Fakenham Film Festival looks to the future Following a series of sellouts and positive feedback Fakenham Film Festival is looking to be even more ambitious in 2025. This year featured films with a connection to North Norfolk with some short films by local filmmakers and others featuring Fakenham. Festival organiser, Richard Crook from Active Fakenham which led the partnership that put on the festival said, “It has exceeded our expectations. We have had two full houses and the other two days were very well attended. We have shown what a great and affordable venue the Central Cinema Fakenham is and showcased some of the talent in the town as well as its charm. Cinema and film is part of Fakenham’s history and its future. I have been contacted by a broad range of people from the film world. As a result we are looking at what we should do for Fakenham Film Festival 25. We expect to have some exciting news, and will make an announcement, early in 2025. Jonathan Wroot, Senior Lecturer in Film Studies, University of Greenwich (and Norwich Resident) “It is so great to hear about, and buy a ticket, for a new film festival in our home county. Fakenham Film Festival had an entertaining mix of short films and features in its first year, in a great venue. Long may it continue”

First night sells out!

Its great to be back. Organisers of the 2024 Rid North Norfolk are looking forward to the popular non competitive cycle ride on Sunday 25 th August. This is a great opportunity for locals and visitors to get on a bike for a supported fun ride no matter their level of fitness. This popular community organised cycle event is back on Sunday the 25 th of August. The cycle ride is a supported non-competitive ride with the routes clearly marked, emergency back-up and feed stations around the routes. Organiser, Richard Crook said, “This year’s routes range through 15, 25, 36, 51, 64 (100km) and 102 miles. We are aware of the cost of living crisis, and we are proud that we have been able to maintain the low price of entry because we are a community ride. Rides start from just £4. You can enter through the Active Fakenham website. The entry includes, An enjoyable community day out Easy to follow signage on all routes Free drinks and nutrition, including our popular homemade flapjack Free photos A medal when you finish Free draw string goodie bag on arrival Map, GPX /Garmin files Mobile mechanic and breakdown support Rescue service Our local knowledge and experience First aid at the Community Centre A social event at the Community Centre and garden including food, barbecue with local produce, live music and stalls that is open to all including music by Anto Morra and others.. People on the ride may be photographed and/or filmed at this event. You will register through the British Cycling website who provide our insurance, but you do not need to be a member. Entry is now open just search the “Active Fakenham” website or social media. More information from richard@activefakenham.org.uk of on the Active Fakenham website and social media.

It’s looking good for the ever popular Fakenham’s annual Riverside Festival on Sunday 16 th June. The event is held near the town centre by the beautiful river Wensum. It includes the Great Fakenham Duck Race2024, the Giant Sponsored Duck Race, carboard raft races and a field of fun with bouncy castles, free facepainting, stalls, live music, an exercise area and food. New this year is the arena with fun and games, exercise and dance for everyone to join in with. Organiser Richard Crook from Active Fakenham, said, “ The response has been great. We have forty one individually decorated giant ducks sponsored by local businesses and we will have the very popular Great Fakenham Duck Race with ducks at only one pound. Going by previous years I am expecting some interesting cardboard rafts and some spectacular manoeuvres and capsizes. This year we are thrilled to have Platten Fitness and the Fakenham Sports and Fitness Centre running some fun sessions including a tug of war, on the field so bring your trainers or maybe take part in your wellies! We are also very pleased to have the talented Anto Morra back by popular demand to provide some live music. We keep everything low cost and as accessible and fun as possible. The facepainting is free, the inflatables are only £5 for a whole day wristband and some free wristbands have been donated to schools It is still not too late to build and enter your own carboard raft or for businesses to decorate and sponsor a giant duck” Any profits go to the events Active Fakenham organises in the town throughout the year and a donation will be made to local charity Fakenham First Focus.” Richard added, “This is a great opportunity for businesses which get to promote themselves, as well as helping the town and having some fun.” There is no parking on site, but free parking is available in Olivet Way. The nearest toilets are a ten minute walk. Ducks will be on sale for £1.00 on the day and on the Fakenham market on Thursday 13 th June. The event in Goggs Mill Road runs from 10.00 until 2.30pm. Details are on the Active Fakenham website and social media.

The 2024 Fakenham Riverside Community Day will return on Sunday 16th June. An exciting and fun day with the Great Fakenham Duck Race, the popular Cardboard Raft Races and the Giant Sponsored Duck Race, with ducks sponsored and decorated by local businesses.. As well as the races there will be stalls, hot food, tea, cakes and bouncy castles. New this year will be free, fun based mini burst pop up join in activities. It is set just a few hundred metres from the town centre next to the beautiful river Wensum. Entry is free and people are welcome to bring a picnic. Ducks are only one pound, and the bouncy castles are five pounds for an all-day wrist band. The day kicks off at 10.00am with a display of the cardboard rafts built by local people where the best dressed raft will be judged. There is a chance to check out the bouncy castles and stalls. The rafts take to the water at around 11. 00. The raft races will be followed by the giant sponsored duck race at 12.30 with the ducks on display beforehand when more judging will take place. The Great Fakenham Duck Race will start at 1.00 pm . Ducks will be on sale on the day. As well as cash prizes for the winners there will be spontaneous prizes awarded for ducks that struggling or just popular with the crowd. There will be hot and cold food, a Hog Roast, vegetarian food, stalls run by local organisations and the bouncy castles will charge a single £5 fee for all day access . . There will be strong coffee, hot food and cake for wilting adults

Active Fakenham’s Easter Funday and races is going from strength to strength. Despite the rain, runners, riders and spectators turned out to enjoy the town centre Easter event. Nearly five hundred people took part in the mornings runs with ages ranging from under two years old to over eighty. Three fast and exciting official British Cycling circuit races continued in wet conditions through the afternoon. Richard Crook, from Active Fakenham which organised the event said, “ we had record numbers for the runs, which were good natured, inclusive and fun. We had a 5K race, a 1K Funrun and a Toddle’n’Trike for the under five years olds.” The cycle racers reached speeds of around thirty five miles and hour despite the often difficult and testing conditions. “We have been organising this event since 2026 and this attracted people from as far away as Bristol and Birmingham, mostly it was for local people, and we kept the cost down as well as giving some free places to local children. We gave away over three hundred Easter eggs, medals and goody bags to the children who took part. It was a community event, and I would like to thank the many volunteers that gave up much of their Easter Sunday, we had over fifty people out helping on the day. We were also supported by local businesses.

Fakenham is again hosting its annual Easter day of racing for all ages. An exciting day to join in with or to just enjoy the spectacle from one of the local cafes or pubs which adjoin the circuit. The morning is for runners of all ages and abilities and is followed by an afternoon of exciting Criterium cycle road racing. Roads in the town centre are closed for the day as Fakenham plays host to some of the best racing in the region. There is serious racing but also many people join for the personal challenge. The 5 K run is followed by a Fun Run which is particularly popular with children, but also many adults take part. There is even a Toddle’n’Trike for the little ones. Every child participating is given a drawstring goody bag with chocolate and fruit, and of course all runners get a medal for completing the course. There are prizes and trophies for the winners. In the afternoon lightning fast Criterium cycle racing takes place on the one kilometre circuit. Each race lasts forty or fifty minutes so spectators get to see the riders many times. Riders reach speeds of nearly 40mph. Spectators, friends and family can cheer on participants as they ride, sprint, jog or walk round the course. There will be commentary and stalls with food and more. The town centre will be closed to traffic for the day,(8.00am to 6.00pm) The runs and cycle races are official UK Athletics and British Cycling events, and are run under their rules. Richard Crook, from Active Fakenham said, “We are thrilled to bring this popular event back to the town. We try to make it exciting for everyone whether they are joining in or just watching and cheering. This annual event has been going since 2016 and we have had runners in their 80s and cyclists as young as two. Criterium cycle racing is an exciting spectacle as the riders pass close to spectators and because it’s a small circuit can be seen many times during the race. Like all Active Fakenham events we keep prices low and its free to watch. We are particularly proud of our women’s criterium race which has attracted top riders from across the country and beyond but also gives the opportunity for all levels of women riders to take part.” Organisers would like to thank in advance the many people who make this happen and also apologise for any inconvenience for the roads that need to be closed. Registration is now open, and details are on the Active Fakenham website. Numbers of entries are limited but there are likely to be places available on the day. . Notes 1. Photos are available from Active Fakenham richard@activefakenham.org.uk 2. More information from Richard Crook richard@activefakenham.org.uk 07887 803091

Active Fakenham Criterium Races 31 March 2024 See race results HERE Entries are open on the day for all races

The Easter Sunday Funday includes our 5K and 1K runs , our Toddle’n’Trike event and our Criterium races We will be taking entries on the day if the races are not full. We currently have spaces for all races There will be stalls in the town centre and viewing, food and drinks around the course See a video of our Easter event HERE People of all ages and abilities join for a fun day of being active. Many of our participants dress up for the event; you never know who may make an appearance. This family-friendly event has competitive and non-competitive events for all. We hope to see you all there! This is now the timetable for 31st March 2024 8.00am Road Closure (set up) 10.30am Running Race 5k (UK Athletics) 11.30am Town Easter Fun Run 1k (UK Athletics) Fancy dress optional 12.15pm Toddle’n’Trike (under 5s) 1pm Circuit open for riders’ warm up 1.30pm Criterium Senior (16+ ) Cat 4 Regional C+ Cat 3 (40 mins). 2.30pm Criterium Women’s E/1/2/3/4 (45 mins) 3.30pm Criterium Senior (16+) E/1/2/3 National B, (50 mins) 7.00pm Roads reopen. See the Criterium and Running pages for more details and to sign up See our Facebook event Both runs and rides are official UK Athletics and British Cycling events and are run under their rules. ✿ ☀ ♫