A great family day out!
What a fantastic event Stockton Council events team put on for local people over the August Bank Holiday weekend. There was something for everyone to enjoy. Hazel and I were there set up in the big craft marquee. I performed Punch and Judy and Magic Shows and Hazel delighted the kids with her amazing face painting.
Preston Park
The event took returned to its original venue at Preston Park. Last year it had to be held down by the river near the Tees Barrage but the site was very exposed and high winds caused havoc. Preston Park is a much better location for the show. It’s a popular place to visit and there is plenty of space, good parking and pleasant surroundings.
Fantastic Entertainment
The event took place over three days and there were shows and displays going on in the main area constantly. The children loved the Knights of the Crusades and the Cumberland Giants but the crowd also really enjoyed the Fun Dog Show which included Most Handsome Dog, Scruffiest Dog, Waggiest Tail, Most Obedient Dog and Fancy Dress. The football competitions were also well supported.
There was of course a host of side shows, inflatables, rides, tombola stalls and a complete fun fair plus a circus with it’s own big top.
Wet and Windy!
Unfortunately the weather for the Saturday and Sunday was wet and windy which probably put a lot of people off coming. I think we were all hoping for glorious sun shine instead things were damp and blustery with a bit of sun shine now and then. The best day was Bank Holiday Monday when the sun was shining and the gate picked up.
Why I’ve gone right off jazz singers
I had some lovely audiences for all of my shows but on Monday there was also a lady jazz singer performing in the little park behind the craft marquee where I was set up. I did two Punch and Judy Shows and each time I had just started my show when the jazz singer came on and drowned me out. She was playing over the main public address system and I only had my usual little portable speaker. I felt robbed as I had about sixty or seventy people watching me and she only had about twelve round the bandstand. Still, I suppose she was entertaining the entire show ground and perhaps not everyone is a Punch and Judy fan. Ah well.
Related articles
- Punch and the Devil (jollygoodfun.co.uk)
- Punch and Judy | A Short History (jollygoodfun.co.uk)
- Punch Arrested! (jollygoodfun.co.uk)
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