Suggestions for things to do outside London in April
My regular look ahead to events happening next month that would probably be in my events guide, if only they weren’t happening outside the psychological barrier of the M25 motorway.
| Bolney Pram Race | 1st April |
| Charity fund racing race with contestants pushed along local roads in prams. | Bolney, West Sussex |
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| Bottle-kicking & hare pie scramble | 1st April |
| Locals carry a large hare pie and the three small kegs to a local park where it is blessed, and then a rough game is played. | Hallaton, Leicestershire |
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| World Coal Carrying Championship | 1st April |
| A race that dates back to 1963 and since then, each year men and women race the streets of Gawthorpe carrying huge sacks of coal. | Wakefield, Yorks |
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| Harness Horse Parade | 1st April |
| Annual parade of horses, ponies and donkeys and their carriages. | Ardingly, West Sussex |
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| The Morpeth Gathering | 5th-7th April |
| The festival includes a vast array of competitions including crafts, performance and writing. The emphasis of the Gathering is firmly upon the native traditions of Northumberland | Morpeth, Northumbria |
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| Uppies and Downies | 6th April |
| A medieval version of football played just after Easter each year. There were traditionally no rules, except those suggested by cunning and skill, while brute force is of the greatest importance. | Workington, Cumbria |
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| Scotland’s Tartan Day | 6th April |
| Tartan Day marks the signing of the Declaration of Arbroath in 1320 at Arbroath Abbey. | Everywhere |
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| Hocktide Celebrations | 9th April |
| A medieval festival that still remains in Hungerford, with a parade around the town and the sitting of an ancient jury. | Hungerford, Berkshire |
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| Culloden Memorial Service | 13th April |
| Annual Culloden Memorial Service, run by the Gaelic Society of Inverness. Address by the Society Chief followed by prayers. | Culloden, Inverness |
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| Fritillary Sunday | 14th April |
| The one day of the year, when a field growing The Snake’s Head Fritillary is open to the public. The church is open and a fair is set up. | Ducklington, Oxfordshire |
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| Folk Weekend Oxford | 19th-21st April |
| Concerts, ceilidhs, morris, craft fair, workshops, sessions, family events & much more. | Oxford, Oxfordshire |
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| UK Coach Rally | 20th-21st April |
| Around 60 buses and coaches will parade around an 80-mile route on Saturday. Will be on display on Sunday. | Alton, Staffordshire |
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| Shakepeare’s Birthday Celebrations | 20th-21st April |
| The birthday weekend brings together performers, artists, the local community and ambassadors from around the world in a vibrant celebration of the life and works of William Shakespeare. | Stratford upon Avon, Warks. |
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| British Asparagus Festival | 23rd April |
| The official start of the UK’s eight-week asparagus season launches with the Great British Asparagus Run. It celebrates the first-cut round of asparagus with all the pomp and ceremony you’d expect on Saint George’s Day. | Vale of Evesham, Worcestershire |
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| Camborne Trevithick Day | 27th April |
| The streets of Camborne will come alive with a spectacular day of free Steam, entertainment and much more. | Cambrone, Cornwall |
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| Wray Scarecrow Festival | 27th April – 6th May |
| This years attractions will include the 10k road race, Car Boot Sale, Giant Scarecrow Parade, Vintage Market and Classic Car Show, Classic Bike Night, Ball Race, Fun Fair plus much more. | Wray, Lancashire |
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| Beltane Fire Festival | 30th April |
| Celebrate the start of the summer with this spectacular revival of the ancient Celtic fertility festival in the heart of the Scottish capital. | Edinburgh |
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