A Great 'Day Out in North Norfolk' at Pensthorpe

PLEASE NOTE: THIS EVENT WAS CANCELLED BECAUSE OF BAD WEATHER

Thousands of people are expected to visit the ever-popular and successful Day Out in North Norfolk exhibition when it opens its doors at the Pensthorpe nature reserve, near Fakenham, later this month.

The annual two-day event, which showcases the District's tourism industry by bringing together the best of North Norfolk's visitor attractions and accommodation providers and displaying them in a huge, heated marquee, will be held on Friday and Saturday, 19 and 20 March.

The first day will be for invited guests from the UK's travel trade, who will visit the 60-or-so local exhibitors to find out what North Norfolk has to offer, and so be able to plan trips and excursions for visitors and tour parties.

Members of the public will have their chance to visit the exhibition between 10am and 4pm on the Saturday. With its special emphasis on music, dancing and entertainment (especially for children), it promises to be a great family day out. Car parking and entry to Day Out will be free of charge, and there will be goody-bags for the first 100 children through the doors. Entrance on the day to the nature reserve and gardens at Pensthorpe will be half price: £3 for adults, £1.50 for children and £2.50 senior citizens. Access to the Pensthorpe Courtyard Café, gift shop and exhibition gallery (which is showing a collection of outstanding photographs and paintings by a group of top artists) is free of charge.

"Last year, about 3000 members of the public came and found out what a wealth of attractions and activities we have in this area. That's why Day Out in North Norfolk has become the largest and most successful travel trade and tourism exhibition in East Anglia," said Di Rolph, the District Council's Tourism Promotions Officer and the exhibition's organiser.

"Pensthorpe, with its 500 acres of fen meadows, lakes and gardens, is a fine example of what makes North Norfolk so appealing, and we are delighted to be invited to have our exhibition there."

The nature reserve, found on the A1067 Fakenham to Norwich Road, takes in flood meadows of the River Wensum and old pastures filled with wild flowers. Its lakes are havens for migratory birds, and it has aviaries stocked with rare species bred on the site.

At Easter, Pensthorpe is also launching a new attraction: the Wensum Discovery Tour, a vehicle safari through the park looking at the fascinating landscape and how it was shaped (this attraction will not be open over the Day Out in North Norfolk weekend).

Day Out in North Norfolk will be officially opened by Councillor Cyril Durrant, Chairman of North Norfolk District Council, at 11am on Friday, 19 March. The opening will be followed by the presentation of the 2003 North Norfolk Tourism Awards, and by the 'introduction' of the Cromer Pavilion Theatre's 2004 Seaside Special and summer entertainment programme. Principal Seaside Special cast members Andy Ford (a regular guest on ITV's Des and Mel show) and Phil Melbourne (one of the UK's leading variety entertainers) will introduce themselves and entertain the guests.

For more information about the Day Out exhibition, contact Di Rolph on (01263) 516009.

ENDS