What's On 2018
Below is a list of events which are taking place in celebration of Somerset Day.
If you know of an event taking place please let us know so we can spread the word!
Lead Up to Somerset Day
World Cup Of Somerset
Somerset County Council Communications Team
'What's the best thing about Somerset/what do you love most about Somerset?'
We'll be inviting the public to nominate whatever they like - could be cider, could be Glastonbury Festival, could be the Wurzels... we narrow it down to 32 things, put them into 8 groups and then you can use twitter polls to pitch them against each other. The final poll will be on Somerset Day, Friday 11th May.
Follow on twitter
#WCoSomerset
Thursday 10th May
Cheese and Cider Night
Wincanton Racecourse from 3:30pm
Wincanton Racecourse is celebrating three of Somerset's greatest things - cheese, cider and racing! Start Somerset Day a day early, this evening meeting kicks off at 3:30pm with live music from the local band The Enrichments throughout the evening.
For more information visit http://wincanton.thejockeyclub.co.uk/events-tickets/whats-on/Cheese-and-cider-night
Made in Somerset
The White Hart and ACEarts, Somerton 10am-3pm
Over 30 Artisan stalls - contemporary crafts, gists, food and produce, raising funds for Etatu charity.
Come for a coffee, browse and shop. Entry free, raffle.
Facebook Twitter
Somerset birthday party and Somerset celebrations
The Emporium, Mantle Street, Wellington 5pm - 8.30pm
Join us for our third anniversary celebrations - complementary bubbly for everyone who attends.
Friday 11th May – Monday 14th May
Garden Open
Little Yarford Farmhose, Nr Kingston St Mary, TA2 8AN 2 - 5pm
5 acres of delight to both artist and plantsman.
Cream teas in aid of Cothelstone Church. Refreshments, preserves and plants.
Entrance £5; children free, in aid of the NGS
Friday 11th May – Sunday 13th May
The Great Somerset Tea Party
New this year is the Great Somerset Tea Party being organised by, and in aid of, St Margaret’s Hospice Care in association with Somerset Day. Taking place on the 11th, 12th and 13th May, there will be tea parties galore, all in aid of a fundraising target of £26,000 – that’s a day of care across all of the Hospice’s services. We hope you’ll take part in the biggest tea party Somerset has ever seen.
Sign Up for your free tea party pack at https://www.somerset-hospice.org.uk/thegreatsomersetteaparty and share your plans with
#GSTP2018
Friday 11th May
A-Z Challenge
A social media A to Z challenge starting at 7am and finishing at 8pm! The aim is to visit as many different businesses over the course of the day throughout Somerset, each beginning with a different letter of the alphabet.
For further information email: marksph@hotmail.com
Download your Somerset A - Z Challenge 2018 Board for Social Media Here
Summer Lunchtime Concert – a Somerset Day Celebration
St John's Church, Park Street, Taunton 12.45 - 13.45pm (Doors open 12.00 Noon)
Our county’s history and heritage will be celebrated in a specially extended hour long concert. Gibby Swaine and Sue Watts have been making music together for many years and have invited The StoggyMen, from Stogumber, to join in a programme that will explore the wealth of traditional Somerset music.
Tom Mayberry, will take us back to 878 with an explanation of why this day is so significant for Somerset.
Fruit punches with a Somerset flavour will be served before the start. Admission is free but there will be a retiring collection in aid of Halsway Manor, National Centre for Folk Arts and St John’s Church
For more information email: meeingalmington@gmail.com
Somerset Apple Afternoon Tea
Castle Hotel Taunton 12 noon until 4.30pm
Includes complimentary glass of Thatcher's Family Reserve, selection of finger sandwiches, freshly baked scones with clotted cream and jam pastries.
£18.50 per person - £8.50 from every afternoon tea will be donated to St Margaret's Hospice (Minimum 8 hours notice required.)
Visit: http://www.the-castle-hotel.com/somerset-day-apple-afternoon-tea/ or ring 01823 272671
Pride of Somerset Youth Awards
Bridgwater and Taunton College Conference Centre, Taunton - 6.30pm
Organised by Rotary Club of Taunton and supported by BBC Somerset and the Somerset County Gazette
For further information visit: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p04r965p
Somerset themed Networking Event ‘Tea Party’
Rural Enterprise Centre, Royal Bath and West Showground
Federation of Small Businesses in collaboration with the Royal Bath and West Rural Enterprise Centre to celebrate business in Somerset
For further information email: Nicola.Bailey@fsb.org.uk
Miles Tea & Coffee celebration ‘Tea Party’
Vale Yard, High Street, Porlock, TA24 8PU
Join Miles at the Porlock Roastery Yard between 10:30 and 12:00 as we celebrate everything Somerset over a locally blended cup of tea or coffee and cake. It’s also a perfect time to raise a cuppa to our 130 years of tea and coffee heritage in the Miles family.
All proceeds to St Margaret’s Hospice.
A Race Against Time: The Story of the Kenyon photographic Archive
The Museum of Somerset – 2.30pm A talk about the work of photographer Stanley Walter Kenyon who captured thousands of images of Somerset, and the project to rescue the collection. Part of the Museum’s Talk and Tea programme with Janet Tall, Head of Archives & Local Studies. The talk compliments an exhibition of Kenyon’s work that is on at the Museum until the end of the year.
Booking advised on 01823 255088 - £5 including tea and cake.
"Picture Somerset" with artist Donna Vale
"For Every Cloud" Gallery, Langport - Evening launch 7-9pm Comprised of Somerset photographs taken by people who either photograph our county professionally, for the love of it, or both.
For further information visit: www.somersetcool.com
Cothelstone Hill Heritage Walk
10.00 am to 12.00 noon A walk to discover the archaeology and natural history of the hill, with the South West Heritage Trust and the Quantock Hills AONB.
Booking via The Museum of Somerset on 01823 255088 - £5
Cider and Cheese Tasting, and the Mendip Morrismen
Railway Inn, Sandford 6pm - 7pm
Clevedon Pier celebrating Somerset Day
Clevedon Pier 10am - 4.30pm
Entry £1 For more information email: JoeNovell@clevedonpier.com
‘I love Somerset’
Tesco Taunton 9am – 2pm
Visit Tesco on Castle Street to buy your County Gazette from the Somerset County Gazette promotions team and pick up a ‘I Love Somerset’ bag with every paper with samples/money off coupons from Thatchers Cider, Wyke Farms Cheese and Miles Tea & Coffee.
Minehead Guided Walk
Minehead Information Centre,The Beach Hotel, The Avenue – 10am
Come and explore hidden Minehead with a local guide; find out about the history, folklore, myths legends, shipwrecks and smugglers in Quay Town. The tour lasts 60-90 minutes at a gentle pace; it is suitable for all abilities.
To book a place contact Minehead Information Centre: Tel: 01643 702624 or minehead.visitor@hotmail.com. £2.50 per adult, £1 per child.
An evening celebrating all that is Somerset
Blackmore Farm, Cannington 7pm
Tasty grub cooked up in the Manor House kitchen using local ingredients. You will be offered tasters of Somerset wine and ciders (also available to buy) £20 per person.
For more details www.facebook.com/events/224462551633601/
Nailsea Country Market
Christ Church Vestry Hall, Nailsea 10am - 11.15am
Our goods come from very local producers, most of them cooking in their own home kitchens. As well as baked goods and preserves, we sell cheese, butter, eggs, honey, apple juice, cider vinegar. fish from our local trout farm, local fruit and veg, plants, flowers and crafts. Customers can also stay for coffee and cake which next will be Somerset Apple cake of course!
For more information see www.facebook.com/nailseacountrymarket or nailseacountrymarket@gmail.com
West Somerset Railway Somerset Day Express
Bishops Lydeard to Minehead
This service will depart from Bishops Lydeard at 10.30 and pick up/drop off at Williton, Watchet, Blue Anchor and Minehead. You will then have some free time to spend at your chosen station and town, until your return service which will leave Minehead at 14.15.
£12 per person. As this is the only service of the day, tickets are limited.
For more information see www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk/events/detail/somerset-day-express
Alfred Gillett Trust Open Day
The Grange, Farm Road, Street 10am- 5pm Join the Alfred Gillett Trust to celebrate Somerset Day for an immersive experience of heritage care demonstrations and information. See members of the Trust’s collections team demonstrate how they care for the collections in our custody.
The Trust will also be exhibiting work by local artists Steve Cobbin and Mark Noble and from 7pm we will screening the new film by the creative partnership Visualfields, To Stand and Stare: A Somerset Landscape.
Entrance is FREE, but donations towards the care and future display of the collections would be gratefully received.
For more information visit https://alfredgilletttrust.org/whats-on/
Saturday 12th May
Somerset Food and Craft Fair and Flower Festival
Long Sutton Village Hall and Church
For further information email pbolton@btinternet.com
Somerset Day Craft Fayre
Shapwick Village Hall 2pm – 5pm
For further information email: SELLICKS@btc.ac.uk
Celebrating Somerset Talent
Cedars Hall, Wells Cathedral School, Wells - 6.30pm
In aid of the Somerset Hospice Movement
A Concert featuring the Drystones Folk Duet, the Military Wives Choir, Yeovilton and some of Somerset’s emerging musical talent, compered by Ben McGrail of ITV News West country - preceded by a Somerset food and drink reception.
Supported by Somerset County Council, Bath and North East Somerset Council and North Somerset Council
This is the main Somerset Day event held in the presence of the Lord Lieutenant of Somerset, Mrs Anne Maw.
Tickets available from Cedars Hall Box Office – Adults £25, 18’s and under £10
eat:Taunton
Hammet Street and St Mary Magdalene Church 10am-4pm
Over 70 local food and drink producers, with free Hawksmoor Cookery School and The Retreat Demo Stage. With livestock, tractors and buskers.
www.eatfestivals.org #lovesomerset food and drink festival. Free Entry
Somerset Day Craft Fair
Bishops Lydeard Village Hall
For more information email somersetdaybl@gmail.com
Cheese & Cider Market
Market House, Castle Cary 4pm - 9pm
Local artisan food and drink to try and buy. There'll also be buskers, beer and even a 'cow' for the kids to milk.
Find out more at www.facebook.com/CaryCheeseCider
Street Celebrates Somerset Day
10am - 4pm
Dancing Exhibitions, Brass Band, Chalice Morris Men - All in the Library Gardens
Busk Stop with local performers in the High Street - King Alfred will distribute free cakes and flags
CHILDREN’S VILLAGE SHOW - In Leigh Road Methodist Hall - Pop up art exhibition in Parish Rooms and children’s activities too
Somerset Day Quiz
Comeytrowe Hall, Pitts Lane, Taunton – 7.30pm
A simple supper will be served using locally produced foods. Tea and coffee will be available. Guests are invited to bring their own preferred beverages, No charge for attendance but contributions towards our kitchen refurbishment fund will be gratefully received on the night.
Come along and find out how much you actually know about the county you live in!
Admittance by ticket only obtained by phoning 01823256395 or 01823278039 by 5th May
Sunday 13th May
Local Producer’s Fayre
Brean Leisure Park
To celebrate Somerset Day 2018, Brean Leisure Park will be hosting a local producers’ fayre to showcase everything Somerset has to offer, be it food, drink, arts and crafts or community interests.
For more information - admin@brean.com or Tel 01278 751595
Somerset Garden Day
To encourage everyone in Somerset to down tools, enjoy the diverse pleasures of their gardens and acknowledge the hard work that goes into keeping them special. Connect with neighbours, family and friends and celebrate the fruits of your gardening labour, by wearing a flower crown.
For more information visit www.gardenday.co.uk
Arabian Racing
Taunton Racecourse - gates open 11am, First Race 1pm
Arabian racing returns to Taunton Racecourse for their second meeting of the Arabian Racing Organisation (ARO) season, where local amateur jockey Ellie Mackenzie will be looking for wins on home territory.
Entrance £10; Children 16 and under free
For more information visit: www.aroracing.co.uk
ARO Racing on Twitter ARO Racing on Facebook
