The Friends of Middleton Park have unveiled their summer programme of events for 2024 and as usual it includes live music, dance, history walks, some Shakespeare and the Great Middleton Park Show.
It starts this weekend with Bluebell Walks. FoMP volunteers will meet Middleton Railway passengers at Park Halt at 11:20am, 12:40pm and 2:20pm on Sunday 5 May and Bank Holiday Monday 6 May and escort them through the woods to the Visitor Centre and back, enjoying the carpet of bluebells along the way.
Live music on the bandstand includes the Phoenix Brass Band (Sunday 2 June, 2:30-4:30pm), jazz from King & I Band (7 July), folk from Ceilidh band Hands Across (14 July), The North Leeds Jazz Orchestra appear on 1 September and The Friendly Band once again close the season on Sunday 29 September.
Middleton’s Got Talent will celebrate local bands, singers and dancers on 4 August.
A highlight for many will be Oddsocks Theatre’s return on Tuesday 16 July. This year they present Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, but don’t worry about it being high brow. This is the Bard’s work retold as family-friendly pantomime. The free show starts at 7pm, and goes on whatever the weather. Bring a picnic, chair or rug and maybe an umbrella just in case.
Guided walks will reveal various aspects of the park through the summer. Beeston Wood is the destination for the walk on Sunday 19 May. Meet at the Visitor Centre at 1:30pm, please wear suitable footwear and dress for the weather. That’s followed by a Broom Pit walk (30 June), South Leeds Golf Course which is now incorporated into the park (11 August) and finishing with Religion and the story of St Mary’s (15 September).
This year’s Great Middleton Park Show will be on 8 September. The show includes a craft and produce competion where you can show the flowers, fruit and vegetables from your garden plus your arts, crafts and baking from home or school. There will be lots more with stalls, food, live music and dance and live animal displays.
All of the events take a lot of organising which is all done by volunteers. If you enjoy the events and would like to see them continue why not give up a little of your time to help? There are lots of different roles and you won’t be asked to do anything you are not comfortable with. To find out more contact Friends of Middleton Park by emailing info@fomp.co.uk
Full details of all the events can be found at: fomp.co.uk or on Facebook.
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