On Saturday 22nd September, the Big Wheel’s Big Day Out Free festival at Nottingham Castle. Now in its fifth year this arts and environment and transport festival.
Apart from being a family day out .... it is designed to give the public a notion of sustainable living and transport. Cycling was a big thing there, with a variety of bikes, bicycle maintance, a bicycle powered bubble machine, and a personal favourite, a bike that powered a blender, mechanically mashing up fruit for a smoothie. The customer being expected to peddle to produce your own smoothie ..... wicked!
The Lord Mayor opened the event, being transported by rikshaw all the way from the Robin Hood statue ...... to the Castle grounds. In his speech, he found it necessary to mention he had left the Bentley at the Council House, for the day. I guess he'll use it all the rest of the year..... However, well done M'lud.
The festival was held in the grounds of Nottingham Castle. It hosted an impressive array of performance artists and workshops (including drumming and circus skills to name but a few!). Just one of this year’s main attractions is the Luminariaum. It is a creation of Architects of Air- a 1000 square feet structure of constantly changing colour and sound is sure to amaze visitors.
Watching performances, listening to musicians and DJs, I was particularly struck by the mobile 'juke-box'. A very very small caravan, with buttons on the outside, and a band of 3 musicians on the inside! Well done guys.
The Big Wheel
![](/img/extlink.gif)
Big Day Out Festival Program
![](/img/extlink.gif)
Cycling in Nottingham
![](/img/extlink.gif)
the Luminarium
![](/img/extlink.gif)
____________________________________________
ALAN LODGE
Photographer - Media: One Eye on the Road. Nottingham. UK
Email:
![](/img/maillink.gif)
Web:
![](/img/extlink.gif)
Member of the National Union of Journalists [No: 014345]
____________________________________________
"It is not enough to curse the darkness.
It is also necessary to light a lamp!!"
___________________________________________