A top Suffolk leisure park is to stage a weekend of events as it rolls out millions of pounds-worth of investments on site. 

Retail, holiday and leisure venue Stonham Barns Park near Stowmarket will host The Big Weekend from March 3 to 5.

The event will showcase its newly revamped Aspal Theatre, Legends Sports Bar and The Barn and will includes an array of music, dance and comedy events.

It will also preview its 2023 show calendar featuring history, antiques, dogs, fishing, weddings, cars, buses, model railways and truck events. 

The Aspal Theatre is now under the direction of John Chapman, who will launch a new new programme of entertainment and music on the first night of the weekend bash, which will feature  up-and-coming musical talent and comedians from the region.

As well as performances in the theatre there will be an outdoor stage, and Jive Generation dance demonstrations featuring jive dance from the 30s, 40s and 50s.

Among the music acts will be Leon O’Leary, Billy Hunt and The Modern Classix, Lauren Jennifer, Murphey’s Lore, The Bo’Weevil Brothers and The Swamp Project. 

"Next year we will be looking to build on this with more bands and artists to make the event an annual date in the Suffolk calendar," said John.

"It’s going to be all the best in entertainment and activities that Stonham Barns Park has to offer – including a glimpse of the shows to come featuring exhibits from the events - as the venue shapes up to take a major role in Suffolk’s tourism landscape."

Activities over the weekend include historic re-enactments and the building of a Viking Ship.

The park first opened in 1987 and welcomes visitors from all over the UK – particularly London and the South-East. 

For the past 10 years it has been owned by Starglade Leisure – which also owns Pisces Country Park and Acorn Holiday Park at Welney on the Cambridge/Norfolk border.  Three generations of the owning family work at the park. 

Recent multi-million-pound works have included a leisure lake for stand-up paddle board (SUP) and other non-motorised sports, and an Adventure Footgolf Course.

Director Keith Forward said they were developing new facilities to work in synergy with their surroundings to enhance the visitor experience as more visit the site.

"Stonham Barns Park is emerging as a destination of choice for visitors from all over the UK and Europe," he said.  

"As a venue we are very well regarded for our hugely successful Suffolk Owl Sanctuary, but the venue offers so much more.  

"It is now a vibrant yet relaxing holiday destination in the heart of Suffolk and as a direct result of tourism expanding, we are welcoming an increasing number of visitors."

The aim was to be a place for locals to relax and visitors to stay, he said.

"We have new facilities constantly opening like the newly refurbished Café 24 which we are confident will appeal to a whole new set of visitors.

"It’s all very exciting moving forwards.  We hope people who have not visited recently will come to see what has changed.  We think they will be excited by the new facilities on offer."

The park recently took on a new events manager – Fraser Carson - to further expand and develop the number of shows and events staged at the venue.