Serviced Accommodation Bristol > Bristol local information > Events August 2010
Major Events, Exhibitions,Theatre, Music & Panto
Major Events
30 July – 1 August
Bristol Harbour Festival
Harbourside
Bristol's liveliest and largest Harbourside event, taking place against a backdrop of hundreds of colourful vessels in the floating harbour throughout the weekend, and finishing with a stunning fireworks display.
12 – 15 August
Bristol International Balloon Fiesta
Ashton Court Estate
With mass launches of over 100 balloons from 6am to 6pm daily, trade stands, arena and aerial entertainments, you certainly will not be bored.
14 – 22 August
Pride Bristol
Castle Park
Pride Bristol 2010 is organised by the LGBT community for the people of the South West. Pride Week offers an array of diverse cultural events, and features Pride Day, a large free festival in Castle Park on Saturday 21 August.
27 – 30 August
Festival Of The Tree
Westonbirt Arboretum
Westonbirt will welcome 12 talented sculptors, host over 130 craftspeople and offer tree-discovering family activities as part of its signature summer event, the Festival Of The Tree.
Until 22 August
Art from The New World Exhibition
Bristol Museum And Art Gallery
For the first time, a world-class collection of works from some of the finest emerging US urban and contemporary artists from the new American art scene is being unveiled internationally in a museum exhibition for British and European audiences.
Family fun
1 and 28 – 30 August
Bristol Harbour Train Rides
Brunel’s ss Great Britain
Be transported back to the days of steam when Bristol Museum’s most popular exhibit – the impressive steam train – chugs into action once again for a new season of harbour trips.
7 – 8 August
Dalek Invasion!
Fleet Air Arm Museum
Only the brave should venture to the Fleet Air Arm Museum on the weekend of 7 and 8 August as an army of Daleks accompanied by Davros, Miss Hartigan, Cybermen, Ice warriors, Screaming Angel and more will invade the Museum.
15 August
Children’s Summer Party
Old Down Country Park
Don't miss out on this year's annual Summer Party at Old Down Country Park. There will be live music and entertainment throughout the day, so be prepared to have fun and blow off some steam in the grounds.
Ongoing
Animate It!
At-Bristol
Morph will join a host of other Aardman Animations favourites in At-Bristol’s new permanent exhibition, Animate It! With over 300 hands-on exhibits to explore plus live shows and a planetarium, At-Bristol is one of the UK’s biggest and most exciting interactive science centres.
Throughout August
Children’s Activities at Berkeley Castle
Berkeley Castle
In addition to a guided tour of the Castle, visitors can also enjoy story telling (Tuesdays), archery demonstrations (Wednesdays) and arts and crafts (Thursdays) throughout August.
Throughout August
Hands On activities
Bristol Museum and Art Gallery
1 August: Hands On… Medieval Merriment. Take a closer look at objects from our medieval collections, handle and study artefacts and meet the museum's archaeology team.
www.visitbristol.co.uk
3 – 4 August Hands On… Going Underground Travel millions of years back in time and take a closer look at fossils and minerals.
10 – 11 August Hands On… Colour My World Discover the fabulous world of colour by looking at some weird and wonderful museum objects and selected exhibits from our current exhibition Art From The New World
7 – 18 August Hands On… Toy Time
Have fun creating your own moving toys (a snapping crocodile, a pecking bird and lots more) and discover what children played with in the past by handling a traditional toy.
24 – 25 August: Hands On… Time For Change Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter – nature is always changing. See how it affects our favourite wildlife with our craft and colouring activities.
Throughout August
Events
Brunel’s ss Great Britain
21 – 22 August: Crimean troopship. Soldier re-enactors take over the ship.
Until 31 August (except Mondays): Mr Brunel visits. Meet Britain's greatest engineer.
Ongoing: Exhibition – the Baker Gallery. Step back in time to 1970, hear the memories of those who rescued the ship from the Falkland Islands and witnessed her return, and view the stunning new animated film.
Ongoing: Victorian Surgeon. Seek medical advice from the ship's doctor. Meet a leech named Isambard.
Throughout August
Events
Castle Combe Circuit
31 July – 1 August: 60th Anniversary Raceday. One of the most significant meetings ever, as the circuit celebrates its 60th Anniversary.
4, 18 and 20 August: Track Days. If you want value, close exciting racing with some of the largest grids in the country and a race programme often featuring 10 or 11 races crammed into a 4½ hour afternoon then Castle Combe Circuit is for you.
30 August: A Plant LUX Sportscar Raceday. Everyone loves to see Aston Martins, Ferraris and Porsches – especially in the same race!
Get Close to Nature
8 and 14 August
Events on Troopers Hill in August
Troopers Hill Nature Reserve
Troopers Hill in St George is a fascinating mix of history, wild plants and animals, with stunning views and two listed chimneys, one of the most spectacular wildlife spots in the city.
8 August: Tai Chi on the hill. Join the Bristol School of Tai Chi for a Tai Chi demonstration followed by a one-hour introductory class with gentle exercise for all ages. No experience necessary.
14 August: Family Fun Picnic. This will be a fun day for all the family with storytelling and juggling from 3.00pm.
14 August
Teddy Bear’s Picnic
Horseworld
Free entry for each child – aged three to five – when accompanied by their teddy bears, plus teddy-themed fun all day long!
30 August
The Berkeley Show (Meadow)
Berkeley Castle
A typical country show and the highlight of the agricultural year in the Vale Of Berkeley. A great day out for any family wanting to see the beating heart of the countryside.
Exhibitions
Until 11 August
Summer Seasons
Square Gallery, Berkeley Square Hotel
The Square Gallery presents its Summer Seasons with Aperture. This solo show of new work by Stone Roses guitarist John Squire is a series of paintings and drawings on canvas and hand-made paper which continue Squire's study of negative space, consumer packaging and 'image burn-in': the lingering after effect carried on the retina.
Until 24 August
Martin Bentham
Royal West Of England Academy
This exhibition features recent work including figurative paintings by one of the academy's newest and most popular members, Martin Bentham.
27 August – 28 September
Anne Adamson
Royal West Of England Academy
This exhibition features enigmatic scenes exploring memory and imagination.
www.visitbristol.co.uk
Until 29 August
Surrealism
The Bristol Gallery
This dynamic exhibition explores the legacies of the 1920s’ Surrealism movement. Works by Surrealist masters, Salvador Dalí and Juan Miró will be exhibited alongside works by current artists, including Dirk Larsen and Simon Vaughan-Winter, to highlight the ongoing relationship between Surrealist aesthetics and contemporary art.
Until 5 September
Near And Far
Royal West Of England Academy
From Cirencester to Shenzhen; from Dorset to Dusseldorf; memorable moments in Mexico; vibrant views of Venice; quiet colours of the Cotswolds; windows onto Wales; tasty times in Thailand. RWA artists draw inspiration from their travels. Familiar and exotic scenes and interpretations on show. A summer exhibition with surprises.
Until 5 September
David Hockney: Six Tales From The Brothers Grimm
Royal West of England Academy
An extraordinary exhibition of etchings illustrating the six fairy tales from the Brothers Grimm. Hockney has given each fairy tale his own contemporary and humorous interpretations, reflected in the quirky nature of the images.
Until 12 September
Kerry Tribe
Arnolfini
This will be the first major solo exhibition in the UK by this Los Angeles based artist. Kerry Tribe works primarily with video, film and installation.
Until 12 September
Sequelism Pt 2
Arnolfini
Following on from Arnolfini large-scale group exhibition Sequelism Pt 3 in 2009, this exhibition will be an even larger project, sited within the public realm. Sequelism is an ambitious, multi-faceted project that looks into the future and at that which is yet to happen.
Until 1 November
Outdoor Equine Sculpture
Horseworld
The show will exhibit the work of over thirty exciting and diverse artists. The idea of the exhibition is to display horses, ponies and donkeys and their mythological variants, illustrating their place in history, prehistory and myth.
Ongoing
Plinth Project
Bristol Museum Art Art Gallery
Container, an artists led exhibition and workshop space set up by the Stokes Croft Contemporary Arts Project CIC, will be presenting a series of six newly commissioned works in an exciting collaboration with Bristol Museum And Art Gallery. During August, Ellen Bell’s work will be shown.
Theatre and music
Until 7 August
Les Miserables
The Bristol Hippodrome
This international award-winning musical sweeps its audience through an epic tale of passion and destruction, against the backdrop of a nation in the grip of revolution.
9 – 11 August
The Gruffalo
The Bristol Hippodrome
A magical musical adaptation of the best-selling picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, The Gruffalo has been performed over 4000 times to over a million people the world over!
15 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.
17 August
Elvis On Tour 75 Special
The Bristol Hippodrome
Who could imagine it? Elvis Presley at 75! Hard to believe but 2010 would have been that year!
18 August
In The Flesh – The Pink Floyd Show
The Bristol Hippodrome
With stunning renditions of tracks from The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn through to A Saucerful Of Secrets, Atom Heart Mother, Meddle, Dark Side Of The Moon, Wish You Were Here, Animals and The Wall.
www.visitbristol.co.uk
29 August
One Night Of Queen
The Bristol Hippodrome
Gary Mullen presents the live Queen experience – sound, look, showmanship, style and musicianship.
Special tours
Throughout August
Garden Tours
Tyntesfield
Enjoy a free guided tour of the formal gardens or Kitchen Garden. Meet by the Aviary. Tours run from Saturday to Wednesday.
Throughout August
Guided walks around Bristol
Various locations
By walking with a guide through the city centre, old town, markets and historic harbour, you can hear about the personalities, the stories and events that over centuries helped form Bristol into the energised and successful city of today.
Saturday morning: Bristol Highlights walks: Start from the Beetle sculpture in Anchor Square at 11am. £3.50 per person.
11 August: Clifton Walk: Start from Christ Church, Clifton Green at 6.30pm. Walk will take approximately 1½ hours. £3.50 per person.
17 August: Medieval Bristol. Start from the Corn Exchange, Corn Street at 6.30pm. Walk will take approximately 1½ hours. £3.50 per person.
Tuesday (ongoing)
BBC Bristol Tours
BBC Broadcasting House
Find out what goes on inside BBC Bristol, the regional television centre for the West of England. You'll learn how television and radio programmes are made and have the chance to visit our interactive studio where you can have a go at presenting the weather and star in your very own radio drama, complete with sound effects!
Ongoing
Pirate Walks
Harbourside
Join Pirate Pete for a guided walking tour of Bristol's historic Harbourside and its maritime history of discovery, trade, slavery and piracy. Walk times: 2pm on weekends. Book at the Tourist Information Centre or phone Pirate Pete.
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.
Every weekend: Floating Harbour Tour
Every Sunday: Afternoon River Cruise to Beese's Tea Gardens
Ongoing
Bristol Ferry Boat Co
Harbourside/city centre
The distinctive yellow and blue boats offer a range of services from within the city limits and out to the countryside beyond.
Fairs, markets and food
Throughout August
Food Festival
Quakers Friars
Quakers Friars will again become a foodie paradise during August thanks to a month-long celebration of Bristol’s culinary expertise. There will be free hands-on cookery workshops, demonstrations, tasting sessions and free samples from restaurants, cafes and delis throughout Quakers Friars and Cabot Circus.
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.
