Explore and get messy at Black Park!

Join us in Black Pines Camp for some fun in the woods! We have a variety of activities for your tot to go wild, including the mud kitchen, digging pit, water play, bug hunting, weaving, balancing and more.

What is Tots Go Wild all about?

Tots Go Wild is aimed at children aged 1-5 years (from when they can walk independently till they are in full-time education).

Tots Go Wild takes place on most Fridays during term time throughout the year. Morning sessions run from 10:00-11:30 and afternoon sessions run from 13:00-14:30. We stagger the release of our tickets in line with the start of each new school half-term.

There will be a themed activity each week, plus multiple other activity stations. The sessions are child-led, with the children being encouraged to choose what they would like to do to help them build on their self-esteem, confidence and independence. During October through to May we regularly have a fire.

You can casually book the date(s) you'd like to attend, or block book the full half-term (six sessions) to guarantee a place each week and receive a discount.

We go ahead in all weathers - unless deemed unsafe - so please dress appropriately!

Discover a glorious mix of art in this exciting new exhibition showcasing Bucks artists and craftspeople. 

Come and view this exciting exhibition of paintings, prints, ceramics, sculpture and glass. Some artwork is for sale on a first come first served basis so don’t miss out on this opportunity to buy that special piece for yourself or a friend.

The exhibition will run from Saturday 29 April to Saturday 8 July 2023 in our beautiful art gallery.

Continuing our tour of the 17^th century through taste, Milton’s Cottage celebrates National Biscuit Day with historian and celebrated biscuit artist Ella Hawkins.  As well as creating her own biscuit art, in response to the museum’s collection, she will lead a family-friendly biscuit decorating workshop during May half-term with the chance to discover 17^th century biscuit recipes and ingredients.  Free; donations welcome.

Explore and get messy at Black Park!

Join us in Black Pines Camp for some fun in the woods! We have a variety of activities for your tot to go wild, including the mud kitchen, digging pit, water play, bug hunting, weaving, balancing and more.

What is Tots Go Wild all about?

Tots Go Wild is aimed at children aged 1-5 years (from when they can walk independently till they are in full-time education).

Tots Go Wild takes place on most Fridays during term time throughout the year. Morning sessions run from 10:00-11:30 and afternoon sessions run from 13:00-14:30. We stagger the release of our tickets in line with the start of each new school half-term.

There will be a themed activity each week, plus multiple other activity stations. The sessions are child-led, with the children being encouraged to choose what they would like to do to help them build on their self-esteem, confidence and independence. During October through to May we regularly have a fire.

You can casually book the date(s) you'd like to attend, or block book the full half-term (six sessions) to guarantee a place each week and receive a discount.

We go ahead in all weathers - unless deemed unsafe - so please dress appropriately!

Discover a glorious mix of art in this exciting new exhibition showcasing Bucks artists and craftspeople. 

Come and view this exciting exhibition of paintings, prints, ceramics, sculpture and glass. Some artwork is for sale on a first come first served basis so don’t miss out on this opportunity to buy that special piece for yourself or a friend.

The exhibition will run from Saturday 29 April to Saturday 8 July 2023 in our beautiful art gallery.

A children’s history and craft event inspired by the Chilterns history of lace making. This event is part of our Hidden Hands: Women and Work in the Chilterns exhibition programme, exploring women’s work in the Chilterns in 19th & 20th centuries.

Recommended 4 – 11. Smaller ones are welcome but will need help.

Tickets £4 per child. Tickets not needed for accompanying adults. Pre-booking essential.

Sessions last 45 minutes – choose your time slot when you book tickets.

Friends get 10% off. Find out about becoming a Friend here: https://wycombemuseum.org.uk/become-a-friend

Sessions start at:

• 10.30 – 11.15am
• 11.45am – 12.30pm
• 1.15 – 2pm
• 2.30 – 3.15pm

Book tickets here: https://wycombemuseum.org.uk/events/discover-make-threads-and-bobbins

An opportunity for people of all ages to meet socially and share their stories of the past. 

This session is themed on the work of women past and present. Do you have memories of women in your family or community working in cottage craft industries, making lace, straw plait, tambour bead or chair seats? We’d love to hear about it.

Sessions are free, drop-in, and about an hour long.

There’s no need to book, free refreshments are provided, and all are welcome.

Each session will have a different theme.

Sour Cherry Soup comes to Chiltern Open Air Museum

‘Sour Cherry Soup’, a new 45 minute one woman show tells the story of the changing landscapes and populations of the Chilterns, as well as how the history of cherries is also the history of Southern England, reflecting the richness of the landscape, past, present and future.

Written by playwright Sara Clifford for the Chalk, Cherries and Chairs Landscape Partnership Scheme, the show has been inspired by real stories of Chilterns people, gathered by Sara at creative workshops and discussions with community groups across the Chilterns.

The stunning chalk landscape of the Chilterns is crisscrossed by historic pathways, hillforts and burial mounds, full of ancient woodland, hedgerows and chalk streams, with traces of human occupation going back at least 5000 years  – plus the cherry orchards, cultivated by generations of farmers ploughing the land, a bygone culture literally beneath our feet in the local towns and villages.

But it’s also a contemporary landscape, a thriving environment that supports busy town populations and diverse communities, as well as glorious walks across the hills and a fragile ecosystem of protected plants and animals. Join us to dive into the Chilterns in a way you may not have experienced before!

Need to know

• Please make your way to the Northolt Barn by 1:45pm, the performance will start at 2pm and will last 45 minutes
• This performance will be outside and no seating is provided – please bring chairs / rugs to sit on
• Please dress for the outdoors, but in the event of very wet weather we will move the performance into the barn
• Suitable for adults and children aged 12 . Younger children are welcome but they may not find the show very engaging
• The venue is wheelchair and buggy accessible
• This event can be booked in advance, for a £3 in addition to COAM entrance fee. Please enjoy all that the museum has to offer before and after the performance!

Brought to you by In Roads Productions for the Chalk, Cherries and Chairs in partnership with COAM.

It's 50 years since the Ridgeway was officially opened as a national trail. Celebrate with us by joining us on Sunday 11th June, you can walk either a 13 mile or 26 miles local route finishing off soaking up the stunning views of Ivinghoe Beacon.

This event was established during the restrictions of lockdown...but with those restrictions came the opportunity to develop a new found appreciation for our local area and the beauty that we are surrounded by!

So join us and Walk Your Ridgeway, exploring the stunning ancient walkway.

13 miles - Wendover (Witchell Pavillion, HP22 6EG)  - Ivinghoe Beacon (Start time 11.30am)

26 miles - Princes Risborough (Whiteleaf Carpark, Peters Lane) to Ivinghoe Beacon via The Hospice of St Francis (Start time 8.15am)

The beautiful 26.2 mile route will start in Princes Risborough and meanders through ancient woodland, and open countryside to Wendover, this is where the Half Marathon route will begin. Both routes will take you through Tring Park and finally onto an impressive finish at Ivinghoe Beacon.

The marathon distance will also include a visit to The Hospice of St Francis to see our wonderful gardens.

Register today!

Snap up the Super Early Bird Prices before its too late!

£14 (standard price £18) for the Half Marathon (13.1mile)

£20 (standard price £24) for the full Marathon distance (26.2 mile)

Your entry fee includes:

Hospice technical t-shirt (optional)

Map

Check List of what to take

Light refreshments at check points

Finishers medal

We'll be asking all walkers to raise a minimum of £46 …..to support such services as our wellbeing team.

Open Farm Sunday is a fun afternoon out for all the family, giving visitors the opportunity to learn more about farming and the countryside. It's free to attend. There will be refreshments available to purchase. 

Hope to see you there! Please share with your friends and families.

Best wishes

Emily

Join archivist Daniel Williams to find hidden LGBTQ stories through the Buckinghamshire County Archives.

Archives are where memories are preserved and history is made. Buckinghamshire Archives preserves the county’s memory, but many of the stories it holds remain untold and undiscovered. These ‘hidden stories’ include the lives of LGBTQ people. This presentation will highlight some of the fascinating stories that have already been discovered in other archives, and examine some of the challenges of LGBTQ archival research.

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This talk is free to attend, but with a suggested donation of £5 per person. Donations to the Museum at point of booking or on the event date are much appreciated. Book here: https://wycombemuseum.org.uk/events/missing-stories-finding-lgbtq-voices-in-history

This talk was originally given during the Discover Bucks 2021 online Pride Month event series.

‘Sour Cherry Soup’, a new 45 minute one woman show tells the story of the changing landscapes and populations of the Chilterns, as well as how the history of cherries is also the history of Southern England, reflecting the richness of the landscape, past, present and future.

Written by playwright Sara Clifford for the Chalk, Cherries and Chairs Landscape Partnership Scheme, the show has been inspired by real stories of Chilterns people, gathered by Sara at creative workshops and discussions with community groups across the Chilterns. 

The stunning chalk landscape of the Chilterns is crisscrossed by historic pathways, hillforts and burial mounds, full of ancient woodland, hedgerows and chalk streams, with traces of human occupation going back at least 5000 years  – plus the cherry orchards, cultivated by generations of farmers plying the land, a bygone culture literally beneath our feet in the local towns and villages. 

But it’s also a contemporary landscape, a thriving environment that supports busy town populations and diverse communities, as well as glorious walks across the hills and a fragile ecosystem of protected plants and animals. Join us to dive into the Chilterns in a way you may not have experienced before!

–

More information and tickets coming soon.

New for 2023, our first ever Summer Sound Fest.

We'll be bringing you a jam packed line up of talented local artists, covering a range of genres from rock, afro beat, folk, jazz, bluegrass and funk.

Saturday 24th June 2023 at our Exclusive Event Field in Dudswell, HP4 3TA

Doors open 2pm with live music from 3pm

Bring the whole family along to enjoy the day and dance into the sunset.

There will be fully licensed bars, an array of delicious food vendors and a shopping village bursting with artisan crafts...so there really is something for everyone!

Let your little ones burn off some energy on the bouncy castle, we will make sure there is plenty of fun and games for them to enjoy too.

Our line up includes:

Sweetcornbread

Formed in 2008 sweetcornbread are a homegrown band giving you dancing beats and sing along melodies. Referencing funk, folk, bluegrass, blues and reggae amongst their original material, an ever growing fusion of genres held together by their distinctive sound.  

Lex11

Lex11 got together in 2022 and pride themselves in playing some big numbers, with intent! Covers from The Stereophonics, Sheryl Crow and Alanis Morrisette through to Guns N'Roses, AC/DC, The Killers and more are in their ever expanding repertoire. If you want to hear some great tunes played with energy and enthusiasm, Lex11 are for you!  Lex11

T-Bone African Allstars

Experience the vibrant sounds of T-BONE AFRIKA ALL STARS, a dynamic Afro Beat HIGH LIFE band that showcases the best music from Southern Africa.

Secondary Modern Jazz

Secondary Modern Jazz are a collective based around the wonderful voice of Rachael Brown and the trombone of Ray Ashley-Brown. This is for people who like their jazz laid back and soulful.

Minnie Birch

Minnie creates honest, beautiful music in the folk tradition about love, loss, life, fairytales and football! Joined for this performance by Vocalist and banjo player Kathy Pilkinton. Expect ambient acoustic sounds with moments you can sing and stomp along too.

Monday Mojo

The Monday Mojos play rock n' roll, country & blues standards at charity, good cause & other events. These include classic high energy songs by Elvis, Little Richard, Johnny Cash, Chuck Berry, Muddy Waters. The set will get you up and rocking!

Tickets

Advanced Ticket Fees:

Adults/over 18's: £12.00

Children: £5.00

Under 3's/carers: FREE

On the day entry:

Adults/over 18's £15.00, Children £7.00, Under 3's/carers FREE

*Free onsite parking at our exclusive Event Field included in your ticket price*

Tickets available to buy on our website; https://www.stfrancis.org.uk/support-us/events/detail/summer-sound-fest or from our charity shops.

The Hospice of St Francis has been providing free of charge, end of life support and care for families and their loved ones in Herts and Bucks for over 40 years and relies on support and donations, from events like this, to raise the £5 million it needs every year to continue this care. Thank you

#WeLoveYourSupport

Got a question? Drop our Fundraising Team a line!

fundraising@stfrancis.org.uk / 01442 869555

Explore and get messy at Black Park!

Join us in Black Pines Camp for some fun in the woods! We have a variety of activities for your tot to go wild, including the mud kitchen, digging pit, water play, bug hunting, weaving, balancing and more.

What is Tots Go Wild all about?

Tots Go Wild is aimed at children aged 1-5 years (from when they can walk independently till they are in full-time education).

Tots Go Wild takes place on most Fridays during term time throughout the year. Morning sessions run from 10:00-11:30 and afternoon sessions run from 13:00-14:30. We stagger the release of our tickets in line with the start of each new school half-term.

There will be a themed activity each week, plus multiple other activity stations. The sessions are child-led, with the children being encouraged to choose what they would like to do to help them build on their self-esteem, confidence and independence. During October through to May we regularly have a fire.

You can casually book the date(s) you'd like to attend, or block book the full half-term (six sessions) to guarantee a place each week and receive a discount.

We go ahead in all weathers - unless deemed unsafe - so please dress appropriately!

Discover a glorious mix of art in this exciting new exhibition showcasing Bucks artists and craftspeople. 

Come and view this exciting exhibition of paintings, prints, ceramics, sculpture and glass. Some artwork is for sale on a first come first served basis so don’t miss out on this opportunity to buy that special piece for yourself or a friend.

The exhibition will run from Saturday 29 April to Saturday 8 July 2023 in our beautiful art gallery.

This year Aylesbury on Sea will feature local family-friendly literary and arts festival, WhizzFizzFest.

For the first time, WhizzFizzFest hits the road to bring a vibrant celebration of children’s creativity alongside plenty of beach-based fun on Sunday 2 July.

Aylesbury on Sea has brought the beach to Aylesbury since 2005.

Residents are invited to get stuck into 60 tonnes of sand in Aylesbury’s largest park, ride on the land train and enjoy many other seaside activities including prize bingo, with thanks to Michael Anthony Estate Agents, and fairground rides including a Helter-Skelter and a surfboard simulator.

There will be new activities for 2023 including mini-golf, beach volleyball and a limbo competition as well as great local food.

WhizzFizzFest has been running for over two decades and was previously hosted by Buckinghamshire Council. It was originally inspired by Buckinghamshire author Roald Dahl and since then it has evolved into a vibrant celebration of children’s literature and creative arts.

This year in Vale Park, participants can enjoy a whirlwind of creative activities and unforgettable experiences connected with an overarching theme of ‘Friendship’.

There will be a musical playground made from upcycled everyday objects, an immersive performance of Alice in Wonderland from Queens Park Art Centre’s Unbound Theatre, pottery painting, musical instrument making and a storytelling tent. Not to mention DJ Dan Blaze hosting interactive challenges and a chance to talk to local children’s authors.

Visit our website for more information: https://bit.ly/AOSWFF23

Click attending on our Facebook event: https://bit.ly/41r7fnt

Click here to view accessibility information: https://bit.ly/3kgEGWm

The Museum’s summer exhibition Hidden Hands: Women and Work in the Chilterns focuses on the little-known history of the lives of women working in Chilterns traditional crafts. The Woodlanders Lives & Landscapes project volunteers have spent years undertaking research on these women, and how they went about their daily lives.

Take a look with us at the census data and family history research that went into putting together Hidden Hands.

Talk by Keith Spencer, Wycombe Museum & Woodlanders Lives and Landscapes project volunteer.

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This talk is free to attend, but with a suggested donation of £5 per person. Donations to the Museum at point of booking or on the event date are much appreciated. Book here: https://wycombemuseum.org.uk/events/data-behind-hidden-hands

Part of our Hidden Hands: Women and Work in the Chilterns exhibition events programme.

Green Festival at Chiltern Open Air Museum

At this special green event: listen to live acoustic music, head to the green market, take part in wellbeing activities, meet a horse-riding nymph and 18ft tree puppet, and discover ways that you can help take care of our environment.

• Head to the artisan market where you’ll be able to buy eco-friendly products from a wide range of stalls
• Attend talks on nature and the environment delivered by expert speakers
• Listen to live music from folk collective Bottlefolk on Tour
• Get involved in fun activities for the whole family, including eco-friendly arts and crafts for kids
• Watch a performance by Arbor the Tree, the 18ft tree puppet!
• Focus on wellbeing at Tai Chi and yoga taster sessions run by Sport in Mind
• Visit the Chiltern Sound Spa’s meditation and wellbeing space
• Tour the museum’s gardens and orchards and meet the team that looks after them
• Find out about sustainable gardening and how to get the most out of your herbs and compost
• Learn about bees from a beekeeper with a live hive
• Find out about chalk streams and the River Chess Smarter Water Catchment initiative, and learn ways that you can help to save water
• Immerse yourself in nature with local bushcraft expert David Willis, who will be providing guided woodland tours and spoon carving demonstrations
• Chat to local conservation groups and organisations about their work and projects and find out how you can get involved*

*Groups include: The Chiltern Society, Chilterns Conservation Board, Woodoaks Farm, Berks, Bucks & Oxon Wildlife Trust, Sustainable Amersham, The Oasis Partnership, Watford Recycling Arts Project, Colne Valley Regional Park and Chiltern Bee.

Arbor the Tree

Part man. Part tree. 18 feet tall. Meet Arbor.

Follow Arbor as he strides around COAM, vanishing between trees and emerging with a cart full of tree seeds. Arbor tells the story of a tree pushed from his home and his fight to preserve his future.

Arbor is a visually stunning show with lots of lovable puppets. Created by the award-winning puppetry and theatre company, Smoking Apples.

Suitable for the entire family. Ages 4 – 11 years.

Specialist Talks

Allen Beechey – Chilterns Chalk Streams Projects Manager (CCB) –A talk on the ecology of the Chilterns chalk streams

Adrian Porter – Chiltern Chalk Streams Rivers Officer (CCB)–A talk on chalk stream restoration, practical volunteering, citizen science and how you can get involved

Dr Wendy Morrison – Heritage and Archaeology Manager (CCB) –A talk on how humans have shaped the Chilterns

Paul Jennings – Chair of the River Chess Association and local farmer – A farmers perspective on conscientious management and the importance of the River Chess

Chiltern Open Air Museum are pleased to see the return of their annual Classic Vehicle Show. Join them for a weekend celebration of classic vehicles. Come and admire an amazing collection of classic cars, motorcycles and historic bicycles. You will also be able to come and see a collection of historic tractors and wagons on our farm, which was once used for filming TV drama Downton Abbey.

Standard admission prices apply for visitors. Discounted entry when you pre-book your tickets. Free entry for Annual Pass holders.

Want to exhibit?

If you would like to exhibit your classic vehicle, COAM would love to have you.

Please book your Exhibitor tickets here. If you are attending on both days or bringing more than one vehicle, please add a ticket for each.

A note on the weather

The Museum is a charity and this fundraising event relies on lots of wonderful classic car owners exhibiting their cars on a voluntary basis. If the English weather is wet the event will still go ahead, however, these cars are our exhibitors pride and joy and some exhibitors may decide not to exhibit in these conditions.

You are invited to click your heels and ease on down the yellow brick road as Immersion Theatre proudly presents a brand new adaptation of The Wizard of Oz, a magical family show guaranteed to have you in stitches from beginning to end!

Join Dorothy on her quest to the Emerald City as she and her loyal friends: the brainless but cheeky scarecrow, the cowardly lion, and the heartless (literally!) tin man, navigate through a magical land in search of the mighty and mysterious, Wizard of Oz. With the Wicked Witch of the West determined to stop them by any means necessary, however, will the spirit of friendship triumph over evil?

With lashings of audience participation, dazzling costumes, an original script, and plenty of laughter, this faithful re-telling promises to have you shouting, clapping and singing along to a host of brand-new songs as Immersion Theatre presents a fantastic treat for all the family.

Gates open at 4pm, ready for you to get the best spot before the show begins at 5pm. Performances last approximately 110 minutes and include a 20 minute interval. The performance will finish at approximately 7:15pm. Suitable for ages 4 years plus.

There will be light refreshments available to purchase on the night.

Dog's are not permitted.