Bath's Latest News

Bath Festival of Children's Literature
At Various Venues throughout the City of Bath

Bath Festival of Children’s Literature 2010 features some of the best and brilliant authors, poets, illustrators and storytellers in the land. The ten day Festival is packed full of events for all the family. There are lots of events throughout the week - for babies, the very youngest book fans, emerging book fans, confident readers, voracious readers, book hoarders and teenagers too. The Festival will also be helping to celebrate seventy spectacular years of Puffin books as the hilarious Jeremy Strong hosts the Big Puffin Prize Book Quiz - guaranteed fun for all the family! For further information please visit www.bathkidslitfest.co.uk 

Start Date: 24/09/2010
End Date: 03/10/2010

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The Last Great Challenge Expedition

Nobody’s ever walked from the coast of Antarctica to the South Pole and back before, later this year adventurers Justin Miles and John Wilton-Davies are heading south to complete the mission on the Last Great Challenge expedition. Once completed, the 2,200km trek dragging near 200kg loads will also become the longest unsupported polar journey in history. The last person to get anywhere near close to completing this journey was Captain Robert Falcon Scott on the ill-fated Terra Nova expedition in 1912. Justin and John aim to complete the mission and bring one of the last polar ‘firsts’ to Britain just one year short of the centenary of his death. The expedition is about much more than just two guys walking across a cold continent; they are heavily involved with national programmes and initiatives in education, health promotion, schools fitness, and raising funds for charity. Justin and John have developed a national fitness initiative called the Great Heart Challenge which aims to address the inactivity problem. There are a few adult versions of the GHC, such as one being run as a gym based challenge through the national chain of Spirit Health Clubs, but the main drive of the Great Heart Challenge is through a national schools version which has been developed around an ‘adventure’ theme. The Last Great Challenge expedition is also heavily involved in the corporate world, from sponsorships to running team building events and motivational/after dinner talks. To find out more about the Last Great Challenge visit their website on www.lastgreatchallenge.com 

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Step into the magical, fantastical world of the Bristol Do!
At Portland Square, Bristol

Playfulness, oddity and spectacle are the buzz words of the Bristol Do, Bristol’s only street and circus festival, coming to beautiful Portland Square soon. With scintillating circus performers, thrilling theatre acts and spellbinding street performers taking over St. Pauls on the 25th and 26th September. The free outdoor festival is now in its third year and is jam packed with acts from all corners of the globe in a fusion of the weird and the wonderful; this is the chance to sample the unorthodox in a spectacular display of quirky street and circus performances. Think Tim Burton meets Cirque De Soleil and you may be one step closer to imagining the offerings of the weekend! The streets of St. Pauls will be teaming with acts during the day followed by a show stopping performance by Ockham’s Razor in the stunning setting of St. Paul's Church. With fun for all the family the event is set to take Bristol by storm and give festival goers a feast of the senses. The festival organisers are proud to announce that an amazing acrobatic troupe of Columbian ex-street children; nationally acclaimed Motionhouse Dance; music and storytelling from Kuljit Bhamra and a new trio of wailing alley cats by Stickleback Plasticus, will be joining outstanding aerial circus shows, roaming gorillas, talking wolves and bouncing Kangaroos!  The Bristol Do is sure to be a don’t miss event!  Talking of the weekend’s events, Philippa Haynes, Head of Arts & Culture at Bristol City Council said, ‘Bristol Do was astoundingly popular last year and this year is set to be even more spectacular! We have managed to secure some really amazing acts and the buzz is growing. We are encouraging people to make the most of the city’s offerings, after all we are lucky enough to live in a city with free arts and culture events on our door step, lets embrace it and ensure that this year is going to be the best Bristol Do yet!Check out the full fantastical line up at www.thebristoldo.com

Start Date: 25/09/2010
End Date: 26/09/2010

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Bath Cats & Dogs Home Open Day 2010
Bath Cats & Dogs Home at Claverton Down site

Why not come along to Bath Cats & Dogs Home for an action packed day of fun and entertainment for the whole family? Click the link on the left for more. There is something for everyone with lots of exciting demonstrations; stalls and participatory events for you to get involved with including: Dog Shows, Market stalls, an informative meet the Expert featuring talks by some of the UK's leading animal behaviourists, A BBQ and licensed bar, an opportunity to take a tour of the Home and meet the dogs, cats and small animals on site and much, much more! Please join us for a really great day out and help us to raise as much as we can to look after the hundreds of dogs, cats and small animals in our care. It costs over £3,000 a day just to keep the Home running. We rely totally on fundraising events such as this, donations and legacies to secure the huge £1.2m required every year to provide a safe Home for the hundreds of animals that come through our doors. Time: 11.00am - 5.00pm. Cost: Adults £4, Senior citizens £3, Children £1 under 5s free, £8 family ticket, free parking at the University. For further information please telephone: 01225 787334 or 01225 780259

Start Date: 05/09/2010
End Date: 05/09/2010

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National Gardening Show
at The Bath & West Showground

Glorious weather, spectacular garden displays, a feast of flowers, fruit and vegetables, TV celebrities, top gardening experts, help to make the National Gardening Show a must visit for everyone. Entries are still open for the Show Garden competition; please contact sue.albone@bathandwest.co.uk  for more information.


Start Date: 03/09/2010
End Date: 05/09/2010

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The Key to the Garden – unlock the secrets
at the Chapel Arts Centre Bath

Once upon a time a little girl in industrial Lancashire opened the door to an abandoned garden. Fifty years later she immortalised that magical moment in The Secret Garden. " ... A beautiful story, engagingly told by Rachel's witty text and sensitive, moving performance.... thank you for bringing such a great show to us!" * Stage and screen actress Rachel Laurence, whose adaptations of Cranford and Lady Molly of Scotland Yard have played to packed houses around the UK in recent years, is to perform her new play The Key To The Garden at the Chapel Arts Centre Bath on 10 September. This funny, moving and uplifting one woman play tells the story of the remarkable Frances Hodgson Burnett, who rose from humble beginnings in Salford to earn a fortune, become a close friend of the President of the USA and a pioneering author of classic books such as The Secret Garden, A Little Princess and Little Lord Fauntleroy. Tickets Web Price -£10.00 CONCESSIONS- £9.00 DOOR -£12.00. Times: 8pm

Start Date: 10/09/2010
End Date: 10/09/2010

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The Lions of Bath
Various Venues

A giant pride of 100 individually decorated, life-size lion sculptures, will be taking up residence in and around the World Heritage City of Bath from the end of May to mid September 2010 in a colourful cultural event to raise funds for local charities and bring a smile to the faces of residents and visitors alike. The lion sculptures, sponsored by businesses, local communities and individuals, will be decorated by artists and craftspeople using their skill and imagination to produce eye-catching artworks from the beautiful to the bizarre. The lions will remain on public display throughout the summer and then return to their den in September 2010 to be restored to their former glory in preparation for the 'Lions Roar Goodbye' weekend event, 9th and 10th October, when the pride will gather together in front of Bath’s world famous Royal Crescent for their public farewells before the Lions of Bath 2010 charity auctions on Friday October 15th and Sunday 17th 2010. For further information please visit - www.lionsofbath.com 

Start Date: 20/05/2010
End Date: 30/10/2010

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Robin Trower
at Komedia Bath

Trower Power is back as one of the finest guitarists in rock 'n' roll history returns to the European live circuit. The highly influential English rock guitarist was considered by the music press of the day as the "White Hendrix". Initially gaining success with Procol Harum during the 1960s, Trower went on to form his own power trio and has been wowing fans ever since.  Support is Jon Amor (Hoax).  Tickets £17.50.  Times: 20:30 (opens at 19:30).  To book tickets please telephone the box office on 0845 293 8480

Start date:22/09/2010
End date: 22/09/2010

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Bill Granger Book Signing
At Topping & Company Booksellers of Bath

With his latest, Bill’s Basics, Bill Granger provides a simple twist to classic cookery. Using easy-to-master techniques and cutting out excessive ingredients, he shows even first-time cooks how to produce sought-after recipes from chocolate brownies to lamb tagine. Come and hear the popular, personable Australian chef giving tips from his ‘cheat’s guide’ to cooking. He’ll also be bringing tastings. Time: Doors open at 7.45pm for 8pm talk. Price: Tickets £7 with £7 off the book. Special Bookshop Price: Tickets £6 with £6 off the book. For further information please telephone the book shop on 01225 428 111

Start date: 16/09/2010
End Date: 16/09/2010

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