Pageant of Light 2008 - a breeze.

Sunday. Celebrating the passing of British summertime this year saw the Valley Gardens lit up once again with a procession of music and light following Mr Toad and his friends from The Wind in the Willows. Refreshments were available from the Tea Rooms courtesy of the Saltburn WI.

In times past the Pleasure Grounds were illuminated with lights and concerts were performed at the garden bandstand with the NER providing special late night trains for the occasion.

Fireworks! A license to thrill...

Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council has invested in a licence to thrill for its spectacular Fireworks Night display on The Stray at Redcar on Wednesday, November 5.
The display, featuring 15,000 aerial fireworks, will be fired off in a secure area on The Stray car park, starting at 7.30pm, against a background of eight James Bond film music scores.
Organiser Steve Illidge, director of Highlight Pyrotechnics, explained: "In the opening sequence, we've got several litres of petrol ejected into the air on fire, creating large rolling balls of flame fired in time to the 007 theme. When we play From Russia With Love, there will be huge red hearts appearing in the sky whilst thousands of pink comets are fired over 30 metres into the night sky it fits beautifully with the tempo of the track. The final flourish is Live and Let Die one of the best tracks for fireworks - and the final salvo is made up from hundreds of brocade shells which will turn the entire sky to silver!"
Other featured soundtracks in the 25-minute display are On Her Majesty's Secret Service, Thunderball, Diamonds Are Forever, Goldfinger, Casino Royale and the latest Bond, Quantum of Solace.
A stretch of the Coast Road will be closed to traffic from 5pm, reopening at approximately 9pm. The Council is organising a free park and ride bus service from the Majuba Road car park, with four 26-seater minibuses starting a shuttle service from 6pm.
This years Skinningrove Bonfire will celebrate the Mining Museums 25th anniversary, the mines closure 50 years ago and its opening 125 years ago. Organisers plan to build a bonfire that depicts a pony coming out of the mine, pulling trucks. And there are plans for a brass band and a folk group, singing traditional mining songs. The celebrations will start at 6.30pm on Wednesday, November 5. The Council's Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Tourism Councillor Sheelagh Clarke said: "Every year the Fireworks Display on The Stray at Redcar gets better and more and more people choose to enjoy this spectacular event rather than have their own bonfire parties. Skinningrove's Bonfire in the Mining Museums 25th anniversary year will be very special, providing family entertainment alongside the firework celebrations. Parents appreciate this is the safest way to enjoy Guy Fawkes night and this year promises to be the best ever for both events."
Saltburn Cricket Club holds it's own event on the cricket club grounds.

Pageant of Light 2008

Saltburn is ready to celebrate the end of British Summer Time with its annual Pageant of Light, themed this year to the classic children's tale of Wind In The Willows, through Saltburn Valley on Sunday, October 26.
Hundreds of people are expected to join the procession of music and light, through the Valley, which will set off from the Cat Nab car park at 5.30pm, reaching the Woodland Centre at about 7.30pm.
There will be some spectacular sights along the way, including fire sculptures and juggling and scenes from Wind in the Willows, acted out by members of Saltburn 53 Society - look out for Mr Toad in his car, riding along the miniature railway track.
The Council's Leader Councillor George Dunning, with the Cabinet portfolio for Rural Affairs, said: "The Pageant has become a marvellous community event for all the family and I'm sure this year's procession will be a wonderful evening out for young and old. When the public arrive at the car park, they will be guided to the start of the procession. Entry will be £1 - or three tickets for £2, with under fives free. Tickets will be available from the Woodland Centre until 4pm on Sunday, October 26, then can be purchased at the start. All the proceeds go to the Friends of Saltburn Valley to fund next year's Pageant.
Everyone is urged to bring a torch - or they can make a lantern at a special craft session in the Valley's Woodland Centre before the event on Sunday, from 1pm-3pm. Booking is essential. The fee is £1.50.Children have already been busy at a Mask and Willow workshop in the Woodland Centre, making colourful masks and lanterns and there is another craft session on Sunday, October 19, from 2pm-4pm. Booking is essential. The fee is £1.50.
The recently-refurbished Tea Rooms will be open from 10am and there will be a special offer of a cup of tea and a cake for 50p from 6pm provided by the Saltburn Women's Institute.For more details, contact Saltburn Valley Woodland Centre on 01287 622408.