Kingston upon Hull Favorites

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Favorite thing: The whole year is full of events to highlight slavery, in the past and present, most of the events are free, this website has a calender of events Wilberforce 2007
In one weekend (28th July) we had the Clipper Round the World Yacht race ships to visit, the Spurn Lightship was open, stalls around the marina and small boat races, a huge blow up bubble with performers in, a flute player suspended over Princes Quay in another blow-up balloon and a celebration of African and African Caribbean culture as part of the Wilberforce 2007 events took place in Queen's Gardens called Sankofa Sunsplash.
A link to the Sankofa Sunsplash MySpace
William Wilberforce was a politition whom introduced a bill which led to the abolishion of slavery in 1807. He was born in Hull and his old house is now a museum.

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Favorite thing: Slightly rained off this year (21st July 2007) this festival has been going since 2005. A 'Mela' is a traditional Indian festival, being in Hull it is a lovely mix of traditional and modern India.
There's local and Yorkshire stalls here with music, food, clothes and crafts. Other attractions included belly dancers, bouncy castles, donkey rides, henna painting, African drumming, Scrapstore, DJing, graffiti art, face painting, puppet shows, storytelling, and didgeridoo.

There is no official website for the Mela but here's the email and phone number-
hullmela@yahoo.co.uk - 01964 631961

Favorite thing: Hull Fair, 5th - 13th October 2007, dates may vary year to year.
I've been going to Hull fair since before I was even born. I'd not been for about 5 years but came back this year and there were more rides than ever.
They now have an alcohol ban which they didn't before.
Sullivans sell the best chips (they do cost more than Bradleys but are tastier).
More must buys from the fair are Brandy Snap (we thought we'd do our bit for locals and buy some 'Hull Brandy Snap' but we got home and it was made in Nottingham!!), coconuts and pommegranits, we usually buy these from a stall by our local fruit shop. Roast chestnuts are lovely, just the smell of them, but beware, you're more than likey to have to throw away a few mouldy ones.
All the food and tat stalls (like dolls on a string, fruit smelling balls (?), light up things, all cheap toys really) lie along Walton Street (closed for cars), then all the rides are on the park and ride site. They had some huge ones this year, plenty for children too, lots of hook-a-duck's, shooting ranges (ha, not one for the children), lots of places where you can win huge stuffed toys.

Fondest memory: Some history for you now-
Hull Fair is one of the oldest Charter fairs still in existence. The town, then a possession of the Abbot of Meaux, was known as Wyke upon Hull when the first charter granting permission for a Fair to be held in was conferred on the 10th November 1279.
This fair continued until 1598 when a new Royal Charter gave permission for a fair to be held during September. According to Kevin Scrivens and Stephen Smith in Hull Fair published in 1991; the changing of the calendar in 1751 led the locals to believe that the loss of eleven days affected their fair. Give us back our eleven days was the cry as the enraged mob charged around the streets of Hull calling for the return of their eleven day festivities, which they believed to have been lost due to the calendar change. The outraged masses got their wish and from that year onwards October 11th became the official date for Hull Fair.

You'll find it on Walton Street, but you can't miss it, they lay on lots of extra bus services, it's about a 20 minute walk from the town centre, follow signs for the KC Stadium.

Beware, it always rains when Hull fair is on, be sure to bring good waterproofs, I wouldn't suggest an umbrella, it would be very hard to get through the crouds and close to the low hanging stalls.

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Favorite thing: Hull Literature Festival 16th June-1st July 2007.
This is a yearly event so should be relevant for a long time, though the dates could well vary year to year.

I went to a reading by Joanne Harris yesterday which was free in our city library. She introduced herself, told us about her ideas, her life, her inspirations and then read from her new book; The Lollypop Shoes. Did a Q & A session then signed books for us. This is the first of its kind I've ever been to and I really liked it, it was very intimate, she was a confident speaker, I've read a lot of her books so it was great to meet her too. She was a great, engaging reader, very well equiped to answer any questions we threw at her (though no-one asked the most common; What was Johnny Depp like?).

Examples of other events that are on this year are;
An audience with Will Self (satirist/writer) £5 21st June
Mike Gale (novelist/journalist) £5 23rd June
Steven Hall & Dan Rhodes (novelists) £5 26th June
Milner Place & Lyn Acton (poetry & music) £5 27th June
Shami Sharabarti (speaker & campaigner) £5 28th June
Raj Persaud (psychologist) £5 30th June
There's writing/poesty sessions, dance and music.

Official website

Favorite thing: On Sunday 22nd July 2007 it was Dove House Day, Dove House Hospice is a local charity for anyone over the age of 16 that has a life limiting illness. They offer assistance to the sufferer and their carers, they don't charge anything for their help so of course they are dependent upon donations, income through their charity shops and events such as the Dove House Day.

This year there were sponsored bunij jumps, live music (The Cheeky Girls were the headline act :-)), a CAMRA Beer tent, dog agility and a soccer six competition. Entertainment from local bands, Fun stands, Rides, Miniature and model railways, Children’s area with bouncy castles, magicians and a giant hook a duck.

Parking is very easy as it's right next to the Walton Street park and ride and the KC Stadium on the site of West Park.

Fondest memory: Website: http://www.dovehouseday.org.uk/
Email: fundraising@dovehouse.org.uk
Telephone: 01482 785743

Favorite thing: Will Queen Victoria ever feel like Times Sqaure? Hardly.

Ah yes, Hull City Council in their infinite wisdom, in what has been dubbed the ‘fattest city in the country’ by many a survey, have gone and spent £750,000 on a massive TV screen for the city center in Queen Victoria Sqaure. Instead of highlighting community news or events they're shunted to the side of the screen. Because during the day it basically does exactly what it says on the tin. It shows TV. On a big screen. So lets get this right; fat couch-potato population and you just go and put a bloody-great TV in the city center. Genius eh? Should a big sporting event of major news event be occurring then it is an extremely useful community resource as crowds of people will stop and actually pay real interest, but on a dreary day when it’s left showing BBC1 housewife-programming throughout the day to bemused shoppers passing through the square, it basically only entertains the local vagrants or partners patiently waiting for their other halves.

And all this when the council-sponsored art house cinema called Hull Screen is having to justify its existence to continue funding or face closure. Nice to know local government has its priorities right.

Favorite thing: If you’re budget conscious and need to log on in the city the best place to head is the Hull Central Library on Albion Street. Ask the helpful staff and they should be able to organise a visitors pass to get a short burst of net-time to check your hotmail (bring some ID). It’s also a great place to research anything from local history, local attractions and local events.

Further info details:

Albion Street, Kingston Upon Hull, HU1 3TF. 01482 223344

or

http://www.hullcc.gov.uk/libraries/community_libraries/community_detail2.php#hull

Favorite thing: The Town Hall is the centre point of all sort of social activity like, private parties, numerous and very varied functions, from wedding receptions, bar mitzvah', birthday parties, Science Fiction fairs and Record fairs.