Rival Arts Blog

The Christmas Fair at Hexham.....

2011-12-02T00:01:00.000-08:00

Once again, Wentworth Leisure Centre Sports Hall was transformed into an indoor marquee..... corridors and ancillary rooms draped..... fairy lights along the ceilings.....everything laid out and ready for the exhibitors to arrive.

And what displays they created too...

So many artistic people....

And fun people too........

Then..... two days of a bustling Christmas Fair....

Comes swiftly back down to Earth again for another year...

A big thank you must go to all the staff at Wentworth Leisure Centre, Hexham for their tremendous work and our wonderful exhibitors for creating such a great Show.

THANK YOU!
Rival Arts

The Christmas Fair @ Hexham 2011....

2011-11-17T11:58:00.000-08:00

This weekend....at Wentworth Leisure Centre, Hexham, Northumberland NE46 3PD

Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th November 2011

Open 10am to 4pm daily

ADMISSION FREE

Casper the spectacled owl will be there to greet you....

Then onwards down the main corridor......into the Ancillary Rooms....... passed the Ten Pin Bowling Alley and on to the Indoor Marquee.

Over 130 diverse exhibitors throughout the Leisure Centre..... combining Food, Gifts, Artists, Photographers and talented Crafters.

The ideal weekend to start your Christmas shopping.....plus

Jungle Jacks children's play area....with Julie our face painter for the weekend.....

The Bowling Alley....

The Swimming Pool.....

and two Cafes providing food and beverages throughout the weekend.

See you there.....

Terrific weekend.....

2011-11-15T09:23:00.000-08:00

Just a fluffy baby at the moment but extremely well behaved and sociable.....Casper the Spectacled Owl greeting visitors to the Durham Christmas Fair at the weekend.

And what a weekend....

Meandering through the light and airy East, West and Link Malls of New College Durham, visitors were able to appreciate over 100 diverse and interesting stands.

Lots of happy exhibitors....

And some extremely, happy exhibitors....SOLD OUT!

A really great weekend was had by everyone.....both visitors and exhibitors.

And don't forget..... Casper and his dapper partner in crime, Chris, will be at The Christmas Fair @ Hexham this weekend..... Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th November 2011.

Further details can be found at www.rivalarts.co.uk

The Christmas Fair @ Durham 2011.....

2011-11-03T13:52:00.000-07:00

The Christmas Fair @ Durham returns for the second year at New College, Durham, DH1 5ES

Saturday 12th November and Sunday 13th November 2011.

Open 10am to 4pm daily

ADMISSION FREE

A Christmas Shopping Mall experience within the main College building, with over 100 diverse exhibitors, incorporating Art, Gifts, Crafts and Food from throughout the United Kingdom.

Ample FREE car parking for 500 cars and refreshments provided by Costa coffee all weekend.

Autumn Fair update....

2011-10-24T05:35:00.000-07:00

Another busy weekend at The Autumn Fair @ Rheged Discovery Centre, Penrith, Cumbria.

Once again a great mix of exhibitors from Cumbria, Lancashire, Yorkshire, Teeside, Tyne and Wear, Northumberland, Scotland.....and even the Isle of Man.

Lovely displays from talented and creative people....

Sarah from Cool Crafting with her craft workshops proved popular with the children over the weekend....

Producing the cutest little owls...

A big thank you to all our exhibitors who never fail to produce a great show....Rival Arts appreciate all your dedication, time and effort.

Rival Arts

The Autumn Fair @ Rheged 2011....

2011-10-05T02:59:00.000-07:00

The Autumn Fair @ Rheged, Penrith, Cumbria returns for the 4th year, on Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd October 2011.

ADMISSION FREE

This year, as well as the diverse mix of Art, Craft, Gift and Food exhibitors, Rival Arts are pleased to introduce Craft workshops to the Autumn Fair.

Run by local girl, Sarah Peel based at Hincaster House, near Kendal, Cumbria...Sarah will be bringing her Cool Crafting ideas to Rheged with drop in sessions and a few timed workshops throughout the weekend.

Timed workshops

SATURDAY

10.30am - 11.30am    Felt Flower corsages
1pm - 2pm               Fabric Owls
3pm - 3.45pm           Button Brooches

SUNDAY

10.30am - 11.30am    Beautiful Rag Rug brooches
12.30pm - 1.30pm     Handmade cards with removable snowflake decoration
2.30pm - 3.30pm       Felt Robins

Sarah will provide all materials and tuition for a small charge..... further details can be found at her website......www.coolcrafting.co.uk

So why not come along to the Autumn Fair and make your own gifts or Christmas presents?
However, if "making" is not your thing..... then there will be great opportunities to buy one off items from our other lovely exhibitors ...... an exhibitor listing can be found at ....www.rivalarts.co.uk

RIVAL ARTS

The Summer Fair at Hexham 2011

2011-08-15T01:08:00.000-07:00

This weekend, Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st August sees the return of the Summer Fair @ Hexham.

Located adjacent to the Tyne Bridge, next to Waitrose and surrounded by the town's large, principal car park, the indoor marquee at Wentworth Leisure Centre will be home to around 100 stands of varied Gifts, Art, Craft and Food throughout the weekend.

Open 10am to 4pm daily......Admission FREE.

The busy market town of Hexham also offers a great day out with your visit to the Summer Fair......Hexham Abbey, Sele Park, The Old Gaol and many other attractions.

Spring Fair @ Rheged 2011...

2011-05-09T01:04:00.000-07:00

The Spring Fair @ Rheged is this weekend....

Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th May 2011....Open daily 10am to 4pm....Admission FREE.

Two Exhibition Halls of Art, Crafts, Gifts and Food will be on display in this popular Visitor Centre just off the M6 motorway, close to the market town of Penrith, Cumbria.

The Rheged Centre will be in full operation with restaurants, shops, cinema and exhibitions throughout the weekend, ensuring a great day out at this popular gateway to the beautiful Lake District.

Click HERE for more information.

To date.... Julie and Claire Myers have raised nearly £2,000 at The Rival Arts Fairs for The Great North Air Ambulance.
A big thank you to all those who have contributed to this essential charity and to which Rival Arts is committed to supporting.

Rival Arts

Easter Fair @ Hexham 2011 pictures....

2011-04-19T03:08:00.000-07:00

The Easter Fair @ Hexham Racecourse was blessed with a beautiful weekend, great for giraffes and birds outside.....

Inside the Grandstand buildings, another great mix of exhibitors.....

Finally...... a lovely old visitor to the Fair on Sunday drew the attention of the men....

A local girl too...

Supplied by Patterson Ford Motor Dealers from Newcastle upon Tyne.....those were the days!

The Easter Fair @Hexham 2011

2011-03-11T00:18:00.000-08:00

With its breathtaking location overlooking Hexham Racecourse and panoramic views of three counties, The Spring Fair at Hexham Racecourse will be held within the Grandstand Exhibition Halls on all three floors.
Visitors will be treated to a diverse display of exhibits with gifts, regional food, crafts, artists and photographers.
Refreshments will be provided all weekend by Ramside caterers.

Located 1 1/2 miles south of Hexham from the Slaley junction of the B6305 ( Battle Hill )
AA signs from the A69 Hexham roundabout.

SAT 16th & SUN 17th APRIL 2011

Open 10am to 4pm daily

ADMISSION FREE

Date releases 2011......

2011-01-28T04:04:00.000-08:00

Confirmed 2011 dates for Rival Arts are as follows.....

SPRING FAIR.........May 14th and 15th 2011 at Rheged Discovery Centre, Penrith, Cumbria

SUMMER FAIR.....August 20th and 21st 2011 at Wentworth Leisure Centre, Hexham, Northumberland

AUTUMN FAIR......October 22nd and 23rd 2011 at Rheged Discovery Centre, Penrith, Cumbria

CHRISTMAS FAIR......November 12th and 13th 2011 at New College, Durham, Co Durham

CHRISTMAS FAIR.....November 19th and 20th 2011 at Wentworth Leisure Centre, Hexham, Northumberland

Bookings for the above Fairs can be made on line HERE

Colin Caygill
Rival Arts

Christmas Fair at New College, Durham - 20th and 21st November 2010.....

2010-12-24T10:15:00.000-08:00

With Ushaw College snow bound and all car parking lost to the elements, the Rival Arts Team pulled off what seemed an impossible task...in just 4 days..... to relocate the Christmas Fair and Snowy to New College Durham. Quite a contrast for everyone.... from the grand historic interior of Ushaw to the state of the art Mall style interior of New College.

It was particularly heartening to receive such a warm stream of positive comments and thanks from the vast majority who were clearly very relieved that the weekend was not completely lost so near to Christmas.

A big thank you to New College too for making the facility available at such short notice.

Colin Caygill and his team wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a big thank you for your support throughout the year which has helped make 2010 our most successful year to date.

Finally, thank you to Claire Myers, her Mum and all who have given so generously to The Great North Air Ambulance Fund...a worthy cause indeed.

The total raised at the two Christmas Fairs is over £1600.

Very Important Notice........VENUE CHANGE DUE TO SNOW......

2010-12-08T03:49:00.000-08:00

Due to snow bound car parks at Ushaw College, a decision was taken yesterday to RELOCATE this weekends forthcoming Art, Craft, Gift and Food Fair from Ushaw College, Durham DH7 9RH to........

New College, Framwellgate Moor Durham DH1 5ES

Due to the extensive amounts of snow around Ushaw College it would have been impossible for exhibitors and visitors to access the building safely.
Therefore, Rival Arts in discussion with everyone concerned at both Ushaw and New College have decided to re-locate the Christmas Fair to the East and West Malls of the impressive Main building at New College, Durham so that the show can go on....

New College is situated just off the A167 /A691 at Framwellgate Moor just 1 mile from the Crossgate Moor junction to Ushaw Moor.
With an extensive free car park, the College will provide light, airy facilities within its Malls and great catering.

All the signage, banners etc for the Christmas Fair have consequently been re-branded and signs will be in place re-directing from Ushaw College. Additional advertising is also in place in local and regional newspapers, as are press releases to local media.

Rival Arts would like to thank New College for making the venue available at such short notice.

Colin Caygill
Director
Rival Arts

The Christmas Fair at Hexham - 20th and 21st November 2010

2010-12-01T09:28:00.000-08:00

A most successful weekend at The Christmas Fair at Wentworth Leisure Centre, Hexham, Northumberland .

Star attraction for chidren and adults was undoubtedly Snowy the Snow Owl from Falconry Days....such a magnificent bird with the most hypnotic eyes!

The Fair wound its way down through the Leisure Centre corridors......

Through the Studio Rooms......

And into the Indoor Marquee.......

Once again, the stallholders put on a tremendous display to create a really great mix of Art, Craft, Gift and Food over the weekend.

Finally one of the art exhibitors...... Claire Myers .......a very talented local artist and her Mum raised over £850 at the Fair for the Great North Air Ambulance

Rival Arts and Claire would like to say a big thank you to all the people of Tynedale and beyond who gave generously to this most worthy of causes.