Posted on 5th Aug
With coronavirus restrictions still affecting daily operations, Mansfield District Council’s usual Summer Festival events have been cancelled this year and a new virtual programme of events will take their place.
On Thursdays 6th August, 13th August and 20th August, it will host a series of online activities, crafts, workshops, shows, informative posts and tutorials on the council’s Facebook page to give families a boost of fun and learning during the school summer holidays.
A special emphasis of the e-events will be placed on health and wellbeing, one of the council’s four corporate priorities. They will also support the COVID-19 Community and Humanitarian Recovery Plan.
Mayor Andy Abrahams said: “We’re so sorry it is not possible to hold our popular festivals this summer. Public health and safety have to come first at the moment which is why all the council’s events will be virtual events until at least the end of the year.
“Our Summer Festivals at Home will provide some fun and interest for families during the school holidays. There will even be a chance to lay your hands on free apples so people should keep checking on the council’s Facebook page for more details.
“I would like to thank all the local businesses which have generously supported these events.
“We hope these online ‘days out’ will encourage residents to be more environmentally aware and inspire people to improve their health. Mansfield features in some of the worst health outcomes in the county and this is something the council is determined to improve.”
A decision to postpone holding any council events, including Summer Festivals, the Christmas lights switch-on and Christmas in Mansfield, was taken by council chief executive Hayley Barsby on 15th July.
The council instead will deliver a series of virtual events this year, with the emphasis on the environment, social cohesion, staying safe, and health and wellbeing – reflecting the council and COVID recovery plan priorities.
Major events, including the Mansfield 10k and the Full Shebang festival, have also been cancelled by their organisers and the council’s financial contribution to these events is included in the £42,000 financial savings associated with revising the council’s events agenda.
So what will be coming up during the three online events in August?
•Darren Bettison Wellbeing Services is putting together a programme of workouts especially for the council’s Facebook page followers. Tune in on 6 August to see part one.
•ArtVenturers are providing a series of arty activities for children including: how to make your own musical instrument; creating a balloon painted rainbow; and how to make an upcycled CD sun catcher.
•Bonkers the Clown will be performing comedy unicycle and juggling routines live online. He will also be leading juggling workshops (with apples); showing how to make giant bubbles, how to make play dough and demonstrating how to perform Poi, using household items (Poi is a performance art from the Maori culture in which tethered weights are swung in geometric patterns).
•Mansfield Museum – as part of its summer programme – has put together fun children’s activities including portrait making, still life painting and holiday scene drawings. These link in with their now online Forgotten Frames exhibition.
•Mansfield’s first zero plastics shop, Boo’s Pantry, will be holding a guess the weight competition to win a free hamper of goodies. Look out for details on the council Facebook page in the coming days. Shop founder Beki O’ Connell, will share a series of videos about how to reduce plastic waste, as well as providing worksheets for youngsters. The store is open and aims to help people reduce plastic waste with customers encouraged to take their own empty containers to the shop to fill with loose foods and household items.
•Festival Hairstyling, by Jess Yates, at Olive Beauty Mansfield will be giving a styling tutorial live online.
•Videos posted to the page provided by Mansfield Children’s Centre’s will include how to make a Stickman from the hit children’s book by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler.
•Cookery demonstration videos will be posted featuring the council’s Healthy Lifestyle Officers who will be making dishes featuring cous cous (including a sweet breakfast option), homemade chicken dippers and fruity crunch dessert.
More information about the contributors:
Darren Bettison Wellbeing Service: https://www.facebook.com/darrenbettisonwellbeingservice/
Art Adventurers: see their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/artventurersmansfield
Boo’s Pantry is on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/booszerowaste/
Jess Olive Beauty is on Instagram at @JessOliveBeauty or see https://www.instagram.com/jessolivebeauty/
Mansfield Children’s Centre is on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ChildrensCentreServiceMansfield/
Mansfield Museum is on Facebook at @MansfieldMuseum or see https://www.facebook.com/mansfieldmuseum/.
