For the fourth time, Bristol's Baldwin Street was made pedestrianised for the day today, making way for ping pong, chess, musicians, circus skills, superhero fancy dress, hula hooping, rock climbing, food, sofas, and much more. Starting in June, Bristol Mayor George Ferguson's idea has definitely taken off, with different talents and charities being showcased and displayed, encouraging generosity and appreciation.
The sun was out on this late September afternoon, and it was just as well as I'm not sure this free event can't work half as well in the rain. We started our walk down Baldwin Street from Bristol Bridge where a road sign said 'ROAD CLOSED' and another sign said 'Road open for people!'.
The first thing we came to was a 'PING PONG PARLOUR' where, as you may have guessed, numerous ping pong tables were set up for anyone and everyone whatever their ability to come and play. Bristol has seen a lot of ping pong this summer, not just on the 'Make Sunday Special' Sundays. Tables have been scattered across the city centre, including Bristol's Bear Pit, by the fountains, and also on College Green.
The first thing we came to was a 'PING PONG PARLOUR' where, as you may have guessed, numerous ping pong tables were set up for anyone and everyone whatever their ability to come and play. Bristol has seen a lot of ping pong this summer, not just on the 'Make Sunday Special' Sundays. Tables have been scattered across the city centre, including Bristol's Bear Pit, by the fountains, and also on College Green.
Further on from that we came across long benches of chess games. I spoke to the man looking after the chess area, who told me it was run by an organisation called Chess in Schools and Communities (CSC) who use the finding that kids perform better academically if they play chess, as their inspiration. It was then that I realised that all these 'stations' within Make Sundays Special were generally run by charities and or initiatives with a good cause.
Further along a man asked me if I had had an accident lately, to which I replied that I hadn't. He promptly threw a banana skin in front of me, to my surprise! Throughout the rest of the event I saw him theatrically throw banana skins in front of random passers by, who looked back at him alarmed. Him and his comical partner were there representing the First Aid Emergency Services. At one point I saw them running around after a pregnant woman making like they were ready to catch her baby at any moment, to the woman's great amusement. Later, one pretended a passer by had stepped on his toe and went about rolling on the floor, to which his partner came along and began mime kicking him on the floor (below right). It was all pretty humerous.
You soon realise at this event that everything is theatrical. Superhero adults ran past us at one point, followed by a scurry of superhero kids darting about the place. A puppet old lady in a mobility scooter zipped about barking at people in a grumpy-old-lady type way in a high-pitched scouse accent (below left).
Further along a man asked me if I had had an accident lately, to which I replied that I hadn't. He promptly threw a banana skin in front of me, to my surprise! Throughout the rest of the event I saw him theatrically throw banana skins in front of random passers by, who looked back at him alarmed. Him and his comical partner were there representing the First Aid Emergency Services. At one point I saw them running around after a pregnant woman making like they were ready to catch her baby at any moment, to the woman's great amusement. Later, one pretended a passer by had stepped on his toe and went about rolling on the floor, to which his partner came along and began mime kicking him on the floor (below right). It was all pretty humerous.
You soon realise at this event that everything is theatrical. Superhero adults ran past us at one point, followed by a scurry of superhero kids darting about the place. A puppet old lady in a mobility scooter zipped about barking at people in a grumpy-old-lady type way in a high-pitched scouse accent (below left).
This was my first trip to Make Sundays Special, and it was a brilliantly relaxed atmosphere of the quirky, creative, and unexpected. There's something for everyone, unless you're not a fan of the outdoors, or mild crowds. Generally, though, it wasn't too crowded, and if there were crowds, it generally meant there was something to see.
One particularly large crowd formed around a group of about 6 twenty-something men playing brass instruments, one man playing a box (drum) and tapping his foot rhythmically against a tambourine, and another playing the accordian. It was brilliant (below right and top right) and very unique, making everyone around them tap their feet and jig about in time to the music.
Corn Street (almost parallel to Baldwin Street) was lined with food stalls from Jamaican Jerk Chicken, to Spanish Paella, and led into St. Nicholas Market which was even more densely lined with clothes, and artsy stalls than normal. Make Sunday Special has clearly expanded to include more than just Baldwin Street, and every side street off both the main street and Corn Street had something intriguing down it. Our ears pricked up to the sound of blues and we took the side street through St. Nick's Market to find a band outside the Seamus O'Donnell's pub of very talented sixty-something men playing. The band's playlist went from blues to Rolling Stones, and encouraging others of that musical era to move and jive along to it. One couple - probably in about their sixties - really got into this, clearly transported back to their youth by The Persuaders' talent, the man occasionally breaking into an imaginary air guitar solo as the music played out. I'm sure you'll find him on YouTube (I spied a young man filming them).
This is a great idea for a monthly event, I take my hat off to you, Mr. George Ferguson! But will I need to get my umbrella out for the next few months' Make Sundays Special, or is this event best kept to the summer? Looking on the Bristol City Council website, the only listed dates are today's and October 20th. So does that mean the official winter months wont see Baldwin Street closed to traffic again, or have the dates just not been finalised yet? I suspect that this event would be quite tricky in the rain, and would allow for far less freedom, and probably less sofas unfortunately too. A shame, but practical I suppose.
Also a shame was that things seemed to be winding down at about 3pm, though the event is listed to run until 4pm. Some food stalls had sold out, and were even disposing of left-overs, and 'stations' within the event appeared to be packing away. It was great while it lasted, though, and definitely caters amazingly for kids, but not exclusively - so head down with some mates and join in the fun!
What did you think of the event? Is it a great idea, or is it just annoying for traffic systems in Bristol? Feel free to comment below and share your thoughts!
One particularly large crowd formed around a group of about 6 twenty-something men playing brass instruments, one man playing a box (drum) and tapping his foot rhythmically against a tambourine, and another playing the accordian. It was brilliant (below right and top right) and very unique, making everyone around them tap their feet and jig about in time to the music.
Corn Street (almost parallel to Baldwin Street) was lined with food stalls from Jamaican Jerk Chicken, to Spanish Paella, and led into St. Nicholas Market which was even more densely lined with clothes, and artsy stalls than normal. Make Sunday Special has clearly expanded to include more than just Baldwin Street, and every side street off both the main street and Corn Street had something intriguing down it. Our ears pricked up to the sound of blues and we took the side street through St. Nick's Market to find a band outside the Seamus O'Donnell's pub of very talented sixty-something men playing. The band's playlist went from blues to Rolling Stones, and encouraging others of that musical era to move and jive along to it. One couple - probably in about their sixties - really got into this, clearly transported back to their youth by The Persuaders' talent, the man occasionally breaking into an imaginary air guitar solo as the music played out. I'm sure you'll find him on YouTube (I spied a young man filming them).
This is a great idea for a monthly event, I take my hat off to you, Mr. George Ferguson! But will I need to get my umbrella out for the next few months' Make Sundays Special, or is this event best kept to the summer? Looking on the Bristol City Council website, the only listed dates are today's and October 20th. So does that mean the official winter months wont see Baldwin Street closed to traffic again, or have the dates just not been finalised yet? I suspect that this event would be quite tricky in the rain, and would allow for far less freedom, and probably less sofas unfortunately too. A shame, but practical I suppose.
Also a shame was that things seemed to be winding down at about 3pm, though the event is listed to run until 4pm. Some food stalls had sold out, and were even disposing of left-overs, and 'stations' within the event appeared to be packing away. It was great while it lasted, though, and definitely caters amazingly for kids, but not exclusively - so head down with some mates and join in the fun!
What did you think of the event? Is it a great idea, or is it just annoying for traffic systems in Bristol? Feel free to comment below and share your thoughts!