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The top 12 events in Cheshire for 2012

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January

January 21st Holly Holy Day, Nantwich
This pretty town centre is flooded with cavaliers and roundheads for a colourful re-enactment of the Battle of Nantwich. This landmark event has been marked by the community for the past 40 years and this year, as well as fire-eaters and other entertainers, there will be performances by The Nantwich Players, X Academy and Funky Choir. www.hollyholyday.org.uk 01270 623984

February

February 4th Clonter Opera Prize, Clonter Opera Theatre, Congleton
The season of this renowned Congleton opera group begins with a glittering event. The Clonter Opera Prize gives nominated singers, from leading conservatoires across the country, a chance to win a prize of £2,000. Entrants are judged by an expert panel as well as the audience, who also vote for their favourite singer. Expect a fantastic evening watching world class musical artists where you can also order supper, canapés baskets or even take your own treats. www.clonteropera.com, 01260 224514

March

March 26th Craig Ogden and Tom Doughty perform as part of the Two Rivers Festival at The Bushell Hall, Birkenhead School, Wirral
One of the first artists to play at the Two Rivers Festival returns for 2012. World-renowned guitarist Craig Ogden, who plays Spanish and South American masterpieces, will be joined by Northwich folk singer and blues slide guitarist Tom Doughty. The pair will play arrangements by composer and guitarist, Callum Dewar. The performance is part of the celebrated Two Rivers Festival, which holds several events from February to May. A special evening will be held on February 24th with Wirral-born actress Patricia Routledge and pianist, Piers Lane, to mark the refurbishment of The Bushell Hall. 0151 651 3095. www.tworiversfestival.co.uk

April

April 21st - 22nd Sandbach Transport Festival
This two-day event includes a carnival and transport festival. On the 21st there will be trucks, motorbike and mountain bike stunt shows, a circus, dance displays and live entertainment as well as birds of prey displays, archery and a truck pulling competition.

The fun continues on the 22nd with a vintage and new vehicle parade, fire stations open day, art exhibition and charity stalls as well as the North West Town Criers competition. The vehicle parade will be led by Foden’s Brass Band. www.sandbachtransportfestival.co.uk

May

May 12th - 13th Thundersprint, Northwich
Not just a festival for bike fans, Thundersprint described as grand prix in a car park, is now one of Europe’s largest street parties. As well as all those bikes zooming past on the track, including Britain’s top female stunt rider, Chesca Miles, and one of Britain’s highest hopes for World Championship glory, Danny Webb, there will also be trade stands to browse, a fun fair, inflatable play area, entertainment, fine food and a spectacular aerobatic display by an RAF Spitfire. The Thundersprint Bike Show takes place on May 12th at Northwich Memorial Hall, Chester Way, Northwich and The Thundersprint will be held on May 13th in Leicester Street, Northwich. There will also be a Grand Prix evening at Cranage Hall on the evening of May 12th. www.thundersprint.com 01928 740 498.

June

June 19th - 20th Cheshire County Show, Tabley Showground, Knutsford
Join the thousands who flock to this incredibly popular annual county show. As well as lots of animals to see up close, including a large equestrian section, farm livestock classes and dog shows, there is also food from across Cheshire, floral competitions, country pursuits and fantastic displays and demonstrations in the main arena. www.cheshirecountyshow.org.uk, 01565 650200

July

July 18th - 22nd RHS Flower Show Tatton Park, Knutsford
Experience the floral beauty of this renowned RHS Flower Show Tatton Park. Get inspiration from some of Cheshire’s finest gardens designers in the main garden displays and back-to-back gardens as well as see colourful floral displays showcasing the latest trends. There’s also the chance to get advice from and buy plants from award-winning nurseries as well as specialists in the floral marquees. A blooming brilliant event. www.rhs.org.uk, 0844 581 0818

August

August 17th – 19th Just So Festival, Rode Hall, Scholar Green
Join in with family fun at this intimate weekend festival of creativity. It’s specifically aimed at children, young people and their families and it includes a range of musical, theatrical and visual performances, workshops and installations in a beautiful woodland setting. This festival has moved location into Cheshire and will set up in its new home of Rode Hall. The festival will include everything from performances from Sheelanagig, a show which combines story-telling and street theatre, as well boasting a lakeside area transformed by pirate-themed events. www.justsofestival.org.uk

September

September 13th - 16th RICOH Women’s Open, Royal Liverpool Golf Club, Meols Drive, Hoylake
Royal Liverpool Golf Club hosts this prestigious championship for the first time. The best women golfers from around the world will come to Hoylake, the second oldest seaside links course in England, for the opportunity to take the top prize. The event, described as one of the greatest sporting events held in the UK, will attract thousands of people to the area. It will not be the first important event to be held at Hoylake. The course has been the venue for many important tournaments including the men’s Open Championship 11 times between 1897 and 2006. Reserve your place by logging on to www.ricohwomensbritishopen.com or calling 0151 632 5868.

October

October 7th - Tatton Apple Day, Tatton Park, Knutsford
Celebrate the apple by spending a scrumptious Sunday at the farm and gardens at Tatton Park. You can taste many delicious varieties from the mansion’s historic orchards as well as learning how to care, prune and train your own apple trees. Expect lots of apple-related goodies for sale in the shop and restaurant. www.tattonpark.co.uk

November

November 24th - Chester Christmas Winter Watch Parade
This lively and colourful parade travels through the city. Performers who dance around Chester’s historic streets are joined by fire breathers as well as jesters, unicorns, dragons and Karamba Samba. You may even spot the odd sword fight. The parade starts at Forum Shopping Centre, Eastgate. 01244 976741

December

1st – 2nd December (tbc)
Port Sunlight Christmas Food Fayre, Port Sunlight Village, Wirral
The third annual Christmas Food Fayre returns to the historic village of Port Sunlight. Filled to the brim with food, family fun and yuletide delights, this popular event will bring together the best in food and drink producers from Cheshire and the North West along with the nation’s top chefs to demonstrate their tips and tricks in the kitchen. There will also be live music, entertainment and traditional fairground rides.

And there’s more

Here are some more events to enjoy in 2012

January 26th An Audience with Lesley Garrett, Floral Pavilion Theatre, Wallasey, www.floralpavilion.com, 0151 666 0000

April 5th - 9th Nantwich Jazz, Blues and Music Festival. This annual event, considered one of the county’s biggest musical events, already has Jacqui Dankworth, the James Taylor Quartet and Tony Christie on the bill. www.nantwichjazz.com, 01270 625283

May 19th-20th The Spellbound Forest, Delamere Forest. Twisting paths through this beautiful area of Cheshire tell English fairytales through theatrical performance, music, visual art and dance. www.spellboundforest.org.uk

May 20th - September 30th Tatton Park Biennial 2012, Tatton Park, Knutsford. Twenty international celebrated artists explore the aeronautical history of the estate under the theme Flights of Fancy. www.tattonparkbiennial.org 01625 374400

June 15th – 17th Cholmondeley Pageant of Power, Cholmondeley Castle. A thrilling motorsport event that celebrates power and performance in its many forms. www.cpop.co.uk 01829 772432

July 25th Nantwich Show, Dorfold Park, Nantwich. A superb agricultural show that celebrates the best of farming. The show also hosts the International Cheese Awards, the world’s largest. www.nantwichshow.co.uk

August 14th - 15th Anglesey Agricultural Show, The Showground, Gwalchmai, Holyhead. www.angleseyshow.org.uk 01470 720072

August 27th Hoylake RNLI Open Day, Hoylake Lifeboat Station, North Parade, Hoylake. Air displays, fun fair, charity stalls, street theatre and tour of the lifeboat at this annual event. 0151 666 3188

September 1st - 30th Sculpture Exhibition at Mount Pleasant Gardens, Yeld Lane, Kelsall. Artists from across the UK display their work. www.mountpleasantgardens.co.uk 01829 751592

September 22nd - 23rd Birkenhead Festival of Transport, Birkenhead Park. See transport from times gone by from traction engines and steam boats and many from the Victorian and Edwardian periods. www.bheadtransportfest.com, 0151 652 5197

December 1st – 7th See beautiful Arley Hall, near Northwich, decorated in its festive splendour. www.arleyhallandgardens.com

The print version of this article appeared in the January 2012 issue of Cheshire Life