Event - The Romans are coming to Leger Week (Doncaster)

ST LEGER FESTIVAL WEEK will be about much more than racing this year as the town’s tourism chiefs take advantage of the influx of visitors to Doncaster to offer a range of entertainments for all the family.

Highlight of the week’s programme of events will be a Roman experience, when a historical re-enactment group in the role of Roman legionaries will pitch camp in the grounds of Doncaster Minster - site of the Roman fort of Danum around which the modern town was built.

The ‘gladiators’ will put on demonstrations of Roman battle techniques on Leger Saturday and children are invited to dress up in costume and have a go with the weapons themselves. There will also be displays by Arabian dancers.

‘This promises to be a great weekend of activities for all the family”, added Colin Joy, Doncaster Council’s Tourism Manager. “Visitors will be able to see the Roman Army march through town on both days, as well as displays of drill, Roman coin making, and learning how to write their name in Latin script.”

The Romans will be in town from 10am-4pm on Saturday and from 10am until 3pm on Sunday.

There are over 150 events taking place during the 10 day festival including Doncaster’s biggest free music event – Doncaster Live - heritage walks, art exhibitions, a Medieval Autumn Fayre, champagne brunches, Proms in the Park, wine tasting at the Minster and a beer festival. This year’s Festival is sponsored by Travel South Yorkshire.

Many local pubs, bars, clubs and restaurants are putting on special events during the Festival, including the Red Lion pub where the St Leger Stakes was founded in 1776. The full event listing can be found at www.visitdoncaster.com/stleger

From: http://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/news/the_romans_are_coming_to_leger_week_1_3726519

Event - Friends, Romans, countrymen entertain punters at St Leger (Doncaster)

The St Leger Festival next month will be more than just horse racing - with a full programme of other events announced yesterday.

Attractions will include Roman soldiers marching through the town, Doncaster’s biggest free music event Doncaster Live, heritage walks, art exhibitions, a Mediaeval Autumn Fayre, champagne brunches, Proms in the Park, wine tasting at the Minster and a beer festival.

There are five top performances at the Civic Theatre, including Paul Harris with his one man play Frankie Titters On, looking at the life of comic treasure Frankie Howerd. The UK’s only touring burlesque spectacular presents An Evening of Burlesque: The Ultimate Tease, and there will be musical tributes to Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons with Let’s Hang On and classic 1980s rock anthems with A Foreigners Journey.

Quirky comic Mark Steel is also appearing.

Many local pubs, bars, clubs and restaurants are putting on special events during the Festival, including The Red Lion pub where the St Leger Stakes was founded in 1776.

The full event listing can be found at www.visitdoncaster.com/stleger

For more information call Doncaster Tourist Information Centre on 01302 734 309.

From: http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/friends_romans_countrymen_entertain_punters_at_st_leger_1_3706148

Event - Guided town walk on offer (Doncaster)

TOURISM chiefs have launched a season of town centre heritage walks around Doncaster.

They are being organised for the first Friday of each month by Doncaster Tourist Information Centre and more than a dozen people joined last week’s outing.

The walks take in the Mansion House, South Parade, the Salutation coaching inn, Doncaster Market and Baxter Gate.

They are led by two knowledgeable members of staff from the Blue Building in the High Street and cost £3 per person.

Anyone interested in joining the next walk on April 1 should visit the Blue Building in person or call 01302 734309.

From: http://www.thestar.co.uk/community/green-scene/guided_town_walk_on_offer_1_3155322