Bank Holiday’s for us are normally spent with as many of the kids as possible, normally visiting local fete’s and festivals but this year has been different for a few reasons.
Due to the nature of Hubby’s work he has to work bank holiday weekends and I was hopeful he would get this one off work so I could attend Blog On in Manchester which fell on Sunday. Thankfully he managed to get the Sunday off work so Abbey looked after Eliza and Isaac on Saturday afternoon, taking them to the cinema to see Jungle Book and Sebastian got to play round Nanny’s House.
Hubby was torn between what to do on Sunday as two events we all enjoy were both on at the same time. In the end he decided to do both.
The morning was filled with innuendo and fun at the Dorset Knob Throwing festival in Cattistock. Before you think I am going mad, a Dorset knob is a hard dry savoury biscuit made from bread dough which contains extra sugar and butter. They are rolled and shaped by hand and as well as being delicious with some artisan cheese, they are great for playing comical sports with.
Alongside the traditional Knob Throwing there are additional fun knob attractions including Knob Eating, Knob Painting, Splat the Knob, a Knob & Spoon Race, Guess the weight of the Big Knob, Knob Darts and a Knob Pyramid. The kids (and Hubby) enjoyed trying their hand at some of the games as well as exploring the stands in the Frome Valley Food Festival which runs alongside it, with a chance to sample, taste and buy foods including breads, cheeses, ciders, meats, game, poultry, pies and much more.
Once they had their fill of games they headed to Lyme Regis for the annual Fossil Festival. In the last few years the kids have thoroughly the Fossil Festival which had been set in a large Marquee on Lyme Regis beach. This year it was set back from the promenade next to the Museum and the Theatre, in 3 tents, inside the Theatre itself and in the Hub and it wasn’t as enjoyable as the kids found it frustrating moving from tent to tent as it broke up the continuity for them.
Isaac and Eliza had both been looking forward to recreating Dinosaur footprints which they have done in previous years but sadly that was not there either but they did find some exhibits to get stuck in to including making clay pictures and playing Jurassic Twister.
In the last two years we have got up close and personal with Horace the Pliosaur but this year there was a new dinosaur in town – ‘Iggy’ The Iguanadon Restaurant street theatre. The show illustrates how significant fossils found in the 19th century led to theories of extinction and evolution and challenged long-held beliefs. Pigs will fly out of pies and blancmanges will explode in the Iguanodon Restaurant!
The kids also got up close and personal with fossils, bones and other creatures. Eliza astounded one man with her knowledge of caterpillar’s and their metamorphosis into butterflies as she has been studying them at school. Of course being in Lyme Regis, there had to be a beach stop too.
On Bank Holiday Monday itself we didn’t venture too far from home as I arrived home a midnight after a busy Blog On and road closures on the way home, choosing to venture to our local village fete and Donkey Derby.
The field was packed full of things to do with Bric-a-Brac stalls, challenges, local produce and of course a bouncy castle slide and children’s fairground rides.
The highlight of the day was the actual Donkey Derby, with several races which you could bet on and laugh along with the riders. There were a few fallers, none were injured, and they all gallantly remounted their trusty steed to get to the finish line.
It may not have been a conventional family bank holiday weekend, but we all made the best of it and the kids had great fun!
I sure remember you guys doing the Dorset Knob thingy before 🙂 So great that he did both events. And lovely it meant you were free to go to Manchester. So you didn’t do Winchester then no?
Amazing that Blog On had SUCH a great turnout considering it was the bank holiday weekend. You all looked like you were having a riot. I virtually followed it all on Instagram and everyone looked so happy. HollyBobbs video of the day is superb xx
My other half usually has to work bank holidays too, something which I really hate. It’s great that you all managed to have a fun-filled bank holiday.
I’m exhausted just reading that, what a lot you all managed to fit in. It looks like good fun, I particularly like the knob festival. It’s great you managed a trip to the beach too.
Dorset knob throwing? I admit I’ve never heard that before… But I’m always up for trying out something new. Would love to also go to the Fossil Festival especially since I really enjoyed our camping trip out in Lyme Regis. x
I love the Dorset knob throwing festival! It’s ace what traditions rural areas have. A place I visit in Gloucester does cheese rolling! (down a hill!)
You’ve managed to fit so much in over the bank holiday. We went to the local may fair on Monday and also did a bit spring cleaning.
So glad the kids had fun. I must admit to never having heard of the Knob Throwing festival, but am glad you managed to do so many enjoyable knob-related things…
What a fantastic bank holiday weekend! Packed full of great activities! Love the knob throwing! ;D
Knob throwing does sound fun! Looks like you had a great time at the Donkey Derby – what a brilliant weekend! x
I’ve never heard of knob throwing but now I really want to go – just so I can tell everyone! 😀
Lol to the knob throwing!!! We live near Stilton where they do cheese rolling which I thought was odd when we moved here. The Fossils looked great, I know mine would have loved that.
Looks like you all had an amazing day out. I have family in the Isle of Man and they make a hard sweet there called Manx Knobs. Always produces a laugh when you bring a pack back as a gift 😉
I adore the idea of knob throwing, in fact it really cheered me up. Want a fab time you all had.
It sounds like a really fun packed bank holiday weekend.
Right, I want to be able to say I’ve thrown a knob so guess where I’ll be next year?! I love that you mentioned a fossil festival as well. My girls would love that. We have a house full of fossils!
Knob throwing seems fun. Love bank holidays and they are the best when spent with family.
Knob throwing seems fun. Love bank holidays and they are the best when spent with family.
What a full on Bank Holiday Weekend for you all. It sounds like betting to blog On required plenty of organizing, just as well you have family around to help. All the activities look fun and how wonderful for you to know the kids were getting to them all even if you weren’t there. I love the look of the Donkey Darby, that looks such fun for riders and watchers. Thank you for sharing your unconventional but action packed weekend with me on #CountryKids
Must get back to your part of the world, loved Lyme Regis as a kid. We have Cock on a Stick at the Goose Fair in Nottingham, we should do a round up of knob themed events 😉 Looks FAB! #countrykids
Gosh you packed a lot in. I love the Dorset Knob 🙂 It’s also great that you have so much close to home. #CountryKids
That looks like a brilliant weekend!
I want to do some knob throwing now 😉
I have still never made it to the knob throwing festival – honestly as a Dorset girl born and bred that is bad isn’t it!
Knob throwing definitely peaked my interest, I think any time spent with family is the best time unconventional or otherwise.
Dorset has some seriously fun events! You live in a great country for interesting traditions and events!!
looks like the children had a fantastic weekend, we were hoping to go to the fossil festival but didnt make it this year, although we do have some fossil hunting lined up for later in the summer.
Aww, what a great weekend! Did you have a good time at Blog On? I really wanted to attend… It’s quite amazing how much you managed to fit into 3 days! x