Suffolk Day is returning this summer – and organisers hope the second celebration of everything wonderful about the county will be even better than last year.
Again the celebrations will take place on the longest day of the year – June 21 – and organisers will be hoping for more perfect weather like that we saw in 2017.
Organisations and attractions around the county are expected to sign up to take part in the event which really helped to shine the spotlight on all that is good about Suffolk.
It is backed by the East Anglian Daily Times and Ipswich Star along with BBC Radio Suffolk and the county council – with other organisations including the Suffolk Food Hall also taking part.
Brad Jones, editor of the EADT and Ipswich Star, said: “People across the county embraced the first ever Suffolk Day last year, and I think this year will be even better.
“We’re lucky to live in a fantastic part of the world, which has so much going for it. Do we celebrate it enough? Definitely not, but Suffolk Day is the perfect opportunity to change that.
“I hope even more people and businesses will get involved this year, and we look forward to reporting on what’s happening across the county in the build up to the big day.”
Mark Murphy, BBC Radio Suffolk breakfast show presenter, said: “I’m so thrilled we’re doing it again this year. For so long we haven’t shouted enough about where we live and how great it is.
“It’s not perfect by any means but I think we live in the best county in the country and I for one wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.
“It’s great to see Suffolk coming together as one, led by the East Anglian Daily Times, Ipswich Star and BBC Radio Suffolk. Let’s make it bigger than last year and I‘d love to see it grow year on year for evermore. So pop that date June 21st in your diary and join in the fun.”
Suffolk County Council leader Colin Noble said: “There’s a very simple but powerful idea behind Suffolk Day. It’s a perfect opportunity to celebrate all the great places and people that make our county truly special. That’s something we don’t do enough.
“The county council is fully behind this year’s campaign and would encourage anyone with connections to Suffolk, wherever they are in the world, to do their bit to champion our great county.”
What could Suffolk Day mean for the county’s people and businesses?
Organisations and attractions across the county will start planning what they will do to mark Suffolk Day 2018 over the next few weeks – but already some plans are taking shape.
The Suffolk Food Hall at Wherstead was one of the biggest backers of the first Suffolk Day last year – and is determined to be a major attraction again this year.
Many people across the county have heard of the Suffolk Trinity of breeds – but the food hall is aiming to bring together the Suffolk Sextuple (or should that be Septuple?) of the Suffolk Horse, Red Poll cattle, Suffolk Sheep, Suffolk Pig, the Ixworth chicken, Appleyard Duck and/or the Suffolk Chequer bantam.
Suffolk County Council leader Colin Noble has set himself a challenge of visiting 21 places in the county during the day, meeting people, hearing their stories about Suffolk and highlighting those whose light is often hidden under a bushel.
Leading Suffolk tourist attractions, including some of the best-known landmarks in the county like Framlingham Castle or Bury Cathedral are expected to take part in the day.
And one of the highlights last year was tours of Glemham Hall between Wickham Market and Saxmundham which gave people the chance to get a feel of what life was really like in a stately home.
Another of the more popular events last year was at the Ipswich Transport Museum where visitors had the chance to see the restoration work under way on some of its exhibits.
Last year’s event coincided with the Suffolk Agricultural Association’s Food and Farming Student Day at Hollow Tree Farm in Semer which gave youngsters from across the county the opportunity to find out about one of the county’s most important features – its role in food and drink production.
Ipswich’s Rose House Butchery marked the event by producing its own Suffolk Sausages – a recipe that seemed to go down very well with customers looking to mark a special day with a special delicacy.
This year’s event is still a blank canvass in many ways – there are six months for people and attractions to consider and prepare for the best way of celebrating all that is great about Suffolk.
And following on from last year’s success many more organisations are expected to want to take part in Suffolk Day 2018.
How will you be celebrating Suffolk Day 2018?
Across the county people and businesses will be celebrating Suffolk Day in their own special way – and we want to hear how you are planning to mark the special day.
If you are planning to hold a special event or make something with a special Suffolk flavour to mark the event, let us know in advance – we want to be able to tell our readers how they can celebrate the day, where they can go for some special Suffolk fun.
We know that most of those who took part in last year’s Suffolk Day celebrations are already planning to do it again and to build on their first effort. But many other people also want to take part after seeing what happened last year. Let us know what you are planning by e-mailing newsroom@archant.co.uk
Today the build-up to the event is officially being launched – our editor Brad Jones is joining Mark Murphy on his BBC Suffolk Breakfast Show at 7am to help start the celebrations.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here