborough
• Swindon
• Wiltshire
• SN4 0AD
• Tel: +44 07795 057420

A giant pride of 100 individually decorated, life-size lion sculptures, will be taking up residence in and around the World Heritage City of Bath from May to October 2010 in a unique cultural event to raise funds for local charities and bring a smile to the faces of residents and visitors alike.

The lion sculptures, sponsored by businesses, local communities and individuals, will be decorated by artists and craftspeople using their skill and imagination to produce eye–catching artworks from the beautiful to the bizarre. At the end of the summer all of the lions will be auctioned for charity to end their days as fabulous works of art in offices, homes and gardens.

• Bath
• Somerset

The museum’s collection of 240 American quilts is acclaimed as the finest of its type in Europe and the equal of many premier collections in the United States. Ranging from the 18th to early 20th centuries, these exuberant works of art and craft are visually bold, technically assured and often proudly patriotic. To celebrate the publication of Classic Quilts from the American Museum in Britain (Scala Publishers) the museum will be showcasing some of its greatest quilt treasures in this special exhibition for 2010.

• The American Museum in Britain
• Claverton Manor
• Claverton Down
• Bath
• BA2 7BDM
• Tel: +44 (0)1225 460503

The season gets off to a great start with our traditional Bank Holiday weekend meeting. This is usually Salisbury𔃅s biggest and most atmospheric crowd.

• First Race: 01:45 PM
• Last Race: 05:10 PM
• The Race Plain
• Netherhampton
• Salisbury
• Wiltshire
• SP2 8PN
• Tel: +44 (0) 1722 326461

Celebrating May Day on this Bank Holiday Monday, there will be Maypole Dancers, Crowning of the May Queen, stalls and music!

• Millenium Green
• Mountfield
• Rax Lane
• Bridport
• Dorset
• Tel: 01308 422286

Is a one–day countryside and agricultural show with something for everyone. Children will love the farm animals, llamas, horses and pets. Watch the exciting tractor pulling competitions or the fun of the terrier racing. Heavy horses, dog agility, pony club games and show jumping. Craft demonstrations, vintage tractors and blacksmith competitions. Shop amongst the trade stands or choose something tasty to eat.

• Wraxall (on B3130) Nr Bristol
• Somerset
• BS48 1NG
• Tel: +44 (0)8456 342464

See one of Europe’s leading stunt drivers perform a great action packed show. Be amazed by the sheer brilliance of the stunts including spinning a donut whilst changing a wheel. The extreme stunt show takes driving a car to the next level with awesome car control that is truly unimaginable

• Haynes International Motor Museum
• Sparkford
• Yeovil
• Somerset
• BA22 7LH

First Race: 02:10 PM  Last Race: 05:00 PM 

• Bath Racecourse
• Lansdown
• Bath
• BA1 9BU
• Tel: +44 (0)1225 424609

is an ancient procession and festival that dates back to the Middle Ages. During the procession, the Mayor and Queen are carried shoulder high and escorted by an entourage of Flag–boys, Ladies–in–waiting, Cheese–bearers, Princesses, a Sword–bearer and a Flag–man. The Mayor is dunked in the Mayor’s Pool before being doused with spring water. The procession continues to the Well Leaze where two Double Gloucester Cheeses are rolled down the steep slope.

Admission to the Wap is free. There is usually a small charge for car parking & programmes. It starts at 12.45pm

• 07870 239077

Flying & Static Displays, Children’s rides & workshop, Caterers & Trade Stands. All displays and programme are weather dependant

• Brinkworth
• Chippenham
• Wiltshire
• SN15 5DF
• Tel: +44 (0)7917 762254

This year, for the first time, the weekend will incorporate a short flying display of historic aeroplanes to further enhance its charm as a truly nostalgic aviation event.

• North Entrance ( off A433 )
• Kemble Airport
• Cirencester
• Gloucestershire
• GL7 6BA
• Tel: +44 01452 396572

First Race: 06:00 PM  Last Race: 08:30 PM 

• Bath Racecourse
• Lansdown
• Bath
• BA1 9BU
• Tel: +44 (0)1225 424609

Chartered in 1476 by King Edward IV, the Fair is held in fields between Stow and Maugersbury. Gypsies arrive from the Monday onwards, and there are stalls of crafts with the sales on the Thursday after which everyone packs up and moves on.

• Contact Stow TIC
• +44(0)1451 831082.

The season gets off to a great start with our traditional Bank Holiday weekend meeting. This is usually Salisbury𔃅s biggest and most atmospheric crowd.

• First Race: 01:50 PM
• Last Race: 04:35 PM
• The Race Plain
• Netherhampton
• Salisbury
• Wiltshire
• SP2 8PN
• Tel: +44 (0) 1722 326461

The two day outdoor festival will be a celebration of everything related to coffee and will offer a unique opportunity for visitors to explore the world’s most popular drink. It also offers coffee companies and others to showcase and sell their products to visitors

The Bath Coffee Festival will deliver a strong coffee–experience; exhibitors at the festival will offer barista demonstrations and expert sessions on all things coffee related, including foods and drinks, equipment and insider information with lots of coffee exhibitions and coffee themed activities.

• The Recreation Ground Bath

Beaulieu Autojumbles are famous the world over. The MotorMart event is the younger brother of our International Autojumble with this year being the 16th event there will be over 1000 stands selling everything for the motoring enthusiast.

Autojumble Over 1000 stands of motoring parts and accessories covering all motoring eras. Everything from nuts and rivets to body panels and bonnets, memrobilia and handbooks.

MotorMart For enthusiasts who prefer the elegant lines of the older car; be it in concours condition or a ‘wreck‘ for restoration. As always the selection will range from the humble to the prestigious, from the fun to the fantastic provided by both the private dealer or the professional seller.

• Beaulieu
• Brockenhurst
• Hampshire
• United Kingdom
• SO42 7ZN

The Classic & Historic Motor Club has pleasure in inviting you to take part in the fifteenth Mendip Vintage & Classic Tour.

This year the start will be at the Newbridge Park & Ride on the outskirts of Bath. Our route will take entrants through Bath to explore some of the lovely countryside around Bradford–upon–Avon, Frome and Bruton, to our lunchtime stop which will be at Farrington Country & Golf Club. Once again we are able to offer entrants pre–booked lunches, and an excellent venue for those who may wish to picnic. The afternoon route will take us across the top of the Mendip Hills to the finish on the spectacular Cathedral Green at Wells.

• Tel: 01749 676330
• http://www.candhmotorclub.co.uk/

First Race: 02:00 PM  Last Race: 05:30 PM 

• Bath Racecourse
• Lansdown
• Bath
• BA1 9BU
• Tel: +44 (0)1225 424609

The season gets off to a great start with our traditional Bank Holiday weekend meeting. This is usually Salisbury𔃅s biggest and most atmospheric crowd.

• First Race: 06:00 PM
• Last Race: 08:45 PM
• The Race Plain
• Netherhampton
• Salisbury
• Wiltshire
• SP2 8PN
• Tel: +44 (0) 1722 326461

First Race: 02:10 PM  Last Race: 05:10 PM 

• Bath Racecourse
• Lansdown
• Bath
• BA1 9BU
• Tel: +44 (0)1225 424609

The Spring Concours d’Etat will be held on Sunday at 10:00 at Blenheim Palace , Winston Churchill’s birthplace near Oxford.

Cars will be displayed in the Great Court and because this is the 75th anniversary of the birth of the Club it is hoped to be the largest ever gathering of Aston Martins with a highlight focus on the models from the 1930s

• Blenhiem Palace
• Woodstock
• Oxfordshire
• OX20 1PX

has an illustrious artistic history and has long been a well–established event of national significance and international reputation, presenting a dynamic mix of world-class performers. The Festival takes place annually in late May/early June, and showcases a rich range of high quality events featuring orchestral and classical virtuosos, jazz giants, folk, roots and world musicians, and electronica artists.

• Further info from www.bathmusicfest.org.uk

Encompassing every aspect of contemporary art from drama and comedy, to street theatre and music. Now in its 18th Year, the Bath Fringe Festival is an explosion of artistic and creative activity, which opens alongside the Bath International Music Festival on Friday 28th May 2010 with events in over 30 venues across the city.

• Central Bath

Vintage & Classic Cars,  Motorbikes, Farm Tractors, Celestine Dog Display Team, Stationary Engines, Military & Commercial Vehicles, Steam Engines, and much more Gates Open 10:00 a.m. Daily

• Showground off the B4509
• Wickwar
• South Gloucestershire (Nr. Bristol)
• GL12 8LJ
• AA–Signposted

This explosive show features hundreds of military vehicles, live action living history, marching bands, children’s activities and a militaria mall. Over 300 military vehicles will be on display, everything from push–bikes to armoured and tracked vehicles, ranging from pre WWll to the Gulf War.

• Beaulieu Brockenhurst
• Hampshire
• SO42 7ZN

Stand at the top, on the edge of the flat top, and look around you, you can see for many miles to the mountains in the distance, the view on a clear day is wonderful! Now look down to your feet, the ground falls right away from you, one slip and you will fall, now you see far below you, the finishing line, just before the cottages which from here look so small! It is terrifying to imagine running down such a slope!

The slope has a gradient that is in places 1–in–2 and in others 1–in–1, its surface is very rough and uneven and it is almost impossible to remain on oot for the descent.

The cheeses used today are Double Gloucester cheeses weighing 7 – 8lb.

• First Cheese descent is at Midday
• Cooper’s Hill
• Brockworth
• just off the A46 Cheltenham ’ Stroud road

It is thought that the races originated in the 17th Century by young drovers showing off to local women by running up the hill carrying a woolsack.  An official race day has been going for over 30 years now with world records entered in the ‘Guinness book of Records’.

The woolsacks were custom built by the British Wool Federation and are 60lb for men’s races and 35lb for women’s.

The cheeses used today are Double Gloucester cheeses weighing 7 – 8lb.

• Tetbury
• Gloucestershire

• Lotus–On–Track Elise Trophy
• Mighty Mini Championship
• Super Mighty Mini Championship
• Morgan Challenge
• Formula Vee
• Castle Combe FF1600 Championship
• Castle Combe Saloon Car Championship
• Castle Combe Special GT Championship

• Castle Combe Circuit
• Castle Combe
• Chippenham
• Wiltshire
• SN14 7EY
• England
• Telephone: +44 1249 782417/782929