5 things to do in and around the Aylesbury area

1 Battle PromsBattle Proms Picnic Concert, Blenheim Palace, 4pm - to approximately 10.15pm Saturday July 21A summer celebration with music, fireworks, Spitfire, cannons and cavalry overlooking the iconic Blenheim Palace Column of Victory. Gates open at 4pm with plenty of time to unpack your picnic. A display of mounted skill-at-arms in full 1918 regalia will take place at 6pm with the Red Devils (Parachute regiment and British Army’s official display team) performing their spectacular freefall demonstration in the skies above the concert at 6.35pm. The musical programme with Spitfire display starts at 7.45pm and includes a gun salute with music from the 60 piece New English Concert Orchestra. Traditional proms favourites will include Jerusalem, Rule Britannia and Land of Hope and Glory. The evening will end with a magnificent firework finale. Tickets booked by Friday are £39, children aged five to 15 £18, age under four free. Box office 01432 355416 or book online: www.battleproms.com2 OperaGilbert & Sullivan The Sorcerer, St Mary the Virgin, Aylesbury, 7.30pm tonight (Wednesday) through to Saturday July 21Chiltern Community Opera Group present a concert over several nights. Tickets £12, under 18s £8 available on the door or from cast members or online:www.SEATY.co.uk3 PartySummer Fizz Party, All Saints Church, Little Kimble, 11am - 12.30pm Saturday July 21Enjoy a summery drinks party at this beautiful historic church. Ticket price is £7.50 per person to include fizz (alcoholic and non alcoholic) plus nibbles. Tickets available from 01844 318796 or email:[email protected]4 MusicCatfish, Limelight Theatre, Aylesbury, 8pm Friday July 20The final Blues Night at the Limelight of the spring-summer season sees the welcome return of Catfish. UK and British Blues Award winners Catfish have carved a reputation for themselves as an excellent live band with a phenomenal front man in 23 year old guitarist/vocalist Matt Long who plays with a real passion for the blues. In 2018 they won the UK Blues Award for Blues Act of the Year (England). Tickets cost £10.50 in advance, or £12.50 on the door. Box office 01296 424332 or book online at:www.qpc.org5 MusicMusic at Lunchtime, St Mary the Virgin, Aylesbury, 12.45pm tomorrow (Thursday)Pianist An-Ting Chang studied chemistry at the National Taiwan University, but turned to piano and drama, combining the two in her concert theatre. She has visited Aylesbury several times and never fails to impress. She has chosen the theme Fantasia for her ambitious programme, noting in her introduction both freedom of form and capriciousness as common factors for the music she has chosen. This ranges from the 17th century Orlando Gibbons to her own music, by way of two Bachs (JS and CPE), Schumann, Chopin, Tchaikovsky and Scriabin. The concert will last about 70 minutes. Admission £5, 18s and under free. Includes a programme hand out. Full details online:www.aylesburylunchtimemusic.co.uk