Weekend Picks: What's on in the Midlands this weekend

• Racing Weekend: Sat 9th - Sun 10th April (Donington Park, Derby)

Donington Park will host a huge schedule of 48 races this weekend from the British Motorcycle Racing Club.

More than 380 riders are expected to compete across the two day event with 24 races scheduled with each series competing four times across the weekend. Events kicks off from 9am on both days and tickets can be purchased upon arrival.

For prices, opening times and more information visit: www.donington-park.co.uk

• 2Q Festival: Sat 9th April (Derby)

A brand new multi-venue, live music festival will take place this weekend in the heart of Derby.

2Q festival will see six centrally located venues including The Guildhall Theatre, The Old Bell Hotel, The Venue, The Hairy Dog, Bar One and Vines host a mix of big name headliners and emerging talent. Organisers are hopeful the festival will showcase Derby as an emerging and valued music destination.

Head-line acts confirmed include Reverend and the Makers, Little Comets, We are the Ocean, Lucy Spraggan, Rolo Tomassi and James Walsh of Starsailor.

“The event has been 10 months in the planning, and while we are initially keeping the number and geography of the venues relatively small to test the water, if the event is a success, we will stage it annually and involve more venues and parts of the City in future years” - Martin Ridgeway, Festival Spokesman

For prices, opening times and more information visit: http://www.2qfestival.co.uk/

• The Ornamental Kitchen Garden: Sat 9th - Sun 10th April (Barnsdale Gardens, Rutland)

Gardeners keen to learn more techniques can join horticultural adviser, writer and speaker Mike Thurlow for a course this weekend at Barnsdale Gardens.

The course will cover in-depth theory with hands-on practical tips leaving participants with knowledge of how to grow fruit, flowers and vegetables.

Visitors will also learn how to make the best use of a smaller plot to create a colourful and productive area.

For prices, opening times and more information visit: http://www.barnsdalegardens.co.uk/

• Cars & Coffee Breakfast Club: Say 9th April (Millennium Place, Coventry City Centre)

Classic car and motorcycle owners can visit Coventry Transport Museum this weekend to display their cars at the Cars & Coffee Breakfast Club.

Visitors can mingle with other vehicle owners over a cuppa and a pastry. The Cars & Coffee event will take place once a month during the Summer.

“Visitors will have the chance to speak to the owners and learn a little more about these beautiful vehicles, and whilst there can take a trip into the museum for an even bigger selection of transport” - Stevie Fisher, Culture Coventry

For prices, opening times and more information visit: www.transport-museum.com

• Vintage Fair: Sun 10th April (Market Hall Museum, Warwick)

This Sunday St John’s Museum is inviting visitors to its vintage fair. There’ll be stalls throughout the museum selling clothes, jewellery, homeware and crafts.

There’s even a chance to visit the pop up parlour to receive a vintage-inspired makeover and hairdo.

“We are looking forward to welcoming lots of regular and new visitors to this return of this popular event” - Rowan Fisher, Learning and Community Engagement Officer

For prices, opening times and more information visit: http://heritage.warwickshire.gov.uk/

• Antique and Collectors Fair: Sat 9th - Sun 10th April (British Motor Museum, Gaydon)

This weekend the newly branded British Motor Museum is hosting the first of its events for the year.

An indoor fair will run on Saturday and Sunday with a variety of stallholders from the world of antiques and collectables. Organisers say there’ll be thousands of items to suit most tastes and budgets, from Victorian and Vintage and Regency and Retro.

For prices, opening times and more information visit:

https://www.britishmotormuseum.co.uk/events/the-antique-and-collectors-fair

• Wild Walk for all the family: Sun 10th April (Anglian Water Birdwatching Centre, Rutland Water Nature Reserve)

Explore Rutland Water Nature Reserve this weekend and learn about some of the very special wildlife.

Suitable for the whole family, the wild walk will begin at Anglian Water Birdwatching Centre, where participants will meet their and begin the journey of nature discovery.

Visitors are asked to come prepared for a couple of hours in the British countryside – suitable sturdy walking shoes/boots or wellies and appropriate clothing are essential. Binoculars can be hired on arrival at the Anglian Water Birdwatching Centre.

For prices, opening times and more information visit: https://www.rutlandwater.org.uk/events/wild-walk-for-all-the-family-2/

• Origins of Middle-Earth Walk: Sun 10th April (Sarehole Mill, Birmingham)

Discover how Sarehole Mill inspired J.R.R. Tolkien’s mythical setting of middle-earth.

Visitors are invited to join a guided walk and talk through Sarehole Mill and its surrounding areas this weekend.

The mill, only one of two surviving watermills in Birmingham, was an area where J.R.R. Tolkien spent much of his childhood exploring.

“The Mill, and nearby Moseley bog later became inspiration for his (J.R.R. Tolkien’s) Lord of the Rings books, so it’s wonderful to be able to explore the area and learn about how these surroundings inspired Tolkien in his later work.” - Wayne Dixon, Museum Team Manager at Sarehole Mill

For prices, opening times and more information visit: www.birminghammuseums.org.uk/sarehole/whats-on/origins-of-middle-earth-walk