Alsager Car Boot Sale, September 2021

 Car boot sales are back!  The outdoor, wide-open-space format of car boot sales mean they were always going to be back on our calendars, and the first genuine car boot sale that I've found is at Alsager, on the weekend of 4-5 September.

Held by Alsager's Rotary Club, their car boot sale will be held instead of their normal charity market, which they have held a charity market outside the Alsager Civic for many years.  However, as the Covid-19 situation is still unclear, they've decided to switch to a car boot sale this year.  This will be Alsager Rotary's first fundraiser for over 18 months.

The car boot sale will take place on both Saturday and Sunday (4th and 5th September - 8am to 2pm) at Hall Farm, Crewe Road, Alsager, ST7 2UB. 

Betley Motor Festival, September 2021

Betley Motor Festival is coming up on Saturday 11 September, and it looks like being a great event.  Firstly - it's local.  Everything I promote or review on this blog is meant to be local to Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-Under-Lyme (although sometimes I go further afield).

Secondly, Betley Motor Festival is a combination of a car show, with other family-friendly activities such as a funfair, trade stalls, food, birds of prey etc.  The range of activities means that this will be a complete family fun-day and car show all rolled into one, with something for everyone in the family.  There'll be inflatables (play area), a funfair, and plenty of opportunity to catch up with family and friends - especially the petrol-heads.

For more details and contact information, there's the Stallfinder page for this event, and the CarCalendar page which has even more details.  The events team are also running a Facebook page which is being updated with attractions all the time.

It's £3 for adults, and under-16s are free, and there's free parking.

Betley Court Farm Holiday Cottages, CW3 9BH
Saturday 11 September
10:00 am - 5:00 pm

Nostalgia Town and Country Fair, Norton, September 2021

The quiet village of Norton, on the eastern edge of Stoke on Trent, is a rural treasure that doesn't often feature on this blog (this really could be a first), but this September, the local Rotary Club are holding their 'Nostalgia Town and Country Fair' and it looks like it's going to be a real treat.  I've not seen this promoted on social media - I was fortunate with a Google search - and that's why I wanted to share more details here.

Leek Rotary Club are giving everybody a great chance to catch up on all the missed opportunities of the last 18 months, with vintage vehicles; a dog show; trade stands and charity stalls; floral arts and a plant fair; barbecue, bar and food, and the general atmosphere of a semi-rural summer show.  

There are competitions and prizes for horticulture, floral arts, cakes, jams and so on - it's going to have a full-on village fete ambience.

Assuming the weather holds, this will have a wide range of interesting activities that should appeal to all the family.  

It's at Heakley Hall Farm, Norton, Stoke on Trent, ST6 8PN on Sunday 5 September, 10:00-6:00.
£5 per person, under 12s are free.
Free parking.

Bradwell Lodge: Books, Comics and Collectables Fair, August 2021

 The Books, Comics and Collectables Fair is like one of those rare items you find at a collectibles market - it's small, it's unique, not many people have heard of it, but it's an absolute gem for those who do find it.

It's held on the last Sunday of each month, at Bradwell Lodge, near Newcastle.  It's not huge, but it has refreshments and toilets on site, and the stalls are all vintage themed (and by vintage I mean good vintage, like retro toys and collectibles, not boring vintage, like bunting, antiques and horse brasses).  The stalls that I've seen have included...

    Star Wars (Funko Pops, figures, books, Scalextric sets)
    old maps (local and national), sheet maps that pre-date Ordnance Survey
    vintage comics (Beano, Dandy and Eagle, among others)
    a range of novels and paperbacks (Star Wars, Star Trek, Doctor Who, and other genuinely classic sci-fi)
    retro figures including Transformers, along with Lego and other retro toys
    DVDs and blu-rays (mostly sci-fi themed)

Admission is free, which is a genuine bonus, and so is parking.  All the stores are from local traders.  This is a regular event that gets a massive recommendation from me.  The stall-holders are friendly, they practise social distancing and they'll do you a deal if you buy in bulk.

The next event is Sunday 29 August and should be another great trip out!

Our Burslem: Burslem Festival, 30 August

Burslem town's bank holiday event is back!  There are only limited details of the activities that are planned for this August, but based on previous events, there should be a range of fairground rides (carousels, inflatable slides and a Twizzler), side-shows (hook a duck), a small set of stalls from local charities and organisations, and the local sports car club (Ikon Bodyz Car Club).  I strongly suspect the town cryer will be there too.  

Thanks to volunteer organisation Our Burslem, the event will be taking place on Monday 30 August (another event for Bank Holiday Monday) and will more than likely take over most of Market Place (with that road being closed most of the way to the Home Bargains roundabout (Woodbank Street) or Westport Road.  This is a great opportunity to make the most of the end of the summer, with candy floss, ice cream, drinks and burgers (possibly) on sale.  

In previous years, the event has been well supported by local charities, and it would be good this time to see some of the local shops opening for the day as well (instead, ironically, of shutting because it is a Bank Holiday).

Look out for it, beware of the road closure, and enjoy the end of the summer!

Burslem Town Centre (focused on Market Place)
Monday 30 August
Timings:  probably 11-4ish (I can't find a definite source).

Classic Cars and Steam, Apedale - August Bank Holiday!

 The August Bank Holiday weekend events are starting to pile up, and three options to add to the list are Apedale Valley's Land Rover Show on 28 August, their Transport Show on Sunday 29 August, and their Classic Cars and Steam event, on Monday 30 August.  This isn't the first time I've reviewed or previewed Apedale Valley, as you'll see here.  As before, I would recommend visiting if you have any interest in cars or trains, or classic vehicles at all!  This is a great site, ideal for young families (although I don't remember it being particularly pushchair friendly... this was a while ago, though!).

Apedale Valley combines steam and diesel trains with a hangar full of museum pieces and exhibits from the area's history.  There are train rides at certain dates, and this will be one of them.  In addition, there will be classic cars on display - hard to say which, but there should be a good range, and based on recent visits to Apedale and to the Etruria Mill, you'll probably see cars from the 1940s-1980s (including everything from an Austin Metro to a Ford Capri).  

The train rides on Sunday are from 11:00-4:00 and on Monday are from 11:30-4:00, and are charged at standard fares on both days. 

The museum/hangar makes for very useful shelter if the weather isn't great, and there's also (if I remember rightly) a waiting room at the station while you're waiting for you turn on the train.  I do believe that they serve light refreshments, but don't quote me on that as it's been a while since we last visited.  It's a great site and I would expect to spend at least an hour looking at everything that's on offer.

Apedale Valley's website has more details.

Macc Pow! Comic Convention, September 2021

 Not your typical comic convention (with stalls, merchandise, cosplay and so on), and more about comic art, MACC-POW! is Macclesfield’s day of comic-art, specifically celebrating comic artists, cartoonists and creators globally. It's based in Macclesfield's historic Town Hall building, and this year is a day of free drawing workshops.

It's smaller than it was pre-COVID, but will still be a good day, with opportunities to learn to draw comics like the professionals: Tor Freeman (The Phoenix); Charlie Adlard (The Walking Dead) and Marc Jackson.  Although these are scaled down from previous events, this is still recommended if you have any interest in drawing comics and cartoons.  

Macclesfield might be on the northern edge of 'Stoke on Trent and surrounding area' but it's well worth a visit.  The town itself has a good range of shops, which are all reappearing after COVID and would appreciate some local support.

Saturday 4 September, 10:00 am - 3:00 pm.  Spaces are very limited to 12 per session, so book early, and only book if you are certain you can attend.

Find them on Facebook, or email: yowsa@markmakescomics.co.uk

Northwich Comic Convention, October 2021

It's back!  Comic Conventions generally are returning, and in particular Northwich Comic Con.  Northwich is one of the largest I've been to, since it takes over a whole gymnasium, plus surrounding corridors and entrance ways (and, if the weather is good, the car park too, with The A Team van, or KITT, or other vehicles).

These photos were taken at a previous Northwich Comic Con, where there was a wide range of Cosplay characters, including some guests who had even dressed up in Star Trek uniform (you don't see that every day).

This is massively recommended.  Previous Northwich Comic Cons have featured large numbers of stands, selling all the usual merchandise, in plentiful supply, and with a wide range of characters, themes, photo opportunities - it's well worth the admission price.  Ticket news is still pending, as the organisers work with the venue.

Northwich Memorial Court, Chesterway CW9 5QJ Northwich
2 October 2021, 10:00am - 4:00pm.
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/northwichcomiccon/

Weston Park Model Airshow, September 2021

 As we return to normality, large-scale events are starting up (postponed, maybe, but going ahead nonetheless).  Football matches have crowds, and airshows have restarted!

The Weston Park Model Airshow is (despite the title) a large-scale event, which will include some full-size aircraft.  The Red Arrows aren't listed as going, but there should be a good range of other aircraft attending, along with model aircraft.  Model aircraft are amazing to watch, and if you haven't seen them before, I can strongly recommend seeing them.  They sound like the 'real thing', and have incredible manoeuvrability and agility in the air.  Providing the wind isn't too strong, they will be able to fly some amazing sequences which closely rival their full-size brothers.  Model jets in particular sound authentic - just like the full size versions - and the show may well include two model Red Arrows flying in formation (a sight to behold).

Weston Park has huge grounds, which will be filled with entertainment for the full family, including stalls, sideshows and a funfair (in accordance with Covid restrictions) and in the evening, the model flying continues and there's also a firework show.

The show runs from 3-5 September, including the evenings, and there's more information on the Weston Park website and the airshow website.

Weston Park is on the edge of Telford/Newport, and is not far from RAF Cosford (which I can also very highly recommend!).

Stormtroopers in Newcastle in August!

 August Bank Holiday (Monday 30 August) will be the first unrestricted bank holiday we've had since the start of lockdown in 2020, and I'm pleased to report that the North Staffs Stormtroopers will be in Newcastle under Lyme meeting and greeting, and checking for Rebels.

Newcastle will be holding a Bank Holiday market (in the past, these have included large numbers of local organisations setting up stalls - the Scouts, the local Rotary Club, other local charities, and so on) so it will make for a great day out.  In addition, the North Staffs Stormtroopers have started swelling their ranks with Clone Troopers, Captain Jack Sparrow and DC characters (and possibly the Mandalorian).

The market event is Newcastle's Artisan Market (but expect a range of stalls, as I mentioned).

More details, Facebook Event: https://fb.me/e/1G7Onj9s1 

Monday 30 August, 10:00am - 3:00 pm