
Art / Homelessness
A Year Outdoors
Street art project highlighting homelessness returns to Bristol where it began
: Saturday, Dec 1 2018 - Friday, Dec 21 2018
Theatre
The Great Big B24/7 2018 Christmas theatre roundup
Our roundup of this year's packed festive thespian action
Food & Drink
St Nick’s Night Market – festive edition
Street food, music, late night shopping and more
Art
Preview: Albert Irvin and Abstract Expressionism, RWA
Celebrating one of the 20th Century’s most colourful painters
There’s plenty of festive fare on offer this month, of course, from screenings of all your favourite Christmas flicks – everything from Yuletide Muppets and Gremlins to Bill Murray and Macaulay Culkin offering their own alternative takes on the festive season – and a typically packed Christmas theatre season spanning everything from Dickensian antics on board ship to regal felines fighting their heaven-ordained destinies, via the more expected Scrooges and Cinderellas.
But that is very far from being all that Bristol has to offer this month. A return for the Bristol Palestine Film Festival, a pre-Christmas run at the Wardrobe Theatre for probably the nation’s favourite sketch comedy trio, a mouth-watering array of food and drink events, a healthy bevy of festive artists’ and makers’ markets (not to mention the opening of perhaps Bristol’s biggest artist-led gallery, in an increasingly vibrant and busy Bedminster) and a tribute to one of the 20th century’s most joyously colourful abstract painters are among the many, many tempting cultural events for your delectation.
Art / Homelessness
Street art project highlighting homelessness returns to Bristol where it began
: Saturday, Dec 1 2018 - Friday, Dec 21 2018
Art / Exhibition
Exploring the discourse between painting and communities
: Saturday, Dec 1 2018 - Wednesday, Dec 5 2018
Art / Art market
Large artisan Christmas market from the excellent Bristol Bazaar
: Saturday, Dec 1 2018 - Monday, Dec 24 2018
Art / Group exhibition
Group show at this fine-looking new Glos Rd cafe/bar
: Saturday, Nov 17 2018 - Thursday, Jan 3 2019
Art / 100 years of suffrage
Light and sound installation celebrates 100 years of women's suffrage
: Saturday, Dec 1 2018 - Sunday, Dec 16 2018
Art / Exhibition
Regular and new faces from That Art Gallery's roster
: Friday, Dec 7 2018 - Saturday, Dec 22 2018
Art / Art market
First Christmas Fayre at St Werburgh's creative studio
: Friday, Dec 7 2018 - Sunday, Dec 9 2018
Art / Artists' films
Showcase of moving-image talent
Trinity: Friday, Dec 7 2018 7pm
Art / Abstract Expressionism
Profiling the abstract painter/printmaker and the US Abstract Expressionists who influenced him
: Saturday, Dec 8 2018 - Sunday, Mar 3 2019
Art / Exhibition
Caroline Watson explores the abstract and anthropomorphic qualities of stuff
: Saturday, Dec 8 2018 - Friday, Dec 28 2018
Art / Centrespace
View and purchase work by the studio's many members
: Friday, Dec 7 2018 - Wednesday, Dec 12 2018
Art / Bedminster
Debut show at Bedminster's new artist-led gallery
: Saturday, Dec 8 2018 - Thursday, Dec 20 2018
Art / Art market
Christmas makers' market at Bedminster's new artspace
: Saturday, Dec 15 2018 12pm & Sunday, Dec 16 2018 12pm
Art / Exhibition
Third show for this platform for women, femmes, non-binary and trans artists
: Friday, Dec 14 2018 - Wednesday, Dec 19 2018
Books & Spoken Word / Book Fair
Day-long book related fun
St Michael and All Angels: Saturday, Dec 1 2018 11am
Books & Spoken Word / Writing
New writing space for young writers
Junction 3 Library: Monday, Dec 3 2018 4pm
Books & Spoken Word / Poetry
Poetry anthology raising funds for play area
The Golden Guinea: Wednesday, Dec 5 2018 7:30pm
Books & Spoken Word / Fiction
2018 Man Booker longlisted debut novel
Spike Island: Thursday, Dec 6 2018 6:30pm
Books & Spoken Word / Europe
Invited guest speakers recommend books on Europe
Redland Library: Thursday, Dec 6 2018 7pm
Books & Spoken Word / Storytelling
Stokes Croft Writers' regular storytelling evening
Leftbank: Saturday, Dec 8 2018 6:30pm
Books & Spoken Word / Biography
Celebrated comedian will be signing copies of his autobiography
Waterstones Bristol Galleries: Sunday, Dec 9 2018 12:30pm
Books & Spoken Word / Poetry
Festive fun from leading Bristol spoken word night
The Crofters Rights: Tuesday, Dec 11 2018 7:30pm
Books & Spoken Word / Discussion
Music, poetry and discussion with Lowkey, Nikesh Shukla and Nadinne Dyen
Arnolfini: Thursday, Dec 13 2018 7pm
Books & Spoken Word / Spoken Word
Top Bristol spoken word night
The Wardrobe Theatre: Monday, Dec 17 2018 8pm
Books & Spoken Word / Natural History
One of Britain’s leading nature writers, broadcasters and wildlife television producers
Stanfords: Wednesday, Dec 5 2018 6:30pm
Music / Drum and Bass
plus special guests
Motion: Saturday, Dec 1 2018 10pm
Music / House
With Green Velvet
Lakota: Saturday, Dec 1 2018 10pm
Music / Soul
With Bondax, Latmun and Channel One Sound System
Motion: Wednesday, Dec 6 2017 10pm
Music / Disco
Winter Wonderland
Lakota: Friday, Dec 7 2018 10pm
Music / House
Mad lineup
Lakota: Friday, Dec 7 2018 10pm
Music / Electronica
Electro, techno and various DJ sets
Motion: Saturday, Dec 9 2017 10pm
Music / Drum and Bass
British drum and bass DJ and record producer
O2 Academy: Saturday, Dec 8 2018 10pm
Music / Rap
The hottest duo in the UK drill scene
Thekla: Tuesday, Dec 11 2018 6pm
Music / Bass Music
Under age friendly night
Lakota: Sunday, Dec 23 2018 7pm
Music / Hip-Hop
Lit-mass party
Motion: Sunday, Dec 23 2018 10pm
Comedy / Becky Bumface
Another beguiling mix of improv, sketches and stand-up
Cafe Kino: Saturday, Dec 1 2018 7:30pm
Comedy / Observational comedy
Sardonic, misanthropic (and very fine) comic
The Comedy Box at the Hen & Chicken Studio: Saturday, Dec 1 2018 8:30pm
Music / Cabaret
Comedy, music and spoken-word cabaret
Comedy / Bobby Mair
Festive comedy from the Anglo-Canadian stand-up couple
: Thursday, Dec 6 2018 9:45pm & Friday, Dec 7 2018 9:45pm
Comedy / Talk
More witty tales from the history of alcohol - and drinks provided
The Comedy Box at the Hen & Chicken Studio: Friday, Dec 7 2018 8pm
Comedy / Observational comedy
Likable, streetwise, fast-rising Glaswegian
The Comedy Box at the Hen & Chicken Studio: Saturday, Dec 8 2018 8:30pm
Comedy / Stand-Up
More fine festive Friday funniness
The Wardrobe Theatre: Friday, Dec 14 2018 9:45pm
Comedy / Character comedy
The Southmead YouTube star performs live
Anson Rooms: Saturday, Dec 15 2018 7pm
Comedy / Observational comedy
Friendly, gossipy, and loves a good conspiracy theory
The Comedy Box at the Hen & Chicken Studio: Saturday, Dec 15 2018 8:30pm
Comedy / Open Mic
Busy open-mic sessions at the Crofters Rights
: Sunday, Sep 24 2017 - Sunday, May 20 2018
Comedy / Edinburgh Previews
Wednesdays: new material and Edinburgh previews
: Wednesday, Sep 12 2018 - Wednesday, Dec 26 2018
Comedy / Sketch comedy
Festive sketches from the acclaimed comedy trio
: Wednesday, Dec 19 2018 - Saturday, Dec 22 2018
Comedy / Observational comedy
High-octane, high-camp festive laughs with the Britain's Got Talent finalis
The Comedy Box at the Hen & Chicken Studio: Saturday, Dec 22 2018 8:30pm
Comedy / Observational comedy
Carey Marx, Phil Jerrod and Sally Anne Hayward wave g'bye to 2018
The Comedy Box at the Hen & Chicken Studio: Saturday, Dec 29 2018 8:30pm
Film / Art House
Cosmic compilation of night skies throughout film history
Film / Art House
Almodovar's Oscar-nominated 1988 classic launches Comedy Genius season
Film / Ballet
One of the Bolshoi's signature ballets, recorded in Moscow in 2016
Film / Documentary
Jean-Luc Godard's state of the world video essay
Film / Documentary
Road trip documentary about a family coming to terms with suicide
Film / Drama
Three of Davies's early short films launch a season of his work
Film / Documentary
Bristol Radical History Group presents controversial C4 doc from 1986
Film / Action
Hit Japanese anime superhero film
Film / Documentary
A documentary about the unlikely flourishing of surf culture in the Gaza Strip
Film / Comedy
Cat upstages cast in the 1958 witch comedy that inspired Bewitched
Film / Art House
Taboo-busting drama about three Israeli-Palestinian women sharing an apartment in Tel Aviv
Film / Animation
Part-animated documentary exploring the role played by women during the first Intifada of the 1980s
Film / Animation
Oscar nominated screenwriter discusses his film about the wall separating Israel from Palestine
Film / Event Cinema
Ralph Fiennes and Sophie Okonedo star in the Bard's great political tragedy
Film / Comedy
Richard Curtis's festive romcom makes its annual return
Film / Documentary
Documentary about four young football players daring to dream in war-torn Gaza
Film / Art House
An affair between a Palestinian man and an Israeli woman takes on a political dimension
Film / Animation
Eight of the best new films to emerge from Palestine this year
Film / Comedy
8-year-old Macaulay Culkin pulls that face in mystifyingly popular festive comedy
Film / Comedy
More of the same, with added Donald Trump
Film / Art House
Oscar nominated Lebanese drama about an emotional exchange that escalates into a court battle
Film / Art House
An urban road comedy-drama from Palestinian writer-director Annemarie Jacir
Film / Comedy
A near-silent monochrome comedy that owes much to Chaplin's The Kid
Film / Documentary
Documentary about Israel's 2014 assault on Gaza and its aftermath
Film / Drama
Wolfgang Petersen's charming 1984 fantasy screened in Bristol Museum
Film / Documentary
Documentary about a Palestinian woman who yearns to dodge marriage and become a cop
Film / Comedy
Genial satire on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict centred on a Palestinian soap opera.
Film / Art House
4K restoration of Terence Davies's semi-autobiographical, grim-oop-north feature debut from 1988
Film / Documentary
A selection of independent wildlife films from across the world
Film / Event Cinema
Simon Callow's lauded one-man show based on Dickens' own theatrical performance
Film / Comedy
20th anniversary revival of Disney's family comedy remake with two young Lindsay Lohans
Film / Action
Cash-in, kid-friendly remix of Deadpool 2
Film / Documentary
An evening of short films and discussions
Film / Drama
Union leader Vincent Lindon takes on scumbag bosses in industrial dispute drama
Film / Comedy
Isabelle Huppert stars in a comic, gender-swap reimagining of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde
Film / Drama
Things turn nasty as an ambitious businesswoman attempts to shatter the glass ceiling
Film / Documentary
Skateboarding short screened as part of benefit evening for refugees in Athens
Film / Fantasy
Ignore the title: Val Lewton's sequel is a lyrical film about childhood
Film / Event Cinema
Festive fun for pre-schoolers as CBeebies does the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale
Film / Comedy
Free outdoor screening of the comedy in which Bill Murray does Dickens
Film / Art House
Janques Tati's 1953 comedy classic, without which there would have been no Mr. Bean
Film / Event Cinema
Disney's original 1964 supernatural childminder musical screened in a cow shed
Film / Drama
Hit musical biopic of US huckster P.T. Barnum screened in a car park at Bristol Airport
Film / Family
Interminable '60s whimsy with a screenplay by Roald Dahl
Film / Art House
Bergman gets festive on our asses with his warm and optimistic 1982 swansong
Film / Comedy
Robert Townsend's ahead-of-its-time comedy about Hollywood's stereotyping of African-Americans
Film / Art House
Terence Davies's thematic sequel to his much-praised Distant Voices, Still Lives
Film / Comedy
Love, Actually meets House Swap in this festive screwball romcom
Film / Comedy
Ursine marmalade junkie invades Bristol City Museum
Film / Comedy
Comedian Josie Long's feature debut, introduced by director Doug King and followed by a performance
Film / Horror
The BBFC serves its Christmas turkey in the form of this festive 1984 slasher
Film / Documentary
Terence Davies's 'film poem' about his native city of Liverpool
Film / Art House
Shaman turns woman into reindeer vampire in award-winning adaptation of Lapp saga
Film / Animation
Return of Robert Zemeckis's cheesy festive animation
Film / Comedy
Marx Brothers comedy classic that boasts the distinction of being banned by Mussolini
Film / Animation
Jack Skellington scares up a Halloween treat at this drive-in screening
Film / Comedy
8-year-old Macaulay Culkin pulls that face in mystifyingly popular festive comedy
Film / Comedy
Festive romcom screened in a winter wonderland at the Passenger Shed
Film / Comedy
The greatest of all Dickens adaptations (possibly), screened in Bristol Old Vic's auditorium
Film / Animation
Festive double-bill of animated Raymond Briggs yarns
Film / Animation
Bellow along to Disney's mega-hit animation about rival princess siblings in an ice-bound world
Film / Family
Festive screening of Disney's original 1964 supernatural childminder musical
Film / Comedy
Festive screening of Danny DeVito's classy Roald Dahl adaptation
Film / Comedy
Enduringly popular festive comedy with Will Ferrell as Santa's largest elf
Film / Comedy
Joe Dante's splendid blackly comic kiddie horror, back on screen in the Passenger Shed
Film / Comedy
Johnny Depp excels as Willy Wonka in Tim Burton's bash at the Roald Dahl classic
Film / Family
Middle-aged man lures children with confectionery in classic Roald Dahl adaptation
Film / Comedy
4K restoration of Billy Wilder's comedy classic
Film / Comedy
Python's Arthurian classic returns to the screen
Film / Comedy
Joe Dante's splendid blackly comic kiddie horror returns for Christmas
Film / Drama
James Stewart stars in festive family classic
Film / Ballet
If it's December, it must be The Nutcracker
Film / Ballet
Tchaikovsky's festive ballet recorded live in Moscow
Food & Drink / Beer
The first beer festival at the Staple Hill micropub
: Saturday, Dec 1 2018 12pm & Sunday, Dec 2 2018 12pm
Food & Drink / Beer
It's the first release from their barrel ageing project
Moor Beer: Saturday, Dec 1 2018 2pm
Food & Drink / Beer
Meet the brewers and sample some of their beer
Two Belly: Saturday, Dec 1 2018 4pm
Food & Drink / gin
The final event of 2018 at Psychopomp and they're feeling festive
Psychopomp Microdistillery: Saturday, Dec 1 2018 6pm
Food & Drink / cheese
Featuring produce all made by women
Ottowin: Saturday, Dec 1 2018 8:30pm
Food & Drink / Beer
The St Werburgh's brewery make their annual return to the King Street pub
The Famous Royal Navy Volunteer: Friday, Dec 7 2018 5pm
Food & Drink / Markets
Street food, music, late night shopping and more
St Nicholas Market: Friday, Dec 7 2018 5pm
Food & Drink / Christmas
Author signings with some of Bristol's best food writers
Hart’s Bakery: Saturday, Dec 8 2018 8am
Food & Drink / Festival
Have you ever wondered what it's like to live a vegan lifestyle?
University of Bristol Students Union: Saturday, Dec 8 2018 10:30am
Food & Drink / Wapping Wharf
A tasting menu to celebrate the different areas of Mexico
Cargo Cantina: Wednesday, Dec 12 2018 7pm
Food & Drink / Street Food
Featuring street food, live music, local beer, cider mulled wine and more
: Thursday, Dec 13 2018 12pm & Friday, Dec 14 2018 12pm
Food & Drink / Pizza
Sourdough pizzas cooked by the team at Mark's Bread
Mark’s Bread: Thursday, Dec 13 2018 6pm
Food & Drink / cheese
Featuring tastings of cheese and cider from around the UK
Two Belly: Thursday, Dec 13 2018 7pm
Food & Drink / Christmas
With stalls featuring plants, jewellery, wine and more
Hart’s Bakery: Saturday, Dec 15 2018 8am
Food & Drink / Supper Club
Bristol's first ever Georgian supper club
Benjamin Perry Boathouse: Sunday, Dec 16 2018 3pm
Food & Drink / cheese
The Rhythm & Booze Project head to Two Belly
Two Belly: Thursday, Dec 20 2018 7:30pm
Music / Pop
Celebrating their acclaimed album 'The Luxury Gap'
O2 Academy: Saturday, Dec 1 2018 7pm
Music / Alternative Rock
Two trios, one Glaswegian and one Tennessean, co-headline
The Louisiana: Saturday, Dec 1 2018 7:30pm
Music / Indie
The mod rock troubadour returns
O2 Academy: Monday, Dec 3 2018 7pm
Music / Indie
Mercury prize nominee
SWX: Monday, Dec 3 2018 7pm
Music / Christmas
Bristol's primary school children join together to sprinkle Christmas cheer
: Wednesday, Dec 5 2018 1:30pm & Wednesday, Dec 5 2018 7:30pm
Music / Punk
Bristolian quartet seeking political reform
The Louisiana: Friday, Dec 7 2018 7:30pm
Music / Choir
There will be plenty of audience participation in this sparkling festive concert
St George’s: Saturday, Dec 22 2018 7:30pm
Music / Classical
Aurora brings the year to a close in style
St George’s: Sunday, Dec 30 2018 7pm
Music / Rock
Wide and epic rock
Thekla: Tuesday, Dec 4 2018 7pm
Music / Pop
Psychedelic-pop band from Bristol
: Tuesday, Nov 6 2018 7:30pm & Thursday, Dec 6 2018 7:30pm
Theatre / Bea Roberts
Playful adaptation of Mary Norton's much-loved novel
: Thursday, Nov 29 2018 - Sunday, Jan 20 2019
Theatre / Bristol Old Vic
BOV transpose Scrooge et al to Victorian Bristol
: Thursday, Nov 29 2018 - Sunday, Jan 13 2019
Theatre / Children's Theatre
Enchanting family show from BOV and Ad Infinitum
: Friday, Nov 30 2018 - Sunday, Jan 6 2019
Theatre / Children's Theatre
Sensory theatre for ages 0-3, from BOV and Travelling Light
: Saturday, Dec 8 2018 - Sunday, Jan 6 2019
Theatre / Cabaret
Colourful festive cabaret from Shesus & The Sisters
: Friday, Dec 7 2018 - Sunday, Dec 30 2018
Theatre / Comedy
Latest in a long line of superb devised comedies from the Wardrobe team
: Thursday, Nov 22 2018 - Sunday, Jan 20 2019
Theatre / Closer Each Day Improvised Soap Opera
Dickensian fun from the brilliant Closer Each Day team aboard the ssGB
: Sunday, Dec 9 2018 - Saturday, Dec 22 2018
Theatre / Christmas Theatre
Festive fun with the brilliant Living Spit
: Friday, Dec 8 2017 - Saturday, Dec 30 2017
Theatre / Bristol Old Vic Theatre School
BOV Theatre School stage the classic tale
: Thursday, Nov 29 2018 - Thursday, Dec 13 2018
Theatre / Bristol Old Vic Theatre School
The unexpected story behind an iconic figure
: Thursday, Dec 6 2018 - Thursday, Dec 13 2018
Theatre / Comedy
Bluegrass comedy opera returns to the Alma a decade on
: Tuesday, Dec 18 2018 - Saturday, Dec 22 2018
Theatre / Children's Theatre
Deep in the forest, in a wintry land, lives a gorgeously grizzly Beasty Baby...
: Thursday, Dec 6 2018 - Sunday, Jan 6 2019
Theatre / MirrorMask Productions
New Bristol company MirrorMask adapt the Russian folk tale
: Tuesday, Dec 4 2018 - Friday, Dec 7 2018
Theatre / Tragedy
Bristol's OOOH ARRR Productions stage John Ford's 17th-century tragedy
: Monday, Dec 10 2018 - Friday, Dec 14 2018
Theatre / Christmas Theatre
Christmas panto time at the Hippodrome
: Saturday, Dec 8 2018 - Sunday, Jan 6 2019
Theatre / Comedy
The Kelvin Players do Terry Pratchett
: Tuesday, Dec 4 2018 - Saturday, Dec 15 2018
Theatre / Circus
BS3's acta mark 250 years of circus with their own devised play
: Thursday, Dec 6 2018 - Saturday, Jan 5 2019
Theatre / Children's Theatre
Come meet Santa and others at Ashton Court
: Thursday, Dec 6 2018 - Sunday, Dec 23 2018
Theatre / Comedy
Festive irreverence from this comedy drag show
Multiple venues: Friday, Dec 7 2018 - Friday, Dec 28 2018
Theatre / 100 years of suffrage
Variety night celebrates 100 years of women's votes
People’s Republic of Stokes Croft: Friday, Dec 14 2018 7:30pm
Theatre / Bristol Improv Theatre
Adult-only, audience-involving improvised pantomime
: Friday, Dec 21 2018 - Saturday, Dec 29 2018
Theatre / Bristol Improv Theatre
Improvised panto fun for ages 4-11
: Saturday, Dec 22 2018 - Sunday, Dec 30 2018
Theatre / Magic
Family-friendly magicians' mixed bill
: Thursday, Dec 27 2018 - Sunday, Dec 30 2018
Theatre / Circus
NYE: old-school rave circus from The Invisible Circus
: Monday, Dec 31 2018 9pm