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Events and festivals
Bristol is proud to host a packed programme of events with an exciting mix of music, literature, entertainment and outdoor fun. No matter what time of year you visit, you’ll be guaranteed to find an event that suits every taste and age group.
See below for details on forthcoming events. For a full catalogue of what’s on in Bristol, use the Search events tool on the right.
This Month
Exhibition: Chocolate! at M Shed
Openings
Open
2nd Feb 2013-23rd Jun 2013Bristol's tastiest exhibiton of the year!
Exhibition: Pharaoh King of Egypt at Bristol Museum & Art Gallery
Openings
Open
16th Mar 2013-21st Jul 2013Pharaoh: King of Egypt presents the splendour and power of the ancient kings and queens in this major touring exhibition...
Bristol Festival of Ideas
Openings
Festival of Ideas
3rd May 2013-31st May 2013Bristol's Annual Festival of Ideas aims to stimulate people’s minds and passions with an inspiring programme of discussion...
Eat Drink Bristol Fashion
Openings
Eat Drink Bristol Fashion
13th May 2013-27th May 2013Bristol’s thriving food and drink industry are uniting to bring you Eat Drink Bristol Fashion, a pop-up "tipi village"...
Mayfest 2013
Openings
Festival dates
16th May 2013-26th May 2013Bristol’s unique annual festival of contemporary theatre
Museums at Night 2013
Openings
Date
16th May 2013-18th May 2013Annual after-hours celebration of arts, history and heritage
German Beer Fest 2013
Openings
Date
16th May 2013-19th May 2013German beers and food, mädchens, DJ and all the fun of a traditional German beer fest
Mayfest: Hook, Skip, Repeat
Openings
Mayfest: Hook, Skip, Repeat
16th May 2013-18th May 2013Mayfest: Hook, Skip, Repeat
24th May 2013-26th May 2013Maritime history and crochet come together in this year’s Mayfest with several large-scale rope ‘doilies’ appearing across...
Mayfest: Not Until We Are Lost
Openings
Mayfest: Not Until We Are Lost
17th May 2013-21st May 2013Ockham’s Razor, who trained at Bristol’s own Circomedia, return to Mayfest with their second full-length piece, Not Until We...
Mayfest: Beowulf – A Thousand Years of Baggage
Openings
Mayfest: Beowulf
17th May 2013-19th May 2013As part of Mayfest, Banana Bag & Bodice return to The Trinity Centre with this exhilarating song-play based on the 9th...
Rolf Harris at the Bristol Hippodrome
Openings
Date
18th May 2013-18th May 2013The legendary Rolf Harris, makes a rare stage appearance at Bristol Hippodrome
The Archaeology of the Victorian Dead at M Shed
Openings
Date
18th May 2013-18th May 2013Find out more about cemetaries, crypts and archaeology
Comedy: Stand Up (Again!) for Slapstick
Openings
Date
20th May 2013-20th May 2013Rob Brydon hosts this all-star Slapstick Festival fund-raiser at the Colston Hall.
Comedy: Yes Prime Minister at the Bristol Hippodrome
Openings
Date
20th May 2013-25th May 2013Following two sell-out West End seasons, Yes, Prime Minister comes to the Bristol Hippodrome for 1 week only.
Bristol Festival of Ideas: Darcey Bussell - A Life in Ballet
Openings
Date
21st May 2013-21st May 2013Darcey Bussell comes to Bristol to talk about her career in Ballet
Mayfest: Praxis Makes Perfect
Openings
Mayfest: Praxis Makes Perfect
23rd May 2013-23rd May 2013Mayfest welcome National Theatre Wales to the city,with Praxis Makes Perfect
Rugby Union: 2013 Union Cup in Bristol
Openings
Rugby Union dates
24th May 2013-26th May 2013Bristol Bisons and other gay-friendly teams from across Europe and the UK in one of the most exciting rugby union events...
Bristol VegFest 2013
Openings
Bristol VegFest 2013
24th May 2013-26th May 2013VegfestUK Bristol will be celebrating its tenth birthday in style in 2013 with a 3 day festival in central Bristol.
Mayfest: Zero
Openings
Mayfest: Zero
24th May 2013-25th May 2013Clod Ensemble, in association with Mayfest present, Zero — a turbulent mix of dance, music and visual theatre, set to an...
Upfest Bristol 2013
Openings
Festival Dates
25th May 2013-27th May 2013Europe's largest live urban arts festival.
Next Month
Exhibition: Chocolate! at M Shed
Openings
Open
2nd Feb 2013-23rd Jun 2013Bristol's tastiest exhibiton of the year!
Exhibition: Pharaoh King of Egypt at Bristol Museum & Art Gallery
Openings
Open
16th Mar 2013-21st Jul 2013Pharaoh: King of Egypt presents the splendour and power of the ancient kings and queens in this major touring exhibition...
Theatre: The Watery Journey of Nereus Pike at Bristol Old Vic
Openings
Date
28th May 2013-1st Jun 2013This is a new show by Fringe First Award-winning comedian and theatre-maker Laura Mugridge
Children's Theatre: The Curious Scrapbook of Josephine Bean at Bristol Old Vic
Openings
Date
28th May 2013-1st Jun 2013Winner of the best show for childen and young people, The Curious Scrapbook of Josephine Bean, a story about an inquisitive...
Theatre: Lionboy at Bristol Old Vic
Openings
Date
29th May 2013-1st Jun 2013Lionboy tells the story of eleven-year old Charlie Ashanti. He's a perfectly normal boy, except for one thing: he can speak...
The Festival of Stone 2013
Openings
Festival Dates
30th May 2013-9th Jun 2013Bristol’s first ever Festival of Stone, celebrates the creation of art in stone. With live sculpting, music, performance,...
Let's Rock Bristol 2013
Openings
Date
8th Jun 2013-8th Jun 2013A family-friendly music festival with legends from the 80s at Blaise Castle Estate.
Weston Beach Kite Festival
Openings
Date
8th Jun 2013-9th Jun 2013A major new kite festival on Weston beach
Bristol's Big Green Week 2013
Openings
Dates
15th Jun 2013-23rd Jun 2013A celebration of inspirational green thinking and ideas
Bristol Festival of Nature
Openings
Festival dates
15th Jun 2013-16th Jun 2013Explore, enjoy and get close to the natural world at the UK’s largest FREE natural history event.
Comedy: Bill Bailey at the Bristol Hippodrome
Openings
Performances
16th Jun 2013-16th Jun 2013Bill Bailey's show, Qualmpeddler has all the classic Bill Bailey elements, trademark musical mash-ups, multi-lingual riffs,...
Concert: Blondie at Westonbirt Arboretum
Openings
Concert date
21st Jun 2013-21st Jun 2013Blondie in concert at Westonbirt Arboretum in June 2013
Bristol Cider Festival 2013 at Ashton Gate Stadium
Openings
Date
21st Jun 2013-22nd Jun 2013The cider festival is the number one destination for cider lovers!
Concert: Paloma Faith at Westonbirt Arboretum
Openings
Concert Date
22nd Jun 2013-22nd Jun 2013Paloma Faith in concert at Westonbirt Arboretum in June 2013. Tickets on Sale Friday 18th January 2013
Bristol’s BIG Market
Openings
Date
22nd Jun 2013-22nd Jun 2013Part of Bristol's BIG Green Week, Discover over 200 fabulous stalls selling everything from artisan food and drink, to...
Concert: Bristol Bach Choir at St Mary Redcliffe
Openings
Concert
22nd Jun 2013-22nd Jun 2013Bristol Bach Choir present choral gems ancient and modern.
The Clifton International Festival of Music at Clifton Cathedral
Openings
Date
22nd Jun 2013-30th Jun 2013The inaugural Clifton International Festival of Music, the home of Bristol’s most exciting classical music event of the...
Concert: Olly Murs at Westonbirt Arboretum
Openings
Concert
23rd Jun 2013-23rd Jun 2013Olly Murs in concert at Westonbirt Arboretum in June 2013.
Theatre: Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the Bristol Hippodrome
Openings
Performances
25th Jun 2013-29th Jun 2013A magical musical full of unforgettable songs.
July
Exhibition: Pharaoh King of Egypt at Bristol Museum & Art Gallery
Openings
Open
16th Mar 2013-21st Jul 2013Pharaoh: King of Egypt presents the splendour and power of the ancient kings and queens in this major touring exhibition...
Theatre: Soul Sister at the Bristol Hippodrome
Openings
Date
1st Jul 2013-6th Jul 2013This brand new musical is inspired by the life and times of Ike and Tina Turner and features all the classic Tina Turner hits
Gromit Unleashed: a trail of 70 Gromit works of art
Openings
Runs
1st Jul 2013-7th Sep 2013A trail of 70 individually designed Gromits will be unleashed in Bristol in 2013.
The Bristol Shakespeare Festival 2013
Openings
Dates
5th Jul 2013-21st Jul 2013Bristol Shakespeare Festival returns once again with an array of multi-media events
St Paul's Afrikan Caribbean Carnival
Openings
Carnival Date
6th Jul 2013-6th Jul 2013This much-loved community carnival promises more music, dance and colourful costumes than ever before.
Theatre: Save The Last Dance For Me at the Bristol Hippodrome
Openings
Date
8th Jul 2013-13th Jul 2013Dreamboats and Petticoats meets Dirty Dancing in an all new Rock 'n' Roll musical.
Foodies Festival
Openings
Festival Dates
12th Jul 2013-14th Jul 2013A three day celebration of fine food, drink and culinary talent
Bristol Pride Day Festival 2013
Openings
Pride Day
13th Jul 2013-13th Jul 2013A celebration of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community in Bristol.
Bristol Cycle Festival
Openings
Date
13th Jul 2013-21st Jul 2013Since 2010, Bristol Cycle Festival has been pulling together the best events the city’s vibrant cycling community can...
Theatre: The Boy Who Cried Wolf! at Bristol Old Vic
Openings
Date
13th Jul 2013-1st Sep 2013The Boy Who Cried Wolf!..and other stories from Michael Morpurgo's Aesop's Fables is this summer's open air show for Bristol...
Concert: Jessie J at Westonbirt Arboretum
Openings
Concert Date
19th Jul 2013-19th Jul 2013Jessie J plus special guests in concert at Westonbirt Arboretum in June 2013.
Concert: Paul Weller at Westonbirt Arboretum
Openings
Concert date
20th Jul 2013-20th Jul 2013Paul Weller in concert at Westonbirt Arboretum in July 2013
Concert: Jools Holland and his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra at Westonbirt Arboretum
Openings
Concert
21st Jul 2013-21st Jul 2013Jools Holland and his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra in concert at Westonbirt Arboretum in July 2013.
Bristol Harbour Festival
Openings
Date
26th Jul 2013-28th Jul 2013Bristol's liveliest and largest Harbourside event
Bristol Proms at Bristol Old Vic
Openings
Date
29th Jul 2013-3rd Aug 2013Inspired by the hugely popular promenade concerts staged in the 1840s, the Bristol Old Vic are delighted to launch Bristol...
August
Gromit Unleashed: a trail of 70 Gromit works of art
Openings
Runs
1st Jul 2013-7th Sep 2013A trail of 70 individually designed Gromits will be unleashed in Bristol in 2013.
Theatre: The Boy Who Cried Wolf! at Bristol Old Vic
Openings
Date
13th Jul 2013-1st Sep 2013The Boy Who Cried Wolf!..and other stories from Michael Morpurgo's Aesop's Fables is this summer's open air show for Bristol...
Bristol Proms at Bristol Old Vic
Openings
Date
29th Jul 2013-3rd Aug 2013Inspired by the hugely popular promenade concerts staged in the 1840s, the Bristol Old Vic are delighted to launch Bristol...
Theatre: Hairspray at the Bristol Hippodrome
Openings
Date
6th Aug 2013-17th Aug 2013Follow the story for Tracy Turnblad at this hit musical Hairspray returns.
Bristol International Balloon Fiesta
Openings
Dates
8th Aug 2013-11th Aug 2013Europe's largest annual hot air balloon event, recently voted one of the top three tourism events by Visit England.
Theatre: The Rocky Horror Show at the Bristol Hippodrome
Openings
Date
19th Aug 2013-24th Aug 2013The worlds favourite Rock 'n' Roll musical, Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show
Treefest Festival at Westonbirt Arboretum
Openings
Treefest
24th Aug 2013-26th Aug 2013Family activities to discover the intrepid world of plant hunting, expert carvers creating big play trail pieces and over...
Bristol Festival of Puppetry 2013
Openings
Bristol Festival of Puppetry 2013
30th Aug 2013-8th Sep 2013Puppet Place is delighted to be launching the third Bristol Festival of Puppetry, jam-packed with shows, film, workshops,...
Bristol International Festival of Kites and Air Creations
Openings
Kite Festival
31st Aug 2013-1st Sep 2013See spectacular flying displays and breathtaking aerial battles.
September
Gromit Unleashed: a trail of 70 Gromit works of art
Openings
Runs
1st Jul 2013-7th Sep 2013A trail of 70 individually designed Gromits will be unleashed in Bristol in 2013.
Theatre: The Boy Who Cried Wolf! at Bristol Old Vic
Openings
Date
13th Jul 2013-1st Sep 2013The Boy Who Cried Wolf!..and other stories from Michael Morpurgo's Aesop's Fables is this summer's open air show for Bristol...
Bristol Festival of Puppetry 2013
Openings
Bristol Festival of Puppetry 2013
30th Aug 2013-8th Sep 2013Puppet Place is delighted to be launching the third Bristol Festival of Puppetry, jam-packed with shows, film, workshops,...
Bristol International Festival of Kites and Air Creations
Openings
Kite Festival
31st Aug 2013-1st Sep 2013See spectacular flying displays and breathtaking aerial battles.
Bristol Half Marathon
Openings
Date
15th Sep 2013-15th Sep 2013The 25th Bristol half marathon will take place on Sunday 15th September 2013.
Comedy: Bill Bailey at the Bristol Hippodrome
Openings
Performance
26th Sep 2013-28th Sep 2013Bill Bailey's show, Qualmpeddler has all the classic Bill Bailey elements, trademark musical mash-ups, multi-lingual riffs,...
Theatre: Ha Ha Holmes at the Bristol Hippodrome
Openings
Performances
29th Sep 2013-29th Sep 2013A hilarious new Sherlock Holmes parody, starring Joe Pasquale as Holmes himself
Theatre: Thriller Live! at the Bristol Hippodrome
Openings
Date
30th Sep 2013-30th Sep 2013A spectacular concert created to celebrate the career of the world's greatest entertainer and undisputed King of Pop
October
Theatre: Evita at the Bristol Hippodrome
Openings
Date
7th Oct 2013-12th Oct 2013Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s extraordinary musical Evita embarks on a spectacular national tour.
Theatre: CATS at the Bristol Hippodrome
Openings
Date
15th Oct 2013-26th Oct 2013Don't miss CATS, Andrew Lloyd-Webber's extraordinary record-breaking, smash-hit musical!
Bristol Day of the Dead Halloween Festival
Openings
Date
26th Oct 2013-26th Oct 2013Bristol Day Of The Dead Halloween Festival showcases live bands, dance groups, DJs and all the fun of Halloween but with a...
Theatre: Slava's Snowshow at the Bristol Hippodrome
Openings
Date
30th Oct 2013-3rd Nov 2013A global phenomenon Slava's Snowshow is unlike anything you have seen before - It will be snowing in Bristol this autumn!
November
Theatre: Slava's Snowshow at the Bristol Hippodrome
Openings
Date
30th Oct 2013-3rd Nov 2013A global phenomenon Slava's Snowshow is unlike anything you have seen before - It will be snowing in Bristol this autumn!
Opera: Welsh National Opera's Tosca at the Bristol Hippodrome
Openings
Date
5th Nov 2013-5th Nov 2013Date
9th Nov 2013-9th Nov 2013Brought to you by Welshe National Opera - Tosca is a fast-paced operatic thriller
Opera: Welsh National Opera's Anna Bolena at the Bristol Hippodrome
Openings
Date
6th Nov 2013-6th Nov 2013brought to you by the Welsh National, Anna Bolena re-imagines Anne’s final days in the scheming court of Henry VIII
Opera: Welsh National Opera's Maria Stuarda at the Bristol Hippodrome
Openings
Date
7th Nov 2013-7th Nov 2013brought to you by the Welsh National, Maria Stuarda transports you to a Britain at war with itself and overcome by...
Opera: Welsh National Opera's Roberto Devereux at the Bristol Hippodrome
Openings
Date
8th Nov 2013-8th Nov 2013brought to you by the Welsh National, Roberto Devereux re-imagines the tale of Elizabeth I and her favourite, Robert...
Theatre: Jason Manford at the Bristol Hippodrome
Openings
Comedy Date
15th Nov 2013-16th Nov 2013Comedy favourite Jason Manford is back with his new stand up tour.
