Open Doors is hosting a three-day Family Arts Festival for the first time over the Easter weekend in the Newark and Sherwood district.

The festival will be in Ollerton on Saturday, 30th March; Newark the following day; and in Rainworth on Monday, 1st April.

It is a celebration of arts and culture, and an opportunity for everyone to get involved through various activities.

Open Doors is a three-year programme of events organised by Newark and Sherwood District Council and funded by Arts Council England.

Its aim is to increase creative opportunities for local young people and underserved groups, and become a focal point for culture across Newark and Sherwood.

Across multiple venues at each location, there will be a variety of activities on offer. Some activities are ticketed, and booking is encouraged, however many are drop-in and can be enjoyed throughout. There will be activities for all ages and abilities.

Each location will offer the chance to learn circus skills and for visitors to have their face painted.

The festival will be making its first appearance in Ollerton across three venues. Activities will be held at Lifespring Church Centre, from 10am to 3pm, with circus skills, face painting and soundLINCS hand drumming sessions.

At Dukeries Leisure Centre, from 11am to 3pm, there will be VR experiences with artist Samantha Peberdy and Open Doors first birthday party sessions.

The third location in the town will be Ollerton Town Football Club, from 12noon to 3pm, with disc golf, face painting, and Our Heritage on Tour, before the club’s match kicks off at 3pm.

Day two of the event will be in Newark, from 10am to 2pm. At Hawtonville Children’s Centre, Time Travel Tots sessions, circus skills, face painting, and disc golf are promised.

The second venue is the mezzanine level of Newark’s Buttermarket, where visitors can drop in and draw on a large Newark Town Hall fabric banner with artist Vanessa Stone, and take part in a songwriting workshop in collaboration with soundLINCS.

The final day of the festival will be held in Rainworth, from 10am to 3pm. At The Social Action Hub, visitors can take part in an immersive VR experience, a Time Travel Tots session, and practice circus skills.

Across the road in the Village Hall there will be Our Heritage on Tour, face painting, and an Open Doors first birthday party session.

Coun Rowan Cozens, deputy leader of Newark and Sherwood District Council and portfolio holder for Heritage, Culture and the Arts, said: “This is a fantastic celebration of arts and culture. The variety of activities that are being offered for free is great to see.

“It’s going to be an incredible weekend filled with people discovering new skills and having fun in a welcoming environment.

“It’s lovely to see this opportunity travelling to various places across the district.”

To find out more information about the festival, accessibility and to book workshop tickets, visit the Palace Theatre Newark website, www.palacenewark.com