Things To Do / Sponsored
55 Things to do in Bristol in August 2024
August 1: Breakfast with the Princesses, The Zion
Join Zion for an enchanting morning with Princesses Belle & Elsa, followed by a princess dance party full of magical games, fun, bubbles and ribbon dancing guaranteed to capture your child’s imagination.
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August 1-16: Lumosphere, Quakers Friars, Yuup
A new walk-through experience in Quakers Friars, for three weeks only. Explore six mind-bending themes and discover a world where experiential art and technology collide.
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August 2: Tru Sound Tribe present Goulash Disko Warm Up Party, The Full Moon and Attic Bar
In honour of the festival, Tru Sound Tribe will be hosting the Goulash Disko Warm Up – UK edition. With firm favourites seen on many a Goulash weekend, expect a dub-infused celebration of festival vibes with an all star lineup.
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August 2-4: The Gruffalo, The Witch and The Warthog with Julia Donaldson, Redgrave Theatre
Following a sell out season at the Edinburgh Fringe, Britain’s most popular children’s author presents a show full of magic, music and excitement. Along with four actors, including her guitar playing husband Malcolm, Julia brings six of her stories to life with songs, puppetry, and of course an appearance by the Gruffalo himself.
Julia Donaldson – photo: Redgrave Theatre
August 2-4: PUCKLE-FEST 2024, The Rose & Crown
Join The Rose & Crown in Pucklechurch for their second year of this jam-packed weekend of music, food, entertainment and fun for the whole family to enjoy. The weekend features 12 live bands, kids’ entertainment, local community projects, welly-wanging competitions and a large selection of cider.
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August 1-September 1: Space Shanty, M Shed, Yuup
A playful experience exploring Bristol’s involvement in space travel. Follow Bemmie the ‘Ratronaut’ as he introduces you to heartwarming stories through video, audio and augmented reality.
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August 3: Colour Block Festival, Trinity (The Den)
It’s been five years since the first backyard BBQ, and to mark it Bristol Barbecue Family are having their biggest event to date. Get ready to immerse yourself in a world of vibrant colours, as they bring you the ultimate colour-themed festival. They want to see you in the boldest, most eye-catching ensembles you can muster. Bring out the yellows, greens, oranges, and every colour in between – let your creativity shine.
August 3: Bristol Northern Soul Club, Wiper & True
Bristol Northern Soul return for another all-day party, spinning classic and rare Northern Soul records. Get your dancing shoes on and join another legendary day party in the taproom.
August 4: Glitterer, Exchange
Glitterer is an American rock band from Washington D.C. Initially a solo project, the band was formed and is fronted by Ned Russin, vocalist and guitarist of the band Title Fight.
August 4: Bristol Bs4 Sunday Market, Green works
Creatives, cooks and crafters head on over to GreenWorks for the first Sunday Market of the month. Stalls include (but are not limited to) Back Garden Pizzeria, Caribbean Food, Bees Knees Apparel, Tom Porter prints & zines, bespoke burniture, handmade jewellery, hair braids and extensions, and local handmade prints and artwork.
August 5: Musical Bingo, The Old Bank
Join Stacey Charles for three games of musical bingo. Have fun with friends, win fabulous prizes, and enjoy some live music by the Caribbean performer. Instead of boring old numbers being called out in a normal game of bingo, Stacey has replaced the Bingo cards with names of your favourite songs, and she will sing 30-60 seconds of the most toe-tappin’, bum wigglin’ hit songs from the past and present.
August 5: Personal Trainer: Live + Signing, Rough Trade
Rough Trade Bristol is very excited to present a live performance and signing from Personal Trainer. This unique event celebrates the release of their latest album Still Willing, released via Bella Union.
August 6: Lord of the Dance, Bristol Beacon
After celebrating the 25th anniversary of Lord of the Dance in 2022, Michael Flatley is back with a dazzling revival of his iconic dance extravaganza. The 2024 tour promises to be an extraordinary journey that will captivate audiences again with this record-breaking show.
August 6: Sour Kix, Exchange
Taking you on a ride with their infusion of anthemic pop and modern rock, Sour Kix are an energetic female-fronted band, guaranteed to keep you entertained. The lead singer, Amelie, captivates audiences with her striking vocals and enthralling stage presence. Joined by her brothers Louis on guitar and Ollie on drums, and closest friend Ed on bass, Sour Kix provide a memorable performance with songs sure to get stuck in your head.
August 7: Bristol Careers Fair, Bristol Beacon
Looking for a new career? Looking for your next hire? The UK Careers Fair returns to Bristol on Wednesday, August 7. Meet local and national employers face-to-face, and apply directly for hundreds of vacancies.
August 7: MAD – THE SHOW, Greenway Centre
Step into a world of wonder at Bristol’s first all-drag Alice in Wonderland themed show. Get ready to be mesmerized by the dazzling performances of talented performers as they bring to life the characters we all love. Experience a night of fantasy, fashion, and fierce entertainment like never before. Don’t miss out on this enchanting extravaganza that promises to be a night to remember.
August 7: Family Yoga, Zion Bristol
Join Claire for an introduction to yoga for the whole family to enjoy. Starting with some breath work and building up to fun poses, Claire will create a sense of peace and calm. She aims to make the class welcoming and inclusive to all, to help you relax but feel the benefits of a well-rounded yoga practice and offering some advice on how you can carry on at home.
August 8: Dusk Brothers, The Fleece
With an unconventional arsenal of self-built instruments fused with growling vocal harmonies, The Dusk Brothers’ gritty foot-stomping swamp-blues sound is huge and distinctive. Following the release of their critically acclaimed debut EP Storms, Rum, Liars and Guns, Dusk Brothers are back on tour this summer for their second release, Roses in the Bonecart.
August 9-11: Bristol Balloon Fiesta, Ashton Court
The iconic Bristol International Balloon Fiesta is a free to attend, three-day event that celebrates the city and its heritage links to the remarkable world of hot air ballooning. The rolling hills of Ashton Court on the city’s outskirts will be home to a temporary playground of entertainment, and a stage-set ready and waiting for over 100 hot air balloons to take flight. At the heart of the experience of this unique event, is a game of chance – will these majestic hot air balloons take flight?!
August 9: Summer Lates – Perform, Bristol Zoo
With an exciting array of performances including live acrobatics, magic, stilt artists, aerial silk performers, a Chinese Pole performance plus two fascinating talks delivered by animal experts, this will be a night you don’t want to miss.
August 10: Back To The 90s – Summer Outdoor Festival, Motion
Join Motion for a huge all-day summer outdoor 90’s festival at. With a massive lineup of a variety of music tastes including Old Skool Dance Anthems, House Anthems, Trance, Hardcore and loads more.
August 10: We Come 2 Party, Totos by the river
We Come 2 Party will be a fun, lasting and memorable day out for those who fancy a scenic groove. This event will also feature special guests including Playboy, Bandyt, Dj Jemz, Dj T.
August 10: Streetwear Market, Art Club
Hosted by 4szn studios , come vibe out and shop whilst networking with people with common interests in fashion + music. The perfect mix of tunes being played through out the day with open decs also.
August 11: Kodachrome, The Louisiana
Emerging from Bristol and Bath these five talented musicians – fronted by twins Ava & Conan – combine indie, rock, funk, metal and blue-eyed soul. Creating intelligent and interesting music, they showcase every song as story, with visual performance being highly important to them and a standout feature of their exciting live shows.
August 12: Screensaver, Exchange
Screensaver balance frenetic energy with unsettling tonalities to create rhythmic gloom that rides the new wave to synth-punk.
August 13: BrewDog Harbourside Pub Quiz, Brewdog Bar
Are you a trivia fiend? Or perhaps you just love a good challenge? Either way, gather your friends, grab a pint, and prepare for an evening filled with brain-teasers, laughter, and epic competition. Whether you’re a seasoned quizzer or a newcomer looking for some fun, there’s a spot for everyone at Brewdog quiz night.
August 13: Summer of Sharks, Bristol Aquarium
Bristol Aquarium is home to six different types of shark, with breeds both native to the UK and from around the world. You can find the lesser spotted catshark, bull huss shark, Arabian carpet shark, brownbanded bamboo shark, banded Japanese smooth hound and the Port Jackson shark amongst the thousands of aquatic creatures available to explore at the aquarium. Tick them off on your activity sheet as you go around.
August 13: Terrorizer, The Fleece
Founding Terrorizer member and legendary drummer Pete Sandoval of Morbid Angel will be joined by classic era veteran David Vincent for an exceptional Terrorizer UK tour. The band celebrates 35 years of the classic World Downfall. Support comes from London’s own purveyors of deathly catharsis, DAMIM.
August 14: Girls Night – LGBTQ+ Speed Dating, Revolution
‘Girls Night’ events are aimed at anyone who identifies as a woman looking to date other women. Whether you’re looking to explore new connections or to meet that special someone, it’s a safe and inclusive environment to meet like-minded individuals. Throughout the night you will have the chance to speed date everyone at the event as well as time to mingle before, after and during breaks.
August 15: A Levels Results Night With SOTA, SWX
Bristol’s biggest A-levels party has landed and SOTA one of the UK’s hottest drum and bass acts, will be headlining. Expect nothing less than 2000 people, three stages of music and one huge party.
August 16: Alive – Pearl Jam tribute, O2 Academy
Paying tribute to one of the most influential rock bands, Pearl Jam UK take on songs from the entire Pearl Jam back catalogue to deliver a truly genuine performance.
August 16: Ilian Tape, The Clock Factory
The Zenker Brothers, the Munich-based duo and founders of Ilian Tape, known for their unique blend of techno and breakbeat, will be keeping the dance floor moving with their distinctive and innovative sounds. Joining them is Skee Mask, whose intricate and atmospheric productions have earned him a cult following in the electronic music scene. Expect a journey through deep rhythms, ambient textures, and breakneck beats that push the boundaries of contemporary techno.
August 17: Good God No!, The Kings Arms
Good God No! are a South West-based five-piece contemporary rock covers band, established and gigging throughout the region since 2002. The professional yet fun-loving bunch always deliver a great performance and endeavour to ensure that everyone in the venue has a great time.
August 17: Propaganda Bristol – Indie & Alternative Party!, The Fleece
Prepare for an unparalleled audio-visual experience, featuring a mind-blowing mix from Arctic Monkeys to The Vaccines, Paramore to The Killers, Bring Me The Horizon to Sam Fender, Hot Milk to Asnikko and much more. Propaganda’s DJs have torn up the stage at some of the biggest festivals in the world including Glastonbury and Reading & Leeds. Previous guests who have DJ’d or performed live at Propaganda include Mumford & Sons, Ed Sheeran, Bastille, Vampire Weekend, Calvin Harris, Haim, The Enemy, The Libertines, IDLES, Foals, Mcfly, Frank Turner & many, many more.
August 18: Adventure Cinema, Queen Square
Adventure cinema always like to bring you an eclectic mix of classics, musicals, big blockbusters and family films to enjoy under the sun and stars, allowing you to immerse yourself in the magic of the movies and have the time of your life with your friends and loved ones. All you have to do is buy a ticket, pack your picnic, camping chairs and blanket, and join others outside.
August 19: Jess Williamson, Strange Brew
Jess Williamson is an American singer-songwriter based in Los Angeles. Her fifth album Time Ain’t Accidental revels in the earthly and the carnal; evocative of iconic Western landscapes, tear-in-beer anthems, and a wholly modern take on country music that is completely her own. Above everything, sonically and thematically, this album is about Williamson’s voice, crystalline and acrobatic in its range, standing front and centre.
August 20: Bristol to Shambala Ride, Bristol Temple Meads
Join Red Fox Cycling for the fourth year of the three-day guided and supported Bristol to Shambala Festival cycle ride, with overnight camps in the Cotswolds and Ratley en route, and optional return coach and bike transfer back to Bristol.
August 20: Willy Tea Taylor, Hen & Chicken
CRH Music is thrilled to announce Willy Tea Taylor’s tour featuring his latest album, The Great Western Hangover. Experience an exclusive and intimate performance by Willy Tea Taylor in their music room, The Chicken Shed. Willy is a father, brother, and son. His remarkable ability to write subjects in a simple yet profound way makes his songs a great place to lose yourself. Much of that comes from his upbringing surrounded by rolling hills and horses in a small town in California known as the ‘Cowboy Capital of the World.’
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August 21: MASSIVE Preview: Kneecap + Q&A, Watershed
The real life story of how an anarchic Belfast trio became the unlikely figureheads of a civil rights movement to save and reinvigorate their mother tongue. Aa Q&A with Kneecap and director Rich Peppiatt follow the screening.
Kneecap + Q&A – photo: Watershed
August 22: WALL•E, The Planetarium
This delightful sci-fi misadventure is both an epic voyage into humanity’s future, and a nod to silent comedy cinema, which will delight the entire family.
August 22: The Guns N’ Roses Experience, Lost & Found
With a true G’N’R sound and stage show, the Guns N’ Roses Experience meticulously recreates every visual detail and musical note to capture that reckless spirit of the original G’N’R legendary live performances. In a bone-crushing two hour set all the essentials are covered with breathtaking accuracy including Welcome To The Jungle, November Rain, Sweet Child O’ Mine, Paradise City, Mr. Brownstone, You Could Be Mine, Nightrain, Rocket Queen, Knocking on Heaven’s Door and many more.
August 23: ONYX, Lost Horizon
Prepare to be blown away by the energy and raw talent of ONYX as they bring their explosive live performance to the stage. With hits like Slam and Throw Ya Gunz, they are sure to ignite the crowd with their signature hardcore sound.
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August 24-26: BBC Proms 2024, Bristol Beacon
This summer, we are delighted to be a host venue for the world’s greatest classical music festival. Part of the recently introduced Proms Across the UK, four concerts make up Proms Bristol: immersive experience The Virtuous Circle from Charles Hazlewood and Paraorchestra, the BBC Singers at 100 with a selection of a cappella masterpieces, Kirill Karabits and the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra with soloist Evelyn Glennie and a fun-filled CBeebies: Ocean Adventure with Kwamé Ryan, the Southbank Sinfonia and Andy Day.
BBC Proms – photo: Bristol Beacon
August 24: Summer Garage Outdoor Rave, Motion
Summer Solstice returns to Motion Bristol this August Bank Holiday Weekend for a massive garage rave. Tickets for this event will sell out, as they do every year. Although the lineup is still to be confirmed, you can expect ten hours of old school garage anthems, a massive line up, headlining artists, a glitter station and much more.
August 25: Massive Attack, Clifton Downs
Taking place on August 25 at Clifton Downs in their hometown of Bristol, the show promises to be the lowest carbon show of its size ever staged. The event will mark the culmination of 25 years of climate activism on the part of the band, and a first physical fruition of their collaboration with climate scientists and analysts from the renowned Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, including Massive Attack’s commissioning of the only Paris 1.5 compatible roadmap for decarbonisation of the live music sector.
August 26: Cassyette: Live + Signing, Rough Trade
Rough Trade Bristol is very excited to present an in-store performance and signing from Cassyete. This unique event celebrates the release of her debut album This World Fucking Sucks, released via 23 Recordings.
August 27: Bristol Street Music, The Canteen
Bristol Street Music is a jazz collective formed on the post-covid streets of Bristol, when the streets and parks were the only spaces for musicians to perform and play together. Their sound has an intensity amongst the soulful and laid-back neo jazz feels, with a potential to dive down into breakbeat and avant garde funk. Along with a couple of guests, the band will be lead by Alex Veitch on keys and Chris Langton on drums and bass.
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August 27-28: Hoo-Ha! 2024, Bristol Beacon
Hoo-Ha! Festival, Bristol’s biggest annual event made for kids, returns to Bristol Beacon this August for two days of music, dancing and fun for little people and their families. After one year off, Hoo-Ha! is back with a bang for 2024, and bigger than ever before. Expect all areas of Bridgehouse to be packed to the brim with shows, shenanigans and spectacles, as well as shows taking place in Lantern Hall. There’ll be plenty of opportunities to get creative with activities, things to discover, see and do. It’s free entry, no tickets required – so come one, come all to the Hoo-Ha party: a hullaballoo of family fun!
Hoo Ha – photo: Bristol Beacon
August 28: Durry, Strange Brew
Minnesota sibling duo Durry play scruffy alt-pop rooted in suburban ennui but searching for ambition. After forming in 2020, Austin and his sister Taryn Durry enjoyed viral success when a demo of their rousing slacker anthem, Who’s Laughing Now, became a runaway TikTok hit in 2021. Billing themselves simply as Durry, the band capitalized on the attention with their rambunctious 2023 debut album, Suburban Legend.
August 30: RVG, The Louisiana
2020 will see Melbourne’s RVG return with a brand new album, the first since their inimitable debut A Quality of Mercy which was released in 2017. The band shared roaring single Alexandra in mid 2019 before heading out on tour in the UK & Europe with Sleaford Mods and Tropical Fuck Storm.
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August 30-31: Harvest Home Festival, Mendip Base Camp
A two-day, family friendly festival with camping just a few miles from Bristol. Friday entertainment includes a 40ft cinema screen showing The Greatest Showman, plus live music, fairground rides, camp fire, food stalls and bar. Saturday includes live music from six great bands, a magic show and use of Mendip Outdoor’s sporting facilities. Come for the evening or buy a weekend ticket with camping included.
Harvest Home Festival – photo: Mendip
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Throughout August: Tartan Titans at Avon Valley
Get ready for the ultimate summer challenge, Bristol! The UK’s longest inflatable assault course is returning to Avon Valley. With over 50 obstacles to tackle, the Tartan Titan is the perfect day out for adventurous friends and colleagues. Don’t miss out – book your tickets now for an unforgettable experience!
Charity fun – photo: Avon Valley adventure & wildlife park
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Throughout August: Summer at Watershed
We’ve planned a summer of fun throughout August at Watershed, for kids and grown-ups, come rain or shine, night and day – with family matinee screenings at just £5.00, competitions, cocktails and plenty more.
Summer days & summer nights – photo: Watershed
And coming soon…
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September 9: Mark Smith – For Valour – The Story of the Victoria Cross’, Redgrave Theatre
Acknowledged as a Worldwide expert on the Victoria Cross, Mark has written five books on ‘The Great War’ and contributed to many other books and magazines. ‘For Valour – The Story of the Victoria Cross’ will give you the opportunity to witness his extensive knowledge live as he explores and details the instigation of the VC, expel some of the myths and presents some of the most breathtaking stories of those men who have been awarded this country’s highest award for bravery.
Mark Smith – photo: Redgrave Theatre
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September 19: Embrace the Green Future: Attend for Free!, Future Leap
Join us at Future Leap’s Festival of Sustainable Business Exhibition at the newly re-opened We The Curious. Discover innovative green solutions, engage with local sustainability leaders, explore interactive exhibits and hear from inspiring speakers including Carla Denyer MP. Free for the public—don’t miss this chance to inspire change and build a sustainable future!
Main photo: Kneecap + Q&A – photo: Watershed
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