©Butser Education CIC

Butser Ancient Farm
Site Directed by Butser Education CIC

Events 2010

Entry in the normal way, at the gate, on the day, except for special events, such as Beltain, when details for getting tickets will be published separately nearer the date.

Weekend Events will have the site manned by the Friends and Volunteers of the farm. They will be there to talk to the public, give demonstrations, and lead some of the activities that will run throughout the day.

The Farm is open from 10am - 5pm
Special Events have can have different opening times

Dogs are allowed on site, but must be kept on a lead.

Visitors are welcome to exercise their dogs in the car park and public footpaths are within easy reach.

Please read our Health & Safety Statement

January - February - March - April - May - June - July
August - September - October - November - December

Sat 13th February

Afternoon Event
1pm – 4pm Imbolc.

Join us for a simple meal and a celebration in the great roundhouse as we mark the Celtic festival of Imbolc and start bringing the Farm to life after the winter.

Learn the background to Imbolc, watch the ceremonial fire-lighting and enjoy storytelling and singing.
Ticket price includes a cup of mulled fruit juice and bowl of vegetable stew with bread.

A limited number of tickets are available: Adults £8, Children £6

Evening Event

BUTSER ANCIENT FARM PRESENTS;
AN EVENING OF ROMANTIC ATMOSPHERE

In honour of St Valentine and the Ancient Festival of Imbolc
in Aid of the people of Haiti

The Loving Cup

£15 Per Person

Hot tarts and drinks Local musicians and poets
The Glory Boys * Mr Kamikaze Acoustic * Edwin Brooks * Mr Squeezy & more
7 pm til 10 pm

   

March

 

   
Sat 3rd April – Mon 5th April

Easter weekend.

Whilst the Volunteers start readying the site for the festival of Beltain, come along to take part in a chick hunt around the Farm.

   
 

 

Sat 1st May  Beltain - the First Day of Summer

A great festival for the whole family.

No Concessions

This years Beltain event will open earlier and provide even more entertainment, whilst the wicker man design will pay homage to the classic film in honour of Edward Woodward.

Sat 29th – Mon 31st May.

Fire!

Our first Open Weekend of the year will bring a wide variety of activities and demonstrations using fires for cooking, heating and technology. Have a go at fire-lighting through to helping with metal smelting.

   
Sat 26th – Sun 27th June.

Celts.

This Open Weekend explores the Celtic way of life and will include the chance to try your hand with the bows of the Atlatl Society.

   
Sat 31st July – Sun 1st August.


Saturday and Sunday 10.00-5.00
Helping us to mark the Celtic festival of Lughnasa we will have the re-enactment group The Vicus with us all weekend, demonstrating things from crafts through to weapons display.

Normal charges apply.

Extra...

* Saturday Night Stomp*
Special Evening Lughnasa celebration on
Sat 31st July - 7pm to 10pm
With Feckless Ceilidh Band and hog roast included in your pre-ordered ticket price.
Bar & shop.

Adults £10, children £8.
Tickets for sale in advance.
Last ticket postal sales on Wed 28th July.
Please click here for booking form
Or call 02392 598838

Tickets will be for sale on the night, but because of pre-ordering the hog roast, food will not be included in the price.

No alcohol to be brought on site.
No dogs or other animals to be brought on site.
You may like to bring a chair / picnic rug with you.

Extra...

Sunday 1st August
As part of the weekend event Dr David Sim will be giving a presentation on the Experimental testing of Ancient Weapons to explain how experimental archaeology was used to determine the effectiveness of weapons and armour.
Dr Sim will look at the Faix ; the Dacian battle scythe.When the faix was first encountered by the Roman army, it caused devastating wounds to the legionaries. To combat this weapon, the Roman army re-equipped their soldiers. This talk deals with the making of a faix and how it was tested on reconstructions of Roman armour. Both faix and armour will be available to look at after the talk.

1 hour. Cost £5.00 (in addition to normal site entrance cost)
Bookable in advance.

   
 Sat 7th – Sun 8th August.

Lithics.

The Lithics Studies group will be holding their annual get-together at Butser throughout the weekend, offering some opportunities to see a number of skilled knappers at work.

Sunday 8th August

A Roman Day
Come to the farm for a day concentrating on the Romans.
In the morning starting at 10.30am, Dr David Sim will give a lecture on the Arms and Armour of the Roman Army. This will cover the tactics, weapons, equipment and training of a Roman legionary in the second century. Examples of equipment will be used in the lecture and will be available for participants to handle afterwards in an informal question and answer session.
During the afternoon there will be a guided lecture tour of the Roman villa at the farm, based on a villa excavated at Sparsholt near Winchester. This will give participants the chance to imagine home life for people living approximately 1700 years ago.

10.30am – 4.00 pm Cost - £30.00 per person
Special offer £50.00 for two
Please bring a picnic lunch

Booking essential

Sat 28th – Mon 30th August.

Romans.

Amongst the many attractions will the Roman cooking of Sally Grainger and workshops where for a small charge you can be guided by mosaics artist Joanna Dewfall to make an item to take home with you.

   
Sat 25th – Sun 26th September.

Food.

During this Open Weekend Butser will be making and cooking various foods for you to try if you dare!

   
October


29th October (Evening)

Samhain Celebrations
(Festival of the Dead)

29th October only!
Evening Event 7.00-9.30pm

£10.00 no concessions

Story telling, and live band in the Great Roundhouse.

Followed by a Bonfire.
( Bring a piece of wood to put on the Bonfire)

Important!
Limited number of places!
Please ring 023 9259 8838 during office hours for availability and booking of tickets.

-Extras-
Soup & a Roll, Hot drinks, Bar, Fortune Telling, Apple Bobbing

-Safety-
We are a 'Dark Site' so bring lanterns/torches.
Children must be accompanied at all times.

   
December

Tales of Winter Magic
1.30-3.30pm

Book in advance
Child £7.50 Adult £5.00

Stories with Red Phoenix in the Great Roundhouse around the fire to celebrate the Winter Solstice.

Make and take something home for Christmas.

Children get a present to take home.

Refreshments will be available.