Unique festivals, an art tour like no other and Robin Hood's in town – what’s on across Nottinghamshire in March

With Easter on the horizon, March in Nottinghamshire is brimming with things to do. With the first ever Nottingham Puppet Festival and a microfilm festival offering an escape into intriguing narratives, the much-loved Robin Hood Pageant and the return of the art adventure, The Grand Tour, the to do list is overflowing.

The city also welcomes big names; from the homecoming of Jake Bugg, to Matthew 
Bourne’s Cinderella and the much-acclaimed War Horse. Whilst English Tourism Week, 17-25 March, celebrates all that England has to offer to the tourist, visitors to Nottinghamshire are spoilt for choice.

The Grand Tour returns for its third season on 24 March with Chatsworth hosting its first ever artist in residence, Linder Sterling. Working in partnership, Nottingham Contemporary, Chatsworth, Derby Museums and The Harley Gallery, Welbeck bring a ground-breaking example of cultural tourism that aims to showcase the region’s diverse richness of art, architecture and landscape to a new generation of local, national and international visitors.

The Harley Gallery is also showing Circus Work until 15 April. An exhibition documenting Peter Lavery’s five-decade-long project of photographing circuses across Britain and Ireland. These large scale, detailed photographs in both black and white and colour, intimately document the life of an off duty show circus performer.  

The first ever Nottingham Puppet Festival is on its way! From the 22- 25 March there will be an array of opportunities to delve into the intriguing world of puppetry. From a show about The Diabolical Mr Punch in the Malt Cross caves, to the chance to make your own puppets with professional puppeteers, this festival isn’t short on experiences. Don’t miss the grand finale; The Puppet Parade spectacle brings a party to Old Market Square with puppets of all shapes and sizes including a pack of dogs!

Robin Hood fans can immerse themselves in 12th century Nottingham on 10-11 March, exploring the medieval village encampment at Nottingham Castle as the Robin Hood Pageant returns. See if you can shoot an arrow like the man himself, sample medieval delicacies washed down with ale and enjoy the spectacular show of jousting knights and horseback sword fighting. 

On the theme of green: The 19th Annual Nottingham St Patrick’s Day Festival and Parade returns on 17 March. Now the largest St Patrick’s Day celebration in the East Midlands, spectators can enjoy the vibrant atmosphere created by live music, Irish dancers plus live Country and Western music from Erin Thompson and Irish classics, from headline act, The Full Shabang. 

There are two film festivals taking place this month in Nottingham. From 8 to 10 March Nottingham International Microfilm Festival inspired by the success of Microfilm in China, aims to bring to together filmmakers, public audiences and businesses by offering public screenings, masterclasses and networking opportunities.

From 11 March a series of screenings from cult film director John Carpenter will form the National Justice Museum’s first ever film festival, John Carpenter Film Season: Four Films from The Iconic Master of Horror. Showcasing a selection of his best work through the 70s and 80s; expect thrills and chills!