Review: A Day At The Lake 2016

I think any right minded person who opened their curtains this morning and saw hail (it’s blooming well May tomorrow) would have just closed them again and gone back to bed. However, we are a household of optimists and packed our wellies, a warm jumper and a waterproof and headed off to Rudyard Lake in Staffordshire to experience A Day At The Lake.

By the time we got there (about a 45 minute drive from South Manchester) the rain had dried up and the sun was winking away from behind a cloud. We parked up in the free car park and walked to the entrance, this took ten minutes on firm but muddy paths which were fine for me to walk on (I can struggle with my mobility). You can get the train for a few pounds, but we’d just missed it so chose to walk instead.

A Day At The Lake

We’ve never visited Rudyard Lake in Staffordshire before (it’s technically a reservoir) but it is incredibly beautiful. A long lake in a valley surrounded by woodland and with a small steam train line puffing up and down it.

During the day there was a full programme of events including –

  • Bullzini the amazing tightrope walker
  • Storytelling
  • Marching bands
  • Victorian Bather’s Juggling Show
  • Circus sideshows
  • Mesmerising Mermaids
  • A Helter Skelter and Swing Boats
  • Rowing boats and Vintage boat trips on the lake
  • Donkey and steam train rides along the shore
  • Craft and Vintage shopping at the Treacle Market
  • Street food and local ales

Everything you would expect from a Wild Rumpus event! For us the real highlights were Bullzini who walked a very high tightrope across the lake which had everyone watching in awe. The small boy enjoyed the donkey rides, the fabulous storyteller in his caravan, the ice cream from Gingers Comfort Emporium and the vintage boat trip.

A Day At The Lake

Hubs enjoyed exploring the street food stalls and loved the scenery and I really enjoyed the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra Ensemble who played their socks off. I thought the Victorian Bather’s Jugglers were great fun and very brave to be wearing so little given it was raining ice. I enjoyed pottering around the Treacle Market and had I brought more pocket money I’d have filled the car with treasures!

A Day At The Lake

The weather was a bit hit and miss, lovely blue skies followed by dark clouds and heavy rain. Thankfully we dodged the worst of it by taking a boat trip for one heavy shower and having a cuppa in the picnic yurt during the other downpour. It’s an event in the countryside, so it’s always wise to wear wellies and bring a waterproof coat to these things anyway. I don’t think many people minded the weather and almost everyone was dressed for it.

It’s a small site, but there’s plenty to do and explore, plus lots of different street food stalls to enjoy (don’t forget the hog roast up near the Treacle Market which shouldn’t be missed if you enjoy a porky lunch). There’s a new spectacle to enjoy on the hour, every hour from 11am until 8pm and lots to do in between. We had a lovely day out, discovered a very beautiful spot and the boy came home with a head full of aspirations to be a tightrope walker (oh dear).

A Day At The Lake

For the full line-up and tickets visit www.dayatthelake.org.uk.  Follow A Day At The Lake on Facebook and Twitter at #dayatthelake.

A Day At The Lake will take place on 30 April, 1 and 2 May 11am – 9pm at Rudyard Lake, Staffordshire ST13  8XB.

a day at the lake

A Day At The Lake – an Edwardian Adventure

If you’ve ever been to a Wild Rumpus festival or event, you will know that whatever they do, you’re in for a treat. In May this year their latest outdoor family event is taking place – A Day At The Lake which for one weekend only will be at Rudyard Lake in Staffordshire.

A Day At The Lake is a reimagining of the lake in the late 1800s, which was an excursion place for thousands of day trippers who were transported out of their day to day lives by watching spectacular feats and outdoor arts of the age.

a day at the lake

A Day At The Lake promises to be a real treat – with three days filled with spellbinding outdoor arts and astonishing performances. A series of spectaculars on the lake will include a recreation of Carlos Trower, “The African Blondin’s” daring tightrope walk by Bullzini of the Bullzini Family.

On a floating stage on the lake will be showstopping performances from “the finest purveyors of Circus Swing” Gabby Young & Other Animals, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra Ensemble and glorious vintage dry land synchronised swimming routines from Yorkshire Life Aquatic.

On top of all that, A Day At The Lake will also feature…

  • A walkabout performance
  • Storytelling
  • Marching bands
  • Victorian Bather’s Juggling Show
  • Circus sideshows
  • Mesmerising Mermaids
  • Helter Skelter and Swing Boats
  • Rowing boats and boat trips on the lake
  • Donkey and steam train rides along the shore
  • Craft and Vintage shopping at the Treacle Market
  • Street food and local ales

Rudyard Lake is a stunning Staffordshire beauty spot. Known as “the Blackpool of the Potteries” the two and a half mile long lake is located near Leek on the Staffordshire-Cheshire border. This man-made lake was built to supply water to the expanding canal system, and the arrival of the North Staffordshire Railway in 1849 brought day trippers to the lake in droves, leading it to it becoming one of the most popular tourist destinations of the time. Visitors to the lake included John Lockwood Kipling and Alice Macdonald who named their son Rudyard Kipling after the beauty spot where they first met.

a day at the lake

We’ve very excited to be going to A Day at the Lake on the opening day of April 30th. Not only will it be a fantastic Edwardian adventure, but as with all Wild Rumpus events we’ll be talking about it for a long time afterwards too!

Advance tickets cost £14 per adult, £7 per child. Under 3s go free. Admission includes all performances and entertainment with small additional charges for rides and boat trips.

For the full line-up and tickets visit www.dayatthelake.org.uk.  Follow A Day At The Lake on Facebook and Twitter at #dayatthelake.

A Day At The Lake will take place on 30 April, 1 and 2 May 11am – 9pm at Rudyard Lake, Staffordshire ST13  8XB.