My only problem with summer is that it flies by too fast—plenty of excitement went down in Bristol in June and July, but I barely had time to do it all! Luckily, the summer fun doesn’t stop there, and the (hopefully) sunny month of August still has plenty in store to keep us entertained. From the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta to the Forwards Festival, Bristol isn’t short of things to do this August!
Fly high with Bristol International Balloon Fiesta
The celebrations for Bristol International Balloon Fiesta begin this August as one of the city’s most iconic events returns to Ashton Court Estate. Europe’s largest annual balloon fiesta will attract hundreds of thousands of visitors to Bristol, and the free-to-attend three-day event will see 100+ hot air balloons of all shapes, sizes and colours take to the skies, plus the legendary Night Glow events, aerial displays, fairground rides, local music and a children’s entertainment stage.
Set sail on Titanic: A Voyage Through Time and dive 2.4 miles deep to the wreckage, before stepping back in time to experience what life was like aboard one of history’s most legendary vessels. Wander its lavish dining halls, walk the iconic Grand Staircase, stroll the deck, and uncover the personal stories of the passengers onboard. This extraordinary VR experience offers an unparalleled opportunity to learn about one of history’s most infamous tragedies.
The August Bank Holiday weekend sees seven of the area’s most highly respected breweries open their taproom bars for the East Bristol Brewery Trail. Visitors who hit the crawl will taste a delectable sampling of beers, as well as get the opportunity to talk to the local brewers about their practices or just have a good old chinwag. Those taking part are Arbor, Good Chemistry, Wiper & True, Unwins, Left Handed Giant, Moor Beer and Little Martha.
Catch the hottest musicians on the Downs
Entering its fourth year, FORWARDS Festival has quickly become an end-of-summer staple in Bristol. Taking place over the August bank holiday weekend, it looks like another banger is on the cards! This year, headliners include Little Simz, Self Esteem and Amyl & The Sniffers (while Lorde is performing her own show the night before)
While August typically marks the end of summer for most, the weather usually doesn’t disappoint. The sunshine is likely to return this month, bringing some glorious days to Bristol once again. In case it gets a little too hot, and you fancy somewhere to splash about, then check out these refreshing spots for outdoor swimming in and around Bristol to relax or cool off at.
Witness the world’s greatest classical music festival
The BBC Proms returns to Bristol for a third residency this August. This year, Bristol Beacon will host five concerts, including the RPS-Award winning Paraorchestra and Charles Hazlewood performing Steve Reich’s Music for 18 Musicians and Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra with conductor Adam Hickox. Meanwhile, up the road at St George’s Bristol, Tenebrae performs the Proms premiere of Joby Talbot’s Path of Miracles under founding conductor Nigel Short.
Bristol has some wonderful waterside pubs. (In fact, you can find some pretty cheap pints around Bristol’s harbour.) But some of the most memorable riverside pubs for a drink are actually a little further outside of Bristol. Be it Beeses in Bristol or The Boathouse in Bath, there are plenty of gorgeous pubs along the River Avon. You could even turn it into a riverside pub crawl!
Listen to some Old City sounds
The family-friendly music festival, Old City Sounds, is back this August. The free, day-long event will fill venues with live performances, DJs, family activities and surprise sets in celebration of the city’s diverse and vibrant music scene. This year’s event once again aligns with the Bristol Jazz Festival, headlined by the legendary Old Duke Jazz Festival – showcasing live jazz performances, all day, every day, over the August Bank Holiday weekend.
Clifton Suspension Bridge Trust is conducting its now-legendary Hard Hat Tours of the Clifton Suspension Bridge’s Underground Vaults. With a one-hour fully guided tour available for anyone aged 7+, this is your only chance of the year to see inside two of the 12 vaulted chambers. During the tour, visitors will learn about the construction–as well as the strange discovery–of these red brick abutments that still support the bridge, before donning a hard hat and high-vis jacket and descending the ladder.
Scream your lungs out at ‘Britain’s best mobile theme park’
Funderworld sets up on Durdham Downs this August to bring unlimited rides, rollercoasters and fairground favourites to the South West. Landing under the guise of ‘Festival of Summer’, ‘Britain’s best mobile theme park’ brings over 30 rides and attractions–and you can enjoy them all across four hours of unlimited riding!
Sip your way through Bristol Cider Week
Bristol is set to celebrate its love for cider once more with Cider Week, a nine-day extravaganza of craft cider and perry. In the Cider Capital of the World, expect everything from tap takeovers and tastings to orchard tours and boat trips, and so much more!
Hit up Avon Valley Adventure Park for Summertopia!
Avon Valley Adventure Park is back with its Summertopia! celebration. Expect a giant slip ’n’ slide, a collection of animatronic dinosaurs, and a beach zone with paddling pools for a proper sunny-day vibe. Plus, every day ends with a foam party! There’s also a special ‘return for free’ offer if you want to come back for round two, while on Fridays, the Park is open late!
The post 12 awesome things to do in Bristol this August – from riding hot air balloons to dancing at music festivals appeared first on Secret Bristol.
