Morris dancing, fingerprinting, bell ringing and car cutting are just some of the sights and sounds that will be on offer across Ripon on Saturday 18 March 2017.
The sixth annual Sights and Sounds of Ripon event is bigger than ever this year, and will see over 30 attractions, groups, stalls and displays take over Ripon from the Market Square to the city’s three museums, the cathedral, the library and the Spa Gardens.
The free, family friendly community event, organised by the Ripon Minster ‘My Neighbourhood’ Project, runs from 11am until 4pm and offers up a mixture of activities and entertainments, information and demonstrations, where residents can:
- see inside the city’s museums for free – activities on offer include have-a-go craft sessions,
- performances and demonstrations as well as a pop up café in the Workhouse Museum
hear Ripon Cathedral’s bell ringers ring the Quarter Peel, making over 1,250 changes - find out more about the work of the emergency services by watching firefighters car cutting, or taking a lie down in an ambulance
- watch dancing from Ripon Morris Dancers and Betty Lupton’s Ladle Lakers
sit back and enjoy Children’s Story Time in the library
There will also be information and advice stands on a host of local services, including:
- Dementia Forward
- White Rose Credit Union
- Ripon Library volunteers
- Harrogate and Ripon Centres for Voluntary Service
- University of the 3rd Age
- Neighbourhood Watch
- drug and alcohol recovery service North Yorkshire Horizons
Add to that Ripon Community Archaeology Project, an information session from Harrogate Borough Council about plans for a new Ripon swimming pool, face painters, crazy golf and a talk on Ripon’s historic silverware, and it’s a pretty safe bet that 2017’s Sights and Sounds of Ripon really does have something for everyone!
The Dean of Ripon, the Very Reverend John Dobson, will open proceedings at 11am, accompanied by the Ripon Horn Blower.
Fiona Friday, Partnerships and Voluntary and Community Sector Officer at Harrogate Borough Council, said: What’s been really gratifying at previous Sight and Sounds – and I’m sure the same will happen again this year – is that there’s always a great mix of ages attending the different stalls, shows and attractions.
This year’s event is bigger than ever and there should be something on offer for all ages to enjoy amongst the sights and sounds of the city.
James Etherington, Director of Ripon Museums, said: We are delighted to take part again this year and throw our doors open to welcome all of Ripon to the museums and see our wonderful new exhibition, ‘Urchins, Sprogs and Guttersnipes’ which reveals the tales of not so lucky Victorian children.
Greg Kubas, Service Development Officer at Ripon Library, said: Ripon Library is once again delighted to be part of the annual Sight and Sounds of Ripon event and to provide access to information and services available in the Ripon area.
The library has always been at the heart of the community and this event is a perfect opportunity for visitors to come along and talk informally with representatives of local organisations and find out what they do.
A full list of Sight and Sounds activities and attractions is available at www.riponmuseums.co.uk/events
