Serviced Accommodation Bristol > Bristol local information > Events August 2009
Major Events, Exhibitions,Theatre, Music & Panto - August 2009
Major Events
31 July – 2 August
Bristol Harbour Festival
Brunel’s ss Great Britain & Queen Square
Bristol's liveliest and largest Harbourside event features a wide range of entertainment, including music stages, dance stage, street theatre, all taking place before a backdrop of hundreds of colourful vessels in the floating harbour throughout the weekend.
6 – 9 August
The Bristol International Balloon Fiesta
Ashton Court Estate
A world-class four day event including mass launches of over 100 hot air balloons 6am and 6pm daily, over 250 trade stands, arena and aerial entertainments! Be sure to catch one of the two night glows where over 30 balloons light up the night sky in time to music with a fireworks finale and a performance of Red Arrows.
Until 31 August
Banksy vs Bristol Museum
Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery
Banksy, the world-renowned graffiti artist made famous by his controversial street art paintings, has returned to his hometown of Bristol to hold an official exhibition of his work. Free entry. Don’t miss it!
24 – 31 August
Festival of the Tree
Westonbirt Arboretum
Sculptree - watch throughout the week as twelve world-class wood sculptors transform tree trunks into stunning art forms. Woodcraft exhibition starting 28 August with stands selling tools and wonderful wood products.
Family Fun & Summer Holiday Activity
Ongoing
Animate It!
Explore-At-Bristol
The interactive exhibition has been developed in association with Aardman Animations. Create your own animations and broadcast them via a new interactive website. Also see the set from Aardman’s latest Wallace & Gromit animation, A Matter of Loaf and Death.
Brunel’s ss Great Britain:
1 & 2 August: Harbour Festival
Live entertainment, traditional craft displays plus Victorian games for children, next to the Dockyard Cafe.
1, 8, 15 & 29 August: Sticky ships
Make stunning collages, with an artist
22 & 23 August: Troopship
Soldier re-enactors, from the Crimean War, plus horses (11am - 16.00)
3 – 28 August
Summer Family Activities
Fleet Air Arm Museum
Every week day through the summer holidays there is something extra at the Museum from Family Trails which take place everyday to special workshops in which the whole family can take part in.
5 August
Rhymetime
Bristol Zoo Gardens
Sit in a friendly circle on the floor and sing along to many favourite nursery rhymes and songs. Children join in with the actions using the musical instruments provided.
6 – 9 August
Scooby-Doo and the Pirate Ghost
The Bristol Hippodrome
Join Scooby-Doo, Shaggy, Velma, Daphne and Fred as they encounter a new case to solve in their trade mark Mystery Inc. style.
9 August
Reptile Event
WWT Slimbridge Wetlands Centre
Enjoy the opportunity to get close to and even handle lizards, snakes and tarantulas.
8 & 9 August
Dalek Invasion!
Fleet Air Arm Museum
An army Daleks, Cyber Men and Miss Heartigan - the Cyber King, along with Ice Warriors and Pig Slave will scare the living daylights out of most mere mortals.
11 – 15 August
Annie
The Bristol Hippodrome
A heart-warming rags-to-riches story of Annie’s adventures, from the New York orphanage to the luxurious home of Oliver Warbucks.
13 August
Minibeast Magic (Children’s event)
Bristol Zoo Gardens
Join a minibeast safari spotting the little creatures that live on the Downs and create a marvelous minibeast pop-up book. 10.00am – 3.30pm £7.50/child. To book call 0117 9030609.
15 August
Migrations African Dance Party
Bristol Zoo Gardens in association with St George’s Bristol
Eat, drink, dance and be merry. African style evening at this amazing outdoor party in Bristol's most spectacular venue – it will be sure to have the whole family dancing! To book call 0845 40 24 001.
20 August
Tree-mendous Fun
Bristol Zoo Gardens
Spend the morning finding out about trees on the Downs and print your very own leaf pattern t-shirt in the afternoon. 10.00am – 3.30pm. £7.50 per child. To book call the Avon Gorge & Downs Wildlife Project on 0117 9030609.
21 & 22 August
Milkshake – Live In My First Concert
The Bristol Hippodrome
For the first time ever Milkshake! is hitting the road with a colourful LIVE concert!
Join the Milkshake! TV presenters and all your favourite Milkshake! TV characters in a brand new, action packed show.
Until 10 October
Castle Combe Track Days
Castle Combe Circuit
An exciting racing with some of the largest grids in the country, featuring 10 or 11 races crammed into a 4½ hour afternoon.
Until 4 November
Music and Story Time Fun
Bristol Zoo Gardens
Special guest music and story time leaders, including Sing and Sign and Jo Jingles on the first Wednesday of every month in the Terrace Theatre. Booking essential call 0117 9747385.
Until 31 December
Canoe Safari
WWT Slimbridge Wetlands Centre
Take to the water to discover a wetland trail rich in native plant species and wildlife. Pick up a paddle and step into a canoe for a wonderful wetland adventure.
Ongoing
Action Indoor Sports Stadium
Whitchurch Sports Centre
Play in netted Action Courts, exclusively designed for small sided versions of mainstream ball sports. For anyone from 7 to 70 years old! Have fun and get healthy at the same time!
Theatre, Music & Art
15 August
Theatre Tours - Annie
The Bristol Hippodrome
Get behind the scenes of your favourite show. Tours start at 10.30am, including refreshments Booking essential, call 0800 587 5007.
From 9 August
7th RWA Open Print Exhibition
Royal West of England Academy of Arts
A survey of contemporary printmaking selected from an open submission. Special features include bookplates and print works in three dimensions.
Until 13 September
She-who-Presents Exhibition
Spike Island
Spike Island has commissioned Glasgow based artist Clare Stephenson to develop a new installation for summer 2009.
16 August
Abba Mania
The Bristol Hippodrome
If you’re looking for an excuse to party, reminisce or simply be entertained by the best music there has ever been, then Abba Mania is for you!
23 August
The Big Act Presents – The Big Showdown III – Alice in Wonderland
The Bristol Hippodrome
The Big Act return with this exciting and unique theatrical challenge - to produce this entire production in just 48 hours.
24 – 29 August
Bill Bailey – Live
The Bristol Hippodrome
The Bill Bailey: Live tour will feature much new material as well as including parts of Tinselworm.
From 26 August
Festival of the Puppetry
The Tobacco Factory
The Tobacco Factory will be transformed into a Puppet Place featuring internationally renowned companies such as Green Ginger and Pickled Image.
Until 31 August
Art Exhibition at the Botanic Garden
University of Bristol Botanic Gardens
The regular Garden opening days will be Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday, plus Saturdays in July and August, 10am to 4.30pm. Adults £3.50, children £1.00.
Until 31 August
Tommy Støckel's Art of Tomorrow Exhibition
Arnolfini
Geometry, scale and perspective are essential to the work of Tommy Støckel. His fascination with modernism and science fiction novels from both the 19th and 20th centuries are reflected in his installations.
Until 31 December
Migrations Festival
St George’s Bristol
A unique festival celebrating world music, running throughout 2009 with an impressive line-up of world music artists including Oumou Sangare, Natacha Atlas and Roby Lakatosh.
Until 31 December
Festival of Ideas
Various Venues
Aims to stimulate the minds and passions of the people of Bristol.
Nature
4 August
Gulls with McGill
WWT Slimbridge Wetlands Centre
Join Reserve warden Martin McGill to observe the different types of Gulls situated on the banks of the River Severn.
4 – 6 August
Fabulous Fibres
Westonbirt The Arboretum
2009 is the UN International Year of Natural Fibres and to celebrate Westonbirt is setting out to discover the numerous ways plants provide us with the fibres.
University of Bristol Botanic Garden
To celebrate Darwin’s 200th anniversary there will be a series of innovative tours
4 August: Beagle Tour
Focus is on the varied habitats and amazing plant diversity that Darwin encountered on his five year voyage aboard the Beagle.
5 August: Darwin the Botanist Tour
The tour will highlight his studies of plant adaptations to the environment and plant reproductive biology.
13 July – 24 August
Bat Patrol
Cheddar Caves & Gorge
Each Monday evening Conservation Officer Jon Hill will give a talk about the Gorge's fascinating population of rare bats, and then lead a 1 1/2 hour patrol. To reserve a place 01934 742343. Ticket £10
14 August
Bat evening
WWT Slimbridge Wetlands Centre
Join the warden with bat detectors, to listen and observe the bats within the grounds.
Special Tours
6, 11, 19 & 25 August
Holford Heritage Tours
Westonbirt Arboretum
Step back into Victorian times, uncover the fascinating story of one of Gloucestershire's great families, the Holfords and relive over 150 years of intriguing Cotswolds.
Ongoing
The Bristol Packet Boat Trips
Wapping Wharf
Take a trip on one of the beautiful boats for a unique tour of Bristol and beyond.
3, 14, 15, 17, 29–31 August: Avon Gorge Cruises
Every weekend: Floating Harbour Tour
Every Sunday: Afternoon River Cruise to Beese's Tea Gardens
Ongoing
Bristol Ferry Boat Co
Habourside / City Centre
The distinctive yellow and blue boats offer a range of services from within the city limits and out to the countryside beyond:
16 & 30 August: Beeses Cream Tea Trips
Markets & Food
Every Wednesday
Bristol Farmers Market
Corn Street
Local producers from a 40-mile radius sell a massive range of food from cheese, fish, honey, cakes and vegetables to meat, game and poultry at this award-winning market.
First Sunday of every month
Slow Food Market
Corn Street
The UK’s first regular Slow Food market has become a monthly treat for lovers of real food. Slow Food embraces the theory of good food production.
