What’s on in the Wakefield district this August Bank Holiday?

With August Bank Holiday quickly approaching, many are starting to plan how we’ll be spending the three-day weekend. The Wakefield district has plenty going on to keep you entertained, from award-winning sculpture and interactive environmental workshops to giant sandpits and corn mazes.
Attractions:

Name: Summer @ Pit at The National Coal Mining Museum
Where: Wakefield
Description: The National Coal Mining Museum, a former working mine which experienced more than 200 years of coal production, is welcoming visitors on to enjoy Summer @ Pit. The museum’s grounds will play host to a giant man-made beach and visitors are invited to discover how miners spent their summer holidays by enjoying the museum’s All the Fun of the Fair exhibition, held on August Bank Holiday weekend. There will also be daily blacksmith demonstrations and traditional seaside games.
Cost: Free
Link: https://www.ncm.org.uk/whats-on/summer-pit-the-grand-day-out

Name: Joana Vasconcelos at Yorkshire Sculpture Park
Where: West Bretton, Wakefield district
Description: The award-winning Yorkshire Sculpture Park is currently housing the UK’s largest ever exhibition by celebrated Portuguese artist Joana Vasconcelos. This exhibition presents a once in a lifetime opportunity to experience Vasconcelos’ stunning sculptures, including Solitário, a seven metre high diamond ring made of car wheel rims and crystal whisky glasses, set against the beautiful backdrop of the 500 acre Bretton estate.
Cost: £6, under 18s go free
Link: https://experiencewakefield.co.uk/event/joana-vasconcelos-beyond/

Name: Barbara Hepworth: Art and Life at The Hepworth Wakefield
Where: Wakefield
Description: To mark The Hepworth Wakefield’s 10th anniversary, the gallery has organised the largest exhibition of Barbara Hepworth’s work since her death in 1975, including private works that have not been on display since the 1970s. The exhibition will present an in-depth view of the acclaimed sculptors life, interests, work and legacy.
Cost: £10-£12, free for Hepworth members, Wakefield residents and under 16s
Link: https://experiencewakefield.co.uk/event/barbara-hepworth-art-life/

Festival of the Earth

The Festival of the Earth is an exciting collection of events, activities and workshops, including breath taking art installations and live theatre performance, taking place across the Wakefield district. The festival will encourage visitors to make positive environmental changes to their daily lives, tackle climate change, and have fun all at the same time. For more information visit: https://experiencewakefield.co.uk/guide/festivaloftheearth/.

Key Festival of the Earth events during August Bank Holiday:

Name: Ithaca: Fire and Ice
Where: WX (the former market hall), Wakefield
Dates: Friday 20th August – Saturday 4th September 2021
Description: A 2-week immersive sound and light installation enabling visitors to experience the dramatic changes already happening to Earth’s climate and the impact of our actions are now making on the planet.
Cost: Free
Link: https://experiencewakefield.co.uk/event/fire-and-ice/

Name: Gaia
Where: Wakefield Cathedral
Dates: Friday 20th August – Monday 30th August 2021, 10am – 4pm
Description: A stunning 7-metre replica of Earth, by artist Luke Jerram, featuring detailed NASA imagery, each centimetre of the internally-lit sculpture represents 18 kilometres of Earth’s surface, allowing visitors to see our planet floating in three dimensions, accompanied by a specially made surround-sound musical composition by BAFTA award winning composer Dan Jones.
Cost: Free
Link: https://experiencewakefield.co.uk/event/gaia/

Name: Science Lab
Where: WX (the former market hall), Wakefield
Dates: Friday 20th August – Saturday 4th September 2021, 10am – 4pm
Description: Wakefield’s former market hall will be transformed into a science lab for families to take part in. The free one hour workshops will engage families in a fun way and highlight environmental issues and the impact of climate change. The hands-on workshops and stunning visuals, combined with enthusiastic workshop facilitators bring the spark that will inspire and engage the next generation of scientists. Suitable for ages 5+. Autism and BSL friendly sessions are run daily.
Cost: Free
Link: https://experiencewakefield.co.uk/event/science-zone/

Other things to do

Name: Corn Maze
Where: Farmer Copleys, Pontefract
Dates: Saturday 31st July – Monday 6th September 2021
Times: Every day from 10:30am
Description: Farmer Copleys has one of the Corn Maize Mazes in Great Britain, with a mini-maze for smaller children and a large maze for all the family to do together. The mazes are interactive, with loads to do including rubbings, games sheets and Maze-0-Vision, plus more activities in the Fun Park for all to enjoy.
Cost: £8 - £10, under 2s go free
Link: https://farmercopleys.co.uk/events/copleys-corn-maze/

For more inspiration on things to do across the Wakefield district, you can visit the Experience Wakefield website: https://experiencewakefield.co.uk. Or get in touch with wakefield@aberfield.com who will be able to provide further information and images, as well as itinerary suggestions.