Major events in Bristol

Bristol has an exciting programme of events and festivals in 2013 - we've listed some of the bigger events here. For a more detailed calendar, please visit our events online database.

Eat Drink Bristol Fashion

Monday 13 to Monday 27 May
Queens Square

Eat Drink Bristol Fashion is essentially a tipi village with two bars, a casual dining cafe and a formal restaurant that is taken over by one of the city’s leading restaurants each night.

For further information, see the Eat, Drink Bristol fashion website

Mayfest

Thursday 16 to Sunday 26 May
Various locations

Mayfest is Bristol’s unique annual festival of contemporary theatre, with various productions around the city.

For further information, see the Mayfest website.

Vegfest

Friday 24 to Sunday 26 May
Bristol Harbourside

Vegfest is an annual vegetarian food festival. The event includes family and musical entertainment, cookery demonstrations, and stalls of vegetarian and vegan food.

For further information, see the Vegfest website.

Let's Rock Bristol!

Saturday 8 June
Blaise Castle Estate

A day of live music at this family friendly, 80′s festival. Acts already confirmed include Billy Ocean, Howard Jones, ABC, Nick Heyward and Go West.

For further information, see the Let's Rock Bristol website.

Big Green Week 

Saturday 15 to Sunday 23 June
Harbourside

Big Green Week is an international festival of environmental ideas, art and culture with free, family friendly events.

For further information, see the Big Green Week website.

Festival of Nature

Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 June
Harbourside

Part of the Big Green Week, Bristol's Festival of Nature is a free event with interactive exhibitions, market stalls, talks, live entertainment, and workshops.

For further information, see our Festival of Nature page.

Bristol's Biggest Bike Ride 

Sunday June 16
City centre

Bristol's Biggest Bike Ride is part of Big Green Week, it is one of the UK's biggest free non-competitive cycling events. It's a fun day, not a race, for people of all ages and abilities.

For further information, see the Better By Bike website

Make Sundays Special

Monthly from Sunday 23 June
City Centre

Mayor George Ferguson is Making Sundays Special from Sunday 23 June. He is closing city centre streets to motor traffic and is calling for community groups, activity leaders, artists and street performers to come and enjoy the space. Initially, just once a month over the summer period.  Come along and perform or just to watch and enjoy traffic free streets.

• Sunday 23 June
• Sunday 21 July
• Sunday 18 August
• Sunday 29 September
• Sunday 20 October

 For further information, see our Make Sundays Special web page

Foodie Festival

Friday 12 to Sunday 14 July
Harbourside

The foodie festival is a weekend long food and drinks festival with top chefs, tasting sessions and markets teeming with local producers’ finest foods as well as fine entertianment.

For further information, see the Foodie Festival website.

Gromit Unleashed

July 1 to 7 September
Various locations

Gromit Unleashed is a public art exhibition where giant fibreglass sculptures of Gromit, standing 5ft tall, will be 'unleashed' onto the streets of Bristol. Each sculpture will be designed and created by invited artists.

For further information, see the Gromit Unleashed website.

St Paul's Carnival

Saturday 6 July
St Pauls

St Pauls Carnival is a free, annual African Caribbean carnival. The event includes a procession, music and performers and a range of food stalls.

For further information, see the St Paul's Carnival website 

Pride 

Saturday 6 to Sunday 14 July
Various locations

Bristol Pride is a celebration of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community with a week long celebration of art, music, film, theatre and dance.

For further information see the Pride website

Bristol Harbour Festival 2013

Friday 26 to Sunday 28 July
Harbourside

The Bristol Harbour Festival has been running since 1971 and is still free. Visitors can enjoy live music, street performances and a variety of market and food stalls.

For further information see the Bristol Harbour Festival website and our Bristol Harbour Festival 2013 press release.

Bristol International Balloon Fiesta

Thursday 8 to Sunday 11 August
Ashton Court Estate

The Bristol International Balloon Fiesta is Europe's largest annual hot air balloon event. The Fiesta attracts 500,000 visitors during the show's four days - and is free to attend.

For further information see the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta website

Kite Festival

Saturday August 31 2013 to Sunday 1 September
Ashton Court Estate

The Bristol International Festival of Kites and Air Creations includes flying displays, kite-fighting battles and synchronised routines to music. Admission is free although you will have to pay for parking.

For further information see the Bristol International Kite Festival website

Bristol Doors Open Day

Saturday 14 September

Bristol Doors Open Day provides the chance to see the inside of some of the city's most fascinating and important buildings. Many are not normally open to the general public, and entry is free.

For further information see the Bristol Doors Open Day website

Bristol Half Marathon

Sunday 15 September
City centre

The Bristol Half Marathon will take place on Sunday 15 September and is now one of the most popular half marathons in the UK.

For further information, see the Run Bristol web site

Encounters festival

Tuesday 17 to Sunday 22 September
City centre

Encounters Short Film and Animation Festival is the UK’s longest running competitive short film and animation festival. It is a showcase and meeting point for emerging talent, and seeks to promote the importance of short films.

For further information, see the Encounters website

Brisfest

Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 September 2013
Ashton Court Estate

Brisfest has moved to Ashton Court and is a bigger, better BrisFest featuring a programme of music, circus, street art, theatre and comedy.

For further information, see the Brisfest website

Rugby World Cup 2013 

Saturday 26 October to Saturday 30 November
Various locations

Bristol will host a Rugby League World Cup match this year. The USA will play the Cook Islands at the Memorial stadium  on Wednesday 30 October.

For further information, see our Rugby League World Cup match page.

Big Screen

Various dates

The Big Screen in Millennium Square is brought to you by the BBC and Bristol City Council. It is a destination for live coverage, local content, news and events.

For further information see our Big Screen page