Want something to do this long Easter weekend? Here are some ideas for events across Suffolk and Essex.
There’s so much going on around the region this weekend and beyond we couldn’t fit it all into our weekly What’s On guide.
All About Dogs Festival, Trinity Park, Ipswich, April 16-17, 9.30am–5pm
Britain’s Got Talent finalist Trip Hazard joins the jam-packed line-up of arena attractions, have-a-go activities and chances to pamper your pet at this year’s festival. There are lots of new things to do and see, including the village green area where you will find dog advice experts and musical entertainment. Enjoy agility and obedience displays, fast and furious flyball fun and the chance to show off your four-legged friend in dog show competitions. The Conquest K9 dog display team will wow crowds in the main arena, while Sunday’s highlight will be a performance of canine tricks and routines by Hazard and Lucy Heath.
Duchamp, Peter Blake, Susie Joyce - Art of the Everyday, Aldeburgh Beach Lookout, over the Easter holidays.
Part of the Duchamp 100 Years Later exhibition. All over the Easter holidays the Lookout is are inviting everyone to take objects that find walking along Aldeburgh beach and make their own work of art by placing them on the provided plinth and then Instagram a photo of it.
The East Anglian Art Exhibition, Needham Market Community Centre, April 14-17, 10am and 5pm
Celebrating its 43rd year, there will be more than 700 works by some 170 artists on show utilising many styles and media. It’s been organised in support of Needham Market Community Council which supports many local charities.
Room On The Broom, Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds, April 14, 1.30pm and 4.30pm; April 15, 10.30am and 1.30pm.
Climb aboard the witch’s broom for a fun-filled ride as Julia Donaldson’s much-loved story comes to life with songs, laughs and scary fun for children aged three and up plus their grown-ups.
Open gardens, Feeringbury Manor, Feering, April 14, 9am-4pm; Tudor Roost, Fingrinhoe, April 16-17, 2pm-5pm; Ulting Wick, near Maldon, April 17, 2pm-5pm
The first boasts a 10-acre garden with tulips in the lawn. The second is a colourful quarter of an acre, with plants on sale. The last, at eight acres, is one of the country’s most renowned tulip gardens with plants on sale there too.
The National Heritage Centre for Horseracing and Sporting Art, Palace House, Newmarket, to April 18, 10am-5pm
Complete the new Palace House Bingo, with a chocolate Easter egg for those who do. Watch the retraining of racehorses, visit the The Fred Packard Galleries of British Sporting Art or test your skill as a jockey on the racehorse simulator.
The Museum of East Anglian Life, Stowmarket, April 16-17
There are lots of fun-filled family activities including a Peter Rabbit themed Easter egg hunt. On Sunday and Monday, the museum is holding special Easter fun days with lamb feeding, sheepdog demonstrations, Beatrix Potter themed craft activities and traditional farming equipment being demonstrated as the site springs back into life for its 50th anniversary season. There’s also Snapshot - the Museum at 50, a photographic exhibition telling the stories of more than 100 people who currently volunteer and work at the museum.
I-Spy Easter, Sudbury, April 15, 10am-3pm
Organised by Churches Together in Sudbury and District, there will be activities for all the family as characters from the Easter story take to the streets around Market Hill and North Street. Collect your I-Spy card from St Peter’s Church - where there’ll also be a range of craft activities - and find all the characters to win a prize.
Humpty Dumpty’s Eggstravaganza, Spa Pavilion, Felixstowe, April 15, 10.30am and 2.30pm
An Easter family panto from the Dennis Lowe Theatre Company. Whether you believe Humpty was a huge cannon which defended Colchester in the Siege of 1648, was Richard III or a figment of someone’s imagination won’t matter. Humpty and his friends sing and dance their way through the most eggselent of tales. The Panto Pixies are back too, causing mischief and helping Humpty as he goes on a magical adventure with some unexpected twists.
Naomi Wilkinson’s Wild and Scary Tour, Regent Theatre, Ipswich, April 15, 2.30pm
Ideal for ages five plus, the Countryfile and CBBC presenter spills secrets and astounds with her adventures from all over the planet. She will be joined on stage by some of the scariest animals she’s met on her travels. Read our chat with Naomi online now.
Once Upon a Fairytale, Seagull Theatre, Lowestoft, April 15, 2pm, 5pm
Tigerlilys productions present an all singing, all dancing, magical show featuring all your favourite princesses and other fairytale characters.
Elmhurst Park, Woodbridge, April 15, 10am-noon
Youngsters are invited to join Millie the Tide Mill Mouse for an Easter egg hunt with two levels of difficulty, so children of all ages can take part.
Camilo Menjura and Diego Laverde Rojas, St John’s Church, Bury St Edmunds, April 15
The Colombian musicians will serenade audiences using the harp, the cuatro and Andean Flute. Expect melodies and rhythms including the Colombian Cumbia, the Argentinian Zamba, the Venezuelan Joropo and the Cuban Son.
Family Concert, Snape Maltings concert hall, Snape, April 16, 2pm
Conductor Marin Alsop and the Britten-Pears Orchestra perform Britten’s Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra, especially designed for children.
It’s one of several activities over the Easter holidays including free craft activities from 11am-4pm on April 14 and a special Easter farmers’ market from 9.30am-1.30pm on April 15 with free craft activities, live music, food tasting in the food hall and product demonstrations in the courtyard. On April 16 there’s an Easter egg hunt from 11am-4pm. Read our chat with Marin online now.
Ickworth House, Horringer, Bury St Edmunds, until April 17, 11am-4pm
The 4th Earl of Bristol loved exploring. In fact, he loved it so much he built Ickworth to keep all his treasures safe. So what better place to join in a treasure hunt of your own this Easter?
Peter Pan on Ice, Riverside Ice and Leisure Centre, Chelmsford, April 15, 2pm and 6.30pm; April 16, noon and 5pm
Cheer on Peter Pan and The Lost Boys and boo Captain Hook and Mr Smee as the classic story takes to the ice. Produced by the Chelmsford Riverside Ice Skating Club.
East Anglian Transport Museum, Carlton Colville, Lowestoft, April 15-16, noon-5pm
All aboard as the East Anglian Transport Museum open for 2017 with Easter fun. Easter egg at the end of the free treasure hunt for every child.
T’Boo Burlesque, KC’s Bar and Nightclub, Ipswich, April 16, 7pm
The Cheeky Devils CLub join forces with the Haus Of T’Boo for a night of comedy cabaret featuring a full cast of award winning performers.
Real Diamond, Civic Theatre, Chelmsford, April 16, 7.45pm
John Hylton has been a professional Neil Diamond for more than 20 years, performing more than 4,000 tribute shows. Expect all the hits including Love on the Rocks, I am....I Said and Play Me.
And later in the week...
Barry Hay, the Friends Meeting House, Ipswich, April 19, 7.30pm
The Amnesty country coordinator gives a talk on the former USSR.
Al Murray The Pub Landlord - Let’s Go Backwards Together, Ipswich Regent, April 19, 7.30pm
Publican. Politician. Other things beginning with P.... Philosopher, yeah, that. The nation’s critically acclaimed bar-based-braveheart, embarks on a common sense campaign to re-Great Britain in his new show.
• For the latest events and entertainment news don’t miss our What’s On guide in the paper every Thursday.
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