Children are being invited to hunt around the centre of Harrogate this summer for classic children’s characters with a difference.
An Alice in Wonderland Lego trail is being launched tomorrow, with 15 large characters in locations around the town.
The event has been organised by Harrogate BID and the characters made by Yorkshire charity Fairybricks.
The six builders took six months and more than 514,000 Lego bricks to create the masterpieces, which will be in place until Saturday, August 20.
Matthew Chapman, Harrogate BID manager, said:
“Last year’s Lego trail, featuring a number of well-known Harrogate landmarks, was a huge success, hence its return this summer.
“This time we have gone for an Alice in Wonderland theme, and the models created by the Fairybricks team are simply stunning, and I can’t wait to see them in situ.
“These 15 models haven’t been displayed anywhere before, and after their Harrogate debut they will then be heading off to different events and venues all over the world.”
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The three-week event is designed to bring people into town during the summer, supporting the BID’s levy payers and other businesses in the area.
Sculptures include Alice, the Mad Hatter, the Queen of Hearts and the Dormouse, and will be at locations including the Victoria Shopping Centre, the Everyman cinema, the Turkish Baths, and the Harrogate Town FC shop on Commercial Street.
The trail can be downloaded via the LoyalFree app, which is free to download from the App Store or Play Store.
Last year’s Lego trail attracted more than 5,500 people to take part using the app, with others enjoying seeing the sculptures while they were in the town centre.
Mr Chapman added:
Ripon Together unveils programme of free summer activities for children“We are really excited to be bringing back the Harrogate Lego Trail. It was certainly one of our highlights of last year, and one that help take visitors into different parts the town.
“And with our ongoing Floral Summer of Celebration – featuring a stunning trail, colourful shop window displays and fascinating exhibition – coupled with brilliant shops, bars, restaurants and beautiful gardens and open parkland, Harrogate town centre really is this summer’s must-visit destination.
“I’d also like to thank all the businesses that are participating in the Alice in Brickland Harrogate Lego Trail, who have made room within their premises to display one of the sculptures.”
Ripon Together has unveiled its FunFest programme of free summer activities and events for the city’s children and young people.
It is working in partnership with Ripon Business Improvement District on the initiative.
Details about the activities, ranging from river dipping in the River Skell to an exhibition wheelchair rugby match at Ripon Grammar School, can be found by clicking here.
The programme, which runs from Saturday August 6 until Thursday August 18, is inclusive and open to people of all abilities at venues with good accessibility.
Simon Hewitt, of Ripon Together, told the Stray Ferret:
“We have built on what we learned from running the post-covid lockdown Summer of Fun 2021 and focused on events that proved popular last year, while adding new activities.”
Ripon Spa Croquet Club, whose lawns are located at Studley Royal Cricket Club (pictured below) is offering the opportunity for young people to try their hand at the sport and child-sized mallets will be available.
The huge natural amphitheatre with its clubhouse, is the principal FunFest venue for events and activities on August 15, 16 and 18, including junior cricket and athletics coaching, an inflatable obstacle course, air rifle shooting and archery and a free hog roast and ice cream, supported by Morrisons supermarket.
Steve Harris, a trustee at the cricket club, said:
“We are very pleased to work alongside Ripon Together, Ripon BID and croquet club members, to support these community activities, which will benefit children and their families.”
The FunFest programme starts on Saturday August 6, with Friends of Hell Wath running forest schools at the nature reserve, funded by the Skell Valley Project.
There will also be a drumming workshop and family groups are invited to see what they can discover about doing some river dipping.
Swimming, climbing and Lego
Ripon Disability Forum in liaison with GB Wheelchair Rugby, has organised and exhibition match between Featherstone’s Yorkshire Lions and County Durham’s North East Bulls at Ripon Grammar School on August 13.
The school on Clotherholme Road will also be offering accessible swimming, a climbing wall and giant board games on that day while, in the city centre, Ripon Library will be the venue for a bicycle MOT, Lego event and sports and information roadshow.
David Ingham of Ripon Together said:
“We hope that as many children, young people and families as possible come to enjoy the free activities and we have made arrangements with YorBus for them to provide free travel to venues.
“This service can be accessed via the YorBus app and bookings for participation in the various activities that we have arranged can be made via the Ripon Together website.”
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Harrogate ‘Lego Trail’ launches today
Harrogate landmarks including Betty’s, the Turkish Baths and the Great Yorkshire Showground’s main ring, have been built in Lego form for a new family trail around Harrogate.
Harrogate BID’s Lego Trail launches today and runs until Sunday, August 22. It features ten mini-models located in nine different locations, some created especially for this three-week event.
The models have been made by Fairy Bricks, a charity that donates Lego sets to children’s hospices and hospitals.
Other models include Harrogate Town’s mascot Harry Gator and Hogwart’s School from the Harry Potter books.
The models can be found at the following locations:
- Harrogate Town Football Club Shop, Commercial Street
- Games Crusade, Oxford Street
- HSBC, Cambridge Crescent
- Primark, Cambridge Street
- Waterstones, James Street
- Bettys, Parliament Street
- Maturi, Parliament Street
- Westmorland Sheepskin, Montpelier Hill
- Asda, Bower Road
- Orvis, West Park
- Victoria Shopping Centre (mosaic and public live build event)
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There is also a competition with 500 Lego prizes to be won. To enter, participants need to download the LoyalFree app and ‘check in’ at each venue using the QR code displayed.
The prizes will be collected from Toyland in the Victoria Shopping Centre.
Harrogate BID Manager Chapman Matthew Chapman said:
Harrogate landmarks built in Lego for summer family trail“With the school summer holidays already here we wanted to create a trail that would really appeal to families.
“With restrictions now lifted, this is one that can be enjoyed by people of all ages, and will be a fun way to spend a few hours visiting different parts of the town.
“As a child I loved Lego, and so do my two sons. And as you will see from these creations Lego can be anything but child’s play. I’m really excited to say that we have commissioned a number of models that will be unique to our trail.
“One of our key remits is to drive footfall into the town centre, and we hope our Lego trail will help us to achieve this.”
Harrogate landmarks including Bettys, the Turkish Baths and the Great Yorkshire Showground’s main ring have been built in Lego bricks for a new town centre trail this summer.
The trail, created by Harrogate Business Improvement District, will run from Saturday July 31 until Sunday, August 22.
It includes ten mini-models at the following locations:
- Harrogate Town Football Club Shop, Commercial Street
- Games Crusade, Oxford Street
- HSBC, Cambridge Crescent
- Primark, Cambridge Street
- Waterstones, James Street
- Bettys, Parliament Street
- Maturi, Parliament Street
- Westmorland Sheepskin, Montpelier Hill
- Asda, Bower Road
- Orvis, West Park
- Victoria Shopping Centre (mosaic and public live build event)
The models are being made by Fairy Bricks, a charity that donates Lego sets to children’s hospices and hospitals, and will be completed next week in time for the launch.
Other models include Harrogate Town’s mascot Harry Gator and Hogwart’s School from the Harry Potter books.
At 10am on July 31 and August 1, people can watch a white rose being built of Lego at the Victoria Shopping Centre.
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There is also a competition with 500 Lego prizes to be won. To enter, participants need to download the LoyalFree app and ‘check in’ at each venue using the QR code displayed.
The prizes will be collected from Toyland in the Victoria Shopping Centre.
Harrogate BID Manager Chapman Matthew Chapman said:
“With the school summer holidays already here we wanted to create a trail that would really appeal to families.
“With restrictions now lifted, this is one that can be enjoyed by people of all ages, and will be a fun way to spend a few hours visiting different parts of the town.
“As a child I loved Lego, and so do my two sons. And as you will see from these creations Lego can be anything but child’s play. I’m really excited to say that we have commissioned a number of models that will be unique to our trail.
“One of our key remits is to drive footfall into the town centre, and we hope our Lego trail will help us to achieve this.”