Here’s our pick of the best events coming in August across the destinations and attractions we work with. Many events require booking in advance. As ever, please check individual websites for the latest updates.
HULL
Freedom Festival
26 Aug – 4 September 2022
Mostly free (some needing advance booking), but some paid-for events
www.freedomfestival.co.uk
Hull’s flagship cultural event, the Freedom Festival, returns to the city with a programme of events from epic performances unfolding on the streets, to intimate moments where audiences and artists meet. Back for its 15th year, it will again take place in galleries, museums, theatres, and public spaces across the city – with this year seeing the return of large-scale street spectacles.
Trinity Live
Trinity Market
4, 11, 18, 25 August
Free live music event
www.facebook.com/trinitylivehull/
Music, food, bars and shopping, all on offer in the heart of the Old Town. Thursday evenings are filled with live music provided by up-and-coming acts. The weekly live music event gives a platform to many local bands and performers, plus, various market traders serve up a selection of food and drink.
Shark Summer: Into the Jaws
The Deep
Until 26 August
Included in standard ticket entry, advance booking required for all visits (£17.75 adults, £14 child aged 3 to 15, under three free)
www.thedeep.co.uk
Join the award-winning aquarium’s crew and journey through the toothy jaws of sharks and discover the anatomy of a shark through hands on activities, including’ jaw’some’ facts! Take part in a shark workshop and uncover the mysteries of this charismatic animal.
Yum! Festival of Food & Drink
Fruit Market, Hull Marina,
5 and 6 August 2022
Free entry
www.yumfestival.co.uk
It’s been tempting the taste buds for 11 years and now the Yum! Festival of Food and Drink, organised and funded by HullBID, is poised to serve up its biggest banquet yet. It has become a big date in the city’s festival calendar, featuring local produce, street food, award-winning chefs, Kids’ Zone and a free comedy evening on the Friday.
PLUS
Hull Street Food Night
8 August, 4pm-9pm
The Rose Bowl and Queens Gardens
Enjoy a special Hull Street Food Night in the lead-up to Yum! Festival, featuring street food stalls, a selection of local bars, and live music.
Guided Fish Trail
9, 20 and 29 Aug 2022
Free
To celebrate the 30th anniversary of Hull’s iconic Fish Trail, local freelance English Heritage accredited guide Paul Schofield will be offering a free guided tour of the famous trail this summer. All start times are 10:30am from outside Hull City Hall. Booking not required.
Humber Street Sesh
Hull Marina
13 August 2022
Tickets: £10
www.humberstreetsesh.co.uk
This multi award-winning music festival returns to its spiritual home on Hull Marina, with a free fringe area encompassing Humber Street and Stage@thedock. Launched in 2012 to provide a platform for the region’s emerging artists, this year sees a return to its roots showcasing over 100 acts celebrating Hull’s artists. Festival favourites will include Silent Disco; Skate Park, Hip Hop Amphitheatre and a Creative Arts Marquee, plus, food and bars.
EAST YORKSHIRE
Rusticus Encounter
Various dates
Included with standard admission (day ticket £9.50 adult, £7.30 child, aged 3-15, £32 family)
Sewerby Hall and Gardens
www.sewerbyhall.co.uk
Summer family fun at Sewerby includes a series of outdoor theatre from performance specialists, Rusticus, who will be bringing seafaring adventure and ancient Gods to life in the grounds of this historic house, set in 50 acres of parkland on a dramatic clifftop position overlooking Bridlington. In Pirate! meet the Pirate Captain swashbuckling his way across Sewerby Hall & Gardens in pursuit of treasure, while for Myths and Monsters, Greek Gods walk the gardens in disguise.
Royal Yorkshire Yacht Club Regatta
Bridlington Bay
6-13 August 2022
www.ryyc.org.uk
Bridlington has been called “perhaps the best bay for sailboat racing on the whole of the east coast of England,” and the annual Regatta Week is the highlight of the the Royal Yorkshire Yacht Club’s year both on and off the water. Class Racing will take place throughout the week.
Live on the Lawn – 2022
Burton Constable Hall and Grounds
12-21 August 2022
Check website for admission costs
www.burtonconstable.com
Live on the Lawn returns for a series of summer shows from the North Garden of this historic home, described as one of the most fascinating English country houses to survive complete with its historic collections. Family entertainment includes Alice in Wonderland, as host the Mad Hatter and his friends help Alice find her unbirthday party, and a Pirates, Princess & Heroes Party, where children can become their favourite make-believe characters.
Laurel Vines Vineyard Picnics
4, 11, 13, 18, 25 August 20222
Tickets: £20 per person, minimum picnic size is 2 people. Must be pre-booked
https://laurel-vines.co.uk
Vineyard picnics return! If you spotted the family owned and run vineyard on your TV screens, thanks to a visit from the Hairy Bikers, here’s a chance to follow in their footsteps. Picnics for two include a brief vineyard and winery tour, as well as the food and drink. Each event is limited to a maximum of 20 people.
DERBY
The Kedleston Cocktail Masterclass
The Kedleston Country House
Throughout the summer
From £25 to £55 per person
www.kedlestoncountryhouse.co.uk/cocktail-masterclasses/
Shake it up and take part in Cocktail Masterclasses at The Kedleston Country House, a stunning Georgian house in the historic Kedleston Estate built in 1762. In a private space for up to eight guests, join a cocktail expert who will teach the tricks of the trade… whether shaken or stirred. Three packages are available, from a cocktail masterclass on its own, to one followed by an afternoon tea and another including a three-course meal.
Forest for the Future
Derby Market Place
Until 29 August 2022
Derby’s historic Market Place has become a woodland wonderland this summer, creating a new al-fresco dining and outdoor events space in the heart of the city centre. As well as bringing nature right into the heart of Derby, the city centre forest features a clearing with picnic benches for al-fresco dining.
PLUS
Live Music at the Forest for the Future
Until 27 August 2022
Free entry
Enjoy live music amongst the trees at lunch & in the evenings at the Forest for the Future. Every Friday and Saturday from 7pm and every Saturday from 12 noon (except 13 and 20 August).
The Darley Park Weekender
26-28 August 2022
Various ticket prices
The Darley Park Weekender returns this August bank holiday with a mix of music and family events. Kickstarting the festivities is Classic Ibiza on Friday 26 August. a four-hour spectacular while the Saturday sees a brand-new event, 80s Mix Tape, with an open-air stage for a night of nostalgia featuring over six hours of music. Ending the weekend is The Darley Park Concert, which has become a staple to families across the region for over three decades.
Retro Arcade Event 2022
Museum of Making at Derby
19 – 21 August 2022
Admission: online from £10 adults, £5 under 16yrs
www.derbymuseums.org/event/arcade
Travel back in time for a weekend of retro gaming heaven, sound tracked by 80s and 90s hits, as Retro Arcade event returns to Derby with arcade classics, consoles and pinball machines galore. On-site refreshments available.
LINCOLNSHIRE
Lincoln Castle
www.lincolncastle.com
Dog Friendly Days
13-14 August 2022
Castle Day Ticket £15 adult, £8.30 child, 5-16 years, under 5 free, £38.30 family
Unlock 1000 years of history, with your four-legged friend and enjoy the castle surrounds as your dog follows you on a journey back through history exploring the Medieval Wall Walk, Victorian Prison and Magna Carta. Tickets required for the Medieval Wall Walk, Victorian Prison and Magna Carta.
Victorian Dragon Hunters
20 – 21 August 2022
Admission: included in the price of a Castle day ticket
Step inside the Victorian prison to discover the Dragon Hunters! Join Miss Perdita Worthy, noted collector of Fairy Tales and dragon hunter who has come to Lincoln to seek a sighting of Lucy, the Castle’s Dragon (see details below), and discover their adventures.
Meet Lucy
Throughout summer
Free to view as part of entry to the Castle grounds, all other admissions apply
Meet Lucy, the latest and the greatest addition to Lincoln Castle! Bursting through the Castle walls is the most awe-inspiring sight, as the magical and fantastical dragon rests on the bank waiting to meet visitors. Entry to the Castle grounds and to visit Lucy is free, but the Medieval Wall Walk, Victorian Prison and Magna Carta come with an entry price.
Lincoln Cathedral Flower Festival
4-8 August 2022
Tickets: £15 adult, £13.50 concessions, under 16s free
https://lincolncathedral.com
One of Europe’s finest gothic buildings is 950 this year and will be marking its anniversary with the return of its summer Flower Festival, which will see displays blossom in every part of the building with the theme of ‘Vision’. Celebrating the life and works of St Hugh of Lincoln, as well as many other notable visionaries, the floral displays will cover poetry, theatre, film, and fashion, alongside history, exploration and invention, and themes will range from the Mayflower Pilgrims to Harry Potter.
Bands On The Bank
Bateman’s Brewery, near Skegness
13 August 2022
Admission: £10 adults, under 12 free
Enjoy a day of food, drinks and music at Bands On The Bank. Head to the paddock next to Batemans Brewery to enjoy the music, as well as food, cocktail & mocktails, and a beer tent.
SO Festival
Mablethorpe and Skegness
19 – 21 August 2022
Free entry
www.sofestival.org
Returning after a three year break, SO Festival is back this summer in Mablethorpe and Skegness for three days of innovative, inspiring, international street theatre, and high quality entertainment. Featuring everything from whimsical wizardry and dancing defenders to AI art and roaming robotics, SO Festival 2022’s programme will take visitors on a journey of discovery.
The Asylum Steampunk Festival
Lincoln Cathedral Quarter and Lincoln Castle
27 – 29 August 2022
Free to spectate, some paid for ticketed events
www.asylumsteampunk.co.uk/asylum-steampunk-festival/
This August, the cobbled streets of historic Lincoln are set to be transformed with top hats, flying goggles, corsets and flamboyant feathers! The world’s biggest Steampunk festival is returning to Lincoln for the Bank Holiday weekend. Attracting visitors from all over the world, this innovative event celebrates a steam powered world in the late 19th century, and will feature a fringe-style programme of art, literature, music, fashion and comedy.
Alford Craft Market
Alford Manor House
27 – 29 August 2022
www.alfordmanorhouse.co.uk/alford-craft-market
Discover local artists and crafters and be entertained in the grounds of Alford Manor House, said to be the largest thatched manor house in the country, for a three-day craft market in the grounds over August bank holiday weekend. Normal charges apply for the Manor House, Tearoom and Museum of Rural Life. Entry by donation to the Craft market
Sculpture at Doddington
Doddington Hall, near Lincoln
Until 11 September
Included with normal garden admission (£8.50 adults, £4.50 children, and £22 family)
www.sculpturedoddingtonhall.com
With the Elizabethan manor house as a backdrop, the Hall’s grounds provide a picture-perfect setting for the return of the biennial Doddington Sculpture Exhibition. More than 340 works of art from 60 national and international sculptors will be displayed throughout the walled gardens and the wild gardens of the red-brick Hall.
BURGHLEY HOUSE
The Light in the Shadow VR experience
Tickets: £10 per person
Until 31 August
www.burghley.co.uk
Step back in time to 17th Century Italy to experience the fascinating story of one of today’s most celebrated Baroque artists, Artemisia Gentileschi, and see an unprecedented collection of her work gathered into a single virtual experience. Narrated by musician and author, Cerys Matthews, ‘The Light in the Shadow’ is experienced through virtual reality headsets. Among paintings featured in the experience is Burghley House’s very own Artemisia Gentileschi painting ‘Susannah and the Elders’, and for a limited time this 400-year-old painting will be on view in Burghley’s Heaven Room (separate House admission required).
Beastly Boring Tours
Various dates
Tickets: £13 per person, limited numbers, so booking essential
Aimed primarily at 6 to 11-years-olds, the Beastly Boring Tours of Burghley are run by costumed guides who reveal the grizzly, gruesome and horrible history of one of England’s greatest Elizabethan houses, and the people who have lived here.
Summer Craft Workshops
8-19 August 2022 (excluding weekends)
Admission: free with a House & Gardens or Gardens Only ticket (£20 per adult and £9 per child)
Head to Burghley’s Sculpture Garden and get ready to make some ocean friends and go under the sea in themed craft sessions, where youngsters can create their own colourful octopus or funky fish to take home.
Summer Fine Food Market
Burghley House
27 – 29 August 2022
Free entry
www.burghley.co.uk
More than 45 quality food producers will set up stalls in the picturesque Chestnut and Stable Courtyards at Burghley House, on the edge of the Georgian stone town of Stamford. Creating a relaxed, but bustling market atmosphere and staged against the backdrop of the Elizabethan country house, stalls will be selling regional and award-winning specialties including goat milk ice cream, cakes, cheese and bread plus jams, chutney and meat.
STAFFORDSHIRE
Lichfield Cathedral beach
Until 31 August 2022
Free
Lichfield Cathedral
www.lichfield-cathedral.org/beach
It may be the UK’s only medieval three-spired Cathedral, but this summer it will also be the place to be for beach fun – 100 miles from the sea! For the school summer holidays a beach now graces the Cathedral’s West Front, giving visitors the chance to build sandcastles with the kids, borrow a garden toy or game for family fun, borrow a deck chair, grab a drink and some snacks and while away the day. Alongside the beach there will also be a varied programme of daily activities. Deck chairs, toys and games will be available (subject to availability). For toys and games, there will be a small refundable cash deposit.
Plus
Climbing at the Cathedral
6, 13, 20, 27 August 2022
Tickets: £7.50 or discounted ticket of £10 for one adult and one child (aged 4-16 years).
www.lichfield-cathedral.org/climb
Conquer your fears, explore your sense of adventure and step out of your comfort zone every Saturday throughout the school summer holidays. Try your hand at scaling an 8m high climbing wall and get a whole new perspective on the great west front.
Summer Plant Fair
Dorothy Clive Garden
28-29 August 2022
Admission: £5, must be booked in advance
www.planthuntersfairs.co.uk
Now’s the time to make the most of the late summer sun and get out and enjoy this acclaimed garden, with the fair a great place to pick up some late colour or get ahead for spring with bulbs and plants. The 12-acre Dorothy Clive Garden features a woodland garden, alpine scree, a damp garden, and stunning and colourful late summer flower borders.
A Commonwealth summer
National Memorial Arboretum
Throughout August
Free entry, some activities extra cost
https://thenma.org.uk
Bringing the Arboretum to life in a new way for 2022, a free augmented reality experience, Commonwealth ARboretum, takes families on a journey around the communities and countries that make up the Commonwealth. Take part in your own version, with free family sporting activities at The Arboretum Games, while at the Commonwealth Outdoor Escape Challenge, groups can solve cryptic puzzles to discover the stories behind some of the memorials dedicated to Commonwealth communities (from £12 per group). For younger visitors, a special sticker trail, inspired by the Queen’s Baton Relay, invites families to find eight batons linked to memorials spread across the 150-acre site (costs £2.50).
STOKE-ON-TRENT
Trentham Makers Market
The Trentham Estate
20 August 2022
Free entry
The Makers Market will showcase award-winning local food and drink, art, craft producers, and vintage artisans. As well as being able to stroll around the market it will also give shoppers the opportunity to meet the makers and, of course, sample some of the delights on offer.
Commonwealth Connections
The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery
Until 11 September 2022
Free entry
www.stokemuseums.org.uk/pmag/
To celebrate the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery – home to the world’s greatest collection of Staffordshire ceramics – has been looking at the weird and wonderful Commonwealth connections in its amazing museum collections. Join Ozzy Owl as he explores some of the Commonwealth countries.
Vikings, Princesses, Knights & Shieldmaidens
Ford Green Hall
17 August 2022
Admission: £4.50 adults, £3.50 children, £13 family
https://fordgreenhall.org.uk/events/
Meet fearsome Vikings demonstrating battle techniques, explore replica medieval weapons and armour and learn what it was like to be a knight at this 17th century hall and museum. Come dressed up.
The Big Feast 2022
City Centre, Hanley
26 – 27 August 2022
www.appetite.org.uk/event/bigfeast22/
The Big Feast returns to the streets of Stoke-on-Trent City Centre (Hanley). The annual two-day festival-style event is packed with live performance, music, dance and activities – and for 2022, an extra special show is planned as part of its 10-year celebrations
Lovely Jubilee: Three Centuries of Royal Commemorative Pottery
The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery
Throughout August
From George III to Elizabeth II ceramic manufacturers in the Potteries, and across the country, have produced objects celebrating the nation’s longest reigning monarchs. To celebrate this year’s Queen’s Platinum Jubilee a display of royal jubilee wares, spanning three centuries, will showcase the wide variety of ceramic memorabilia made to commemorate some of the most significant royal events in British history.
HAMPSHIRE
Petersfield Walking Festival
20 – 27 August 2022
Free
www.petersfieldwalkingfestival.co.uk
A new walking festival in Hampshire promises a chance to explore Downs, Weald and Heath this summer with a host of walks from a sunrise stroll to sunset shots. Boasting 47 walks over eight days led by volunteer leaders, it features everything from a family-fun Heathland Superhero Safari to a Walk with Wheels, an inclusive route for disabled and able-bodied walkers alike.
Make a Mini Garden at Exbury Gardens
Exbury Gardens & Steam Railway
Various dates in August
Tickets: £7 per person, in addition to gardens admission (£11 adult, £5 child, 3-15yrs, Under 3s free)
www.exbury.co.uk
With supervision from one of the Exbury team, create your own miniature garden in a pot to take home. Exbury will supply all the materials needed to plant your little garden and even offer a little bit of Exbury ‘know-how’. Each session lasts approximately 45 minutes.
The Festival of Music
Exbury Gardens & Steam Railway
19 – 20 August
Tickets: various, check website for details
www.exbury.co.uk
An exhilarating festival of music, featuring some of the UK’s finest music tribute acts. Enjoy live music from 21st Century ABBA, Queen and Elton John on a specially constructed stage as the sun sets on the gardens. Plus, BBQ and fully licensed bar.
Day Out With Thomas
The Watercress Line
6 – 14 August 2022
Advanced tickets: £21 adult, £15 child (2-16 years), under 2s free, £65 family
https://watercressline.co.uk
Take a train ride with Thomas, meet some of the famous characters and join Sodor Station Sweepers Rusty & Dusty for a trainload of excitement! Family entertainment includes Rusty & Dusty live entertainment show with The Fat Controller and Diesel, an extended ride with Thomas, train rides on the heritage railway from Ropley to Alton and unlimited rides on the miniature railway. All activities and rides are included in the ticket price.
Victorious
Portsmouth
26-28 August 2022
Online tickets from £45
www.victoriousfestival.co.uk
Situated on the stunning Southsea Seafront, Victorious is a three-day festival by the sea. As well as great music, there is children’s entertainment and activities, food, comedy, real ale and more. Regarded as one of the UK’s most beautifully located festivals, among highlights are the Common Stage, one of the main focal points of the festival, located on Southsea common; the Castle Stage, adjacent to Southsea Castle – a stunning historical landmark belonging to Henry VIII, built in 1544 – and the Seaside Stage Arena.
Hares of Hampshire Trail
Winchester and Southampton
Until 25 August 2022
Free
https://haresofhampshire.co.uk
A husk of giant hares has created the biggest art event ever staged in Southampton and Winchester. Streets, parks and public spaces of the two cities are brought to life with an exhibition of larger-than-life sculptures of hares and their young leverets. Popping up in around 30 locations across the two cities, the trail is a Wild in Art event created by The Murray Parish Trust, a charity dedicated to improving paediatric emergency medicine across the South of England.
Sunset Chasers Paddling Tours
New Forest Activities
Throughout summer
£44 per person (12+ years)
www.newforestactivities.co.uk/activities/canoeing
Bask in the warmth of a summer sunset on the calm waters of the Beaulieu River with New Forest Activities. Enjoy picturesque river views from the comfort of your own canoe or kayak and discover hidden spots with your guide – and take along your cameras, as the wildlife comes alive in the evening. Various dates until August. All equipment provided.
