Newark is pulling out all the stops for local families this ‘staycation summer’ as it’s set to be overtaken by fun with a town-centre Family Play Day this Sunday. With events taking place from 10am to 3pm at Newark Castle and Newark Market Place, the event, organised by Newark Creates, is definitely one to add to your holiday calendar.

Newark Creates is a brand new initiative led by Newark Cultural Consortium, delivering a programme of activity across Newark as part of the High Street Heritage Action Zone scheme. This Family Play Day is the first in a planned series of activities to include pop up dance events, a twilight festival and a Fun Palace in October.

Sunday’s feast of fun will kick off with events from Consortium partners the National Civil War Centre who will be holding a historical it’s a knockout in the morning at Newark Castle and the afternoon at the Market Place. Visitors will be able to build a castle out of giant blocks, joust on hobby horses, knock the head off King Charles I and shoot tennis balls from a cannon.

Another partner of the Consortium, Newark Book Festival, will be helping to host a fantastic mini market with other organisations throughout the day where families can browse the stalls, visit a pop up museum, have their faces painted and take part in some fun mini beast crafts. Children’s authors Troy Jenkinson and Sianna Stodd will be there too, helping children to create some amazing posters and offering their brilliant books at a special discounted price.

For something a little different, there’ll be yoga at Newark Castle with Peaceful Possums. This exciting yoga adventure for all the family will take participants on a deep dive into the ocean for an ‘Under the Sea Adventure’ and travel back to the time of the dinosaurs for a ‘Daring Dino Trek’ using storytelling, imagination, music and playful yoga poses.

Keeping the atmosphere of fun buzzing around the Market Place will be Bonkers The Clown, who’ll be delighting young and old by showing off skills like stilt walking, balloon modelling, unicycling and juggling.

Carol Newman, Director of Culture at Inspire: Culture, Learning and Libraries, the lead partner in the Consortium, said: “We’re so excited to kick-start our extremely exciting programme of activity over the next 3 years with this fantastic summer event. It will be wonderful to see Newark’s streets bustling with colour and fun and offering a brilliant way for families to stay entertained close to home this year.”

For more information about the event and to keep up to date with Newark Creates’ upcoming activities follow them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/newarkcreatesuk.

The team are also looking for people to volunteer their skills to share at their October Fun Palace event. If you think you have something to offer, get in touch with Donna Hall via email on donna.hall@newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk.

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