Ryedale aiming to get new year off to a flyer (From Gazette & Herald)

Ryedale aiming to get new year off to a flyer

A CATALOGUE of events has been announced for the Ryedale area for residents and visitors in the early months of the new year.

Ryedale District Council's economic and tourism department has published a new 'What's On' leaflet, which is available from tourist information centres at Malton, Helmsley and Pickering, as well as Ryedale House.

Ryedale Folk Museum is opening earlier than ever for its 2006 season - on January 21 - and is marking this a week later with an exhibition of characters made from papier mache. On February 11 and 12, a Valentine's "Love In" is being staged, with food, poetry, crafts - and love potions!

Orienteering days are being held by Ebor Orienteers at Birch Hagg, Hutton-le-Hole, on February 12, and at Hovingham High Wood on March 26.

There will be a rare chance to see J B Priestley's play The Long Mirror when it is performed by the Northern Lights Theatre Company at the Helmsley Arts Centre on April 5, 6 and 29.

The National Trust is organising special events at Nunnington Hall to coincide with when it opens for the season. On April 7, the public is invited to join the hall's gardening staff for an in-depth advice day, when they will be giving advice and tips. From April 8 to 23, the National Trust is staging its now annual family Easter trail at both Nunnington Hall and Rievaulx Terrace and Temples.

Easter weekend - April 14-17 - will be marked with an array of events, many aimed at children, at Ryedale Folk Museum. The weekend will also see one of the biggest entertainment events of the year in Ryedale, when a country music festival is staged at the Pickering Showground Arena. A number of bands will be taking part and there will be dance tuition given on each day at the event, which is being staged by Yorkshire Dales Promotions.

Keldy Forest, Pickering, will be the setting for the Jan Kjellstrom Festival of Orienteering on April 16.

A novel "find the monks" trail is being organised by English Heritage at Rievaulx Abbey from April 14 to 23, while an attraction for children of all ages will be the miniature railway run by Ryedale Society of Model Engineers, giving rides to families at The Old School, East Gilling, on April 16 and 30.

The North Yorkshire Moors Railway, Pickering, will be taking visitors back to the 1930s and 1940s on April 22 and 23, with steam trains and live big band music.

Hands-on sessions with Royal Armouries experts will be available at Helmsley Castle when English Heritage stages its 'Age of Chivalry' event from April 29 to May 1, with a tournament and demonstrations of arms and armour.

Ryedale Youth Theatre will be bringing Malton's Milton Rooms to life from April 19 to 22, with its production of Disco Inferno.

Updated: 15:52 Wednesday, January 11, 2006