County Calendar

Iona Shore / / Entertainment

Craft

Thursday 8th December, Doddington, LN6 4RU

Make a selection of willow wreaths, hearts and decorations to give as presents or to decorate your home and garden this winter. Your wreaths will then be decorated further with trimmings from the garden! Course led by willow expert Alison Walling and our cutting garden florist Rachel Petheram. Details: 01522 694308

 

Classical Music

Tuesday 20th December, Lincoln, LN1 1XD

New Life Lincoln will be host to London Community Gospel Choir as part of their Christmas tour. The group are well-known for their stunning harmonies, while the choirs soulful sound mixes funk and R’n’B with traditional arrangements. LCGC have also performed with some of the biggest names in music, including Madonna, Tom Jones and Eric Clapton and appeared at this year’s Glastonbury. Details: 01522 542166

 

Comedy

Saturday 3rd December, Lincoln, LN2 1EY

Come down to the Drill Hall for a Christmas special Red Herring Comedy Club. Three great acts and an MC make up our Christmas Special gig this year as we move to a Saturday and bring you some of the best comedy around to kick off the festive period. Why not grab a few mates and start December with a right old giggle?! Box Office: 01522 873894

 

Wednesday 14th December, Lincoln, LN6 7TS

Join Fosters Edinburgh Comedy Award Winner and star of loads of stuff on telly, Russell Kane, as he mercilessly explores the ridiculous state of masculinity in the modern world at the Engine Shed. Box office: 0844 888 8766

 

Dance

Saturday 17th December, Stamford, PE9 2DL

For a sensational evening of Ballroom, Latin and Sequence come to the Christmas Ball with Ann Gibbons in the impressive Georgian ballroom at Stamford Arts Centre. Treat yourself to a Christmas evening of fun and laughter, dance your way through the night, enjoy drinks and first class buffet. Details: 01780 763203

 

Days Out

Saturday 3rd – Sunday 18th December (weekends only), Doddington, LN6 4RU

Doddington Hall will once again be hosting their Decorated Hall event. See the family’s huge twinkling Christmas tree (from the Estate) and stunning, inspirational home-grown House decorations. The Great Hall will again be decorated by Doddington’s cutting garden florist Rachel Petheram, whilst Claire Birch will be creating her Enchanting Forest of birch saplings and suspended leaves in the Long Gallery but new this year will be the addition of delightful woodland willow animals foxes, hares, deer etc. created by willow expert Alison Walling. Details: 01522 694308

 

Farmers Markets

Friday 2nd December, Lincoln Farmers Market, City Square, 9am – 4pm

Wednesday 14th December, Lincoln Farmers Market, High Street, 9am – 4pm

Saturday 17th December, Lincoln Farmers Market, Castle Square, 9am – 4pm

 

Music

Saturday 3rd December, Lincoln, LN2 1JJ

The National Youth Jazz Orchestra will be playing all the Christmas favourites in The Bing Band Xmas Show at Lincoln Theatre Royal. NYJO is world-famous as a glittering showcase for the country’s best young musicians. Box Office: 01522 519999

 

Saturday 10th December, Lincoln, LN6 7TS

Professor Green with support from Rizzle Kicks at the Engine Shed. Professor Green has had huge acclaim so far from having amassed single sales of 500,000 and the album, Alive till I’m dead. Box office: 0844 888 8766

 

Saturday 21st January, Lincoln, LN6 7TS

Join Adam Ant and the Good, the Mad and the lovely posse at the Engine Shed for a new line up. Box office: 0844 888 8766

 

Social Events

Wednesday 14th December, Lincoln, LN2 1PX

Lincoln Cathedral presents Carols by Candlelight from 7.30pm. Join charismatic performers in lavish period costume as they perform seasonal favourites and familiar Christmas tunes. Details: 01522 561600

 

Tuesday 20th December, Lincoln, LN2 1PX

The Lincolnshire Co-operative Carol Concert will be held in Lincoln Cathedral from 7.30pm. Details: 01522 561600

 

Theatre

Wednesday 7th December – Sunday 8th January, Lincoln, LN2 1JJ

Tommy Cannon and Bobby Ball are back for this year’s Christmas pantomime at Lincoln Theatre Royal as the Ugly Sisters in Cinderella. Joining them from last year is Michelle Hardwick who is playing Cinderella and Nicola Weeks who is a thigh slapping Prince Charming. Also joining them on stage is Lincoln’s own Craig Hollingsworth, as Buttons. Box Office: 01522 519999

 

Friday 9th – Saturday 24th December, Lincoln, LN6 7TS

A magic mirror is broken. A little boy turns mean and disappears. A young girl embarks on a quest to rescue her friend from the clutches of the beautiful and wicked snow queen, in the LPAC’s production of The Snow Queen by The Lincoln Company. This production of Hans Christian Andersen’s wonderful wintery story mixes make-believe and magic, sound and music, songs and laughter, dance and interactive projection to deliver a perfect Christmas treat for children of all ages. Box Office: 0844 888 4414

Shop till you drop at Birdy’s boutique

Iona Shore / / Fashion

Birdy’s Boutique is one of Lincoln’s shopping hotspots, carrying both unique and original pieces of clothing and jewellery, with Michelle Rudd creating a lot of the accessories sold within the store. Recently speaking to Michelle Rudd owner of Birdy’s Boutique, I found out that she has always had a ‘passion for fashion’, “I’ve always been interested in crafts I used to make handbags and purses out of scrap pieces of fabric…now I am making things like brooches and jewellery for the shop”

The Front of Birdy's boutique

Since opening in 2008 Birdy’s has had a lot of success resulting in two expansions, the recent move has seen Birdy’s Boutique take an important place on Lincoln’s High Street. Michelle Rudd, owner said: “I was surprised how fast it took off, within 7months we had moved to a bigger store, and now again 3years later we have moved again to a bigger store and a better location…”

So, why Lincoln? Michelle, “It has the university…Also the tourism within Lincoln creates a great market.” Birdy’s is a student favourite in Lincoln due to its low prices and quirky clothing; you can find almost anything you want from luxury and glamorous party outfits, to chic and casual day outfits. Whatever your needs are they will have something to suit them!!! The relaxed atmosphere the shop creates an environment customers just want to be in, it also helps customers feel they can come in even if it is just to window shop until next months pay day.

With the success Michelle Rudd has accomplished in Lincoln with Birdy’s Boutique, I asked her what advice she would give to young aspiring entrepreneurs especially with today’s economy. “Just be patient and organised. Don’t rush into it, make sure you have a realistic plan and try to stick to it. That’s the best advice I can give to anyone”

Lincoln comes alight this Christmas

Iona Shore / / Christmas

The festive season has begun this year, as the city’s Christmas lights were switched on. Laura Wright went to the event to find out just what makes Lincoln sparkle.

Lincoln's lights being switched on

Christmas officially started in the city of Lincoln on Thursday 17thNovember, when the Christmas lights were switched on by comedy duo Cannon and Ball.Starting at 6 o’clock at St. Mark’s shopping centre, the festivities -including a local live band and a dance performance by college students dressed as elves, definitely started to get people into the Christmas spirit.
As the crowds made their way over to the High Street, the bright glowing lights which had already made an appearance down the streets sparkled in the winter night’s sky.
Starting outside Lloyds TSB bank and working their way up the hill past theWaterside Shopping Centre, people closely gathered around with their warm Christmas drinks, eagerly awaiting the switch on.
After a few festive songs, a crowd warm up by BBC Radio Lincolnshire’s Rod Whiting and a parade from the Mayor of Lincoln and the civic party, Cannon and Ball finally arrived to brighten up the city.
When the count-down hit one, they flicked the switch and the colourful, twinkling lights lit up the sky and a loud cheer from the crowd echoed around the street –as the Christmas season began.
The crowd then separated and went off into different directions, some heading straight into the Waterside, where Cannon and Ball were waiting to sign autographs, some took their children over to see special guest ‘Pudsey the Bear’ and others made a start on their Christmas shopping-as like every other Thursday night in Lincoln, many stores stayed open for trading up until 9pm.
It was certainly a festive, pretty way to bring the people of Lincoln together, to mark the start of the Christmas season.

Santa Clauses running to town!

Iona Shore / / Christmas, Entertainment

For the 6th year running, people in Lincoln will be reaching for their Santa suits and making their way to Steep Hill, all in aid of charity.

Santa's running for fun

During every Christmas period for the past five years, you may have noticed a rather large gathering of Santa’s who have been not-so-secretly meeting at the top of Steep Hill, amongst the picturesque area of the city. This is due to the ever so fun and festive event, the Siemens Great Santa Fun Run.
Organised by the Rotary Club of Lincoln in aid of the St. Andrews Hospice, the British Heart Foundation Lincoln, Samaritans Lincoln, the Siemens Charity and other local charities, its main aim is to achieve as many competitors as possible, raising as much money as possible.
The event is exceptionally popular and this year will see the 6th year of Santa’s gathering. Kimberley Howroyd, who is the Senior Purchasing Administrator at the Running Imp, (the running event suppliers) is very proud of the run becoming so popular, “I believe the popularity is down to the fun aspect of the event. The charities chosen are always local charities that are close to many people’s hearts.”
This popularity is proven by the amount of participants the event usually receives; near-enough reaching the 1,500 capacity every year and raising a total of £109,376 so far, it certainly seems like a fun and effective way to create money for something you really care about.
As well as raising money for your favourite charity, it’s also a great way to get a bit of festive exercise – before all of the Christmas turkey – as the event is a two lap course, approximately 3.5 km around the Bailgate and Castle Square area.
Although, don’t get scared off by the idea of having to run two laps around the city, as the Santa Fun Run is intended for everybody. You can walk, jog, push pushchairs or even take the dog – nobody misses out!
As this is the 6th year of the run, the organisers are trying to create a new record and raise more money than ever. Kimberley believes this goal shouldn’t be too difficult to reach, “This year we’re encouraging participants to raise a minimum of £20.11 each, and with the event usually reaching between 1,200 and 1,500 participants it shouldn’t be too difficult to raise a new maximum amount.”
This is not only a reasonable amount to ask for, but it also ties in with the event’s tagline for the year – ‘Run in 2011, Walk in 2011, raise £20.11.’