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Major Events, Exhibitions,Theatre, Music & Panto - March 2008

Major Events

7 - 8 June
Bristol Festival of Nature
Millennium Square and various venues

An ambitious and imaginative weekend of films, animal encounters, exhibitions, walks, talks, workshops and competitions for all ages and interests.

14 -15 June
Bristol Rat Race
Canon's Marsh Amphitheatre

Run, bike, abseil, climb, kayak and navigate your way around the urban landscape in teams of three. There are classes for elite and adventurers as well as an all-out rookie class.

22 June
Bristol’s Biggest Bike Ride
Canon’s Marsh Amphitheatre & Waterfront Square

This fun event promotes cycling as the more environmentally friendly and healthier alternative to the car. The ride will set off from Millennium Square and ends at Greville Smyth Park. Family and any children under 14 taking part must be accompanied by an adult.

21 June
International Cricket: England v New Zealand
Gloucestershire County Cricket Ground

Gloucestershire County Cricket Club their International match for the 2008 season, England v New Zealand on 21st June. Other scheduled cricket matches throughout June at GCCC include;

13 June: Gloucestershire -V- Warwickshire
15 June: Gloucestershire -V- Northamptonshire
24 June: Gloucestershire -V- Glamorgan
25 June: Gloucestershire -V- Worcestershire
27 June: Gloucestershire -V- Somerset

Until 31 August
The Bristol Shakespeare Festival
Various venues

Productions will be staged in the elegant Queen Square or the gardens of Ashton Court Estate.

Family Fun

2 June - 18 August
Bat Patrols
Gough’s Cave – Cheddar Caves & Gorge

Cheddar Caves are home to many of Britain’s endangered bats and Jon Hill invites you to join him on his Bat Patrol on Monday nights to discover how these remarkable little animals manage to survive.

7 June
Festival of Nature Commentary Tours
Bristol Ferry Boat Company.

As part of ‘The Festival of Nature’ take a harbour wildlife commentary tour with local wildlife expert Ed Drewitt. Pick up and drop off at the Watershed.

7 June
National Moth Night
Bristol Zoo Gardens

Take part in a noctural zoo visit on ‘National Moth Night’ with local moth expert Mike Bailey.

8 June
Butterflytastic Sunday Event
Ecohome

From 11am to 4pm there will be butterfly spotting, butterfly making and opportunities to walk the eco-trails to find out more about the impact of climate change on the local wildlife.

10 June
The Big Toddle
Bristol Zoo Gardens

A half-mile sponsored walk for pre school age children. Booking essential. Free entry for under 3s. 3-14 year olds entry price £5, adult entry price £8.50.

13 - 15 June
Playhouse Disney Live
Bristol Hippodrome

Get ready to laugh, sing and play along at a live show that lets kids join in on the fun!

14 - 15 June
Freshwater Ecology Weekend
Bristol Zoo Gardens

Get hands-on experience and learn about native invertebrates, crayfish and aquatic habitats.

14 - 15 June
South West Model Railway Show
Fleet Air Arm Museum

The show will feature some of the UK's most impressive layouts including the ‘N’ gauge Moorcock Junction, the 40 ft long Tarrant Valley layout and a 59 ft long layout by the Westford Modellers Group.

15 June
Hearing Dogs Charity Walk
Westonbirt Arboretum

Two-mile walk through Silk Wood starting at 11.30am. Adults £5, children no charge.

15 June
Beeses Cream Tea Trips
Bristol Ferry Boat Company

Travel along the leafy River Avon to an idyllic riverside garden for yummy cream teas at Beeses Bar and Tea Gardens.

15 June
Father’s Day
Bristol Zoo Gardens

On this Sunday dads can visit the zoo for free with a full-paying child or adult.

17 June
Father’s day
WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre

Enjoy a great day out and Sunday lunch with Dad. Dads go free with every paying child.

20 - 22 June
Lister Tyndale Steam Rally
Berkeley Castle Meadow

Expect to see many steam powered vehicles, classic cars and various demonstrations in the arena.

23 - 29 June
Celebrate National Insect Week
Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm

Learn more about these fascinating creatures with talks in Bugworld, plus the Phasmid Study Group. This event is free to all visitors upon admission. Half price entry for children in bug costume.

25 June
A Midsummer’s Eve
Brunel’s ss Great Britain

A magical evening with a Pimms reception, musicians and quoits on Top Deck, plus supper buffet below deck.

Until 18 June
Planetarium: Spring Night Sky
Planetarium

Take a trip to the stars beneath an immersive domed screen in Explore's very own Planetarium.

Until 30 June
Fossils and Funny Bones
Explore-At-Bristol

Go on a journey of discovery through time with Fossils and Funny bones, an interactive exhibition specifically designed for children under eight and their carers. Fossils and funny bones is free with a ticket to Explore. Children under three go free.

Until 2 September
LoveSport
Explore-At-Bristol

Get active, and try your hand at sports both familiar and unusual in this exhibition - why not shoot for goal in Penalty Pressure, slam-dunk in Hectic Hoops basketball or Go the Distance in the Tour de France?

Until 28 September
Guided Tours of the Bridge
Clifton Suspension Bridge

Free guided tours of the Bridge on every Sunday afternoon at 3.00pm throughout the summer. Meet/start at the toll booth at the Clifton end of the Bridge. The tour takes about 45 minutes.

Until 31 December
The Bristol Packet Boat Trips
Wapping Wharf

Take a trip on one of the Bristol Packets beautiful boats for a unique tour of Bristol and beyond.

Exhibitions & Art

8 June - 14 September
Diploma Works
Royal West of England Academy

This is an exhibition of Diploma Works given to the Academy by newly elected Academicians since 2001.

8 June - 20 July
Through the Lens Exhibition
Royal West of England Academy

The first RWA open exhibition to be devoted entirely to photography.

10 June
Cabot Circus Cantata
Arnolfini
Excerpts of the Cantata will be performed live and together with DVD footage documenting this unique participatory public art project which was first performed on site by the City of Bristol Choir.
28 June - 31 August
Far West
Arnolfini

Far West is an experimental project that will transform Arnolfini from an arts venue into a distinctive ‘concept store’, that explores the shifting of the economic centre of the world to the East.

29 June
Somerset’s Veterans Day
Fleet Air Arm Museum
There will be free entry to the Fleet Air Arm Museum as young and old, veterans and non veterans come to celebrate the contribution made by all armed services and learn about how to record their family history for posterity.

Until 15 June
Saskia Holmkvist – Role Control Exhibition
Arnolfini

Saskia Holmkvist's exhibition presents a major new video installation exploring notions of credibility, social strategy, and how we all engage in role-play.

Until 15 June
Torsten Lauschmann
Arnolfini

Torsten Lauschmann’s work is characterised by a sense of playful experimentation and generosity.

Until 18 June
Tyndale School’s Photography Exhibition
WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre

A superb display of work by pupils from six local primary schools.

21 & 22 June
Easton Arts Trail
Easton

Over 100 artists, makers and performers taking part in group art and craft exhibitions to include 19 open house exhibitions.

Until 2 September
Get Inside DNA
Planetarium

A whole host of interactive activities and events support Explore's exciting exhibition Inside DNA, running until 2 September.

Until 1 July
Solus et Dualis Exhibition
Royal West of England Academy – New Gallery

Two artists with different styles show how their solo work develops into duet images combining vivid colour and energetic lines.

Until 31 October
Breaking the Chains Exhibition
Bristish Empire & Commonwealth Museum

Breaking the Chains examines the historical context of slavery, its destructive effect on relations between Europe and Africa, the nature of survival and resistance amongst African and Caribbean communities, the role of abolitionists and the legacy of the slave trade today.

Theatre, Music & Film

3 - 7 June
Fiddler on the Roof
Bristol Hippodrome

Fiddler on the Roof is blessed with a gloriously rousing score full of memorable melodies, bound by a moving and compelling storyline, heart warming humour and colourful characters.

4 - 7 June
The Red Man
The Tobacco Factory

The Red Man emerges singing songs of fairytale fantasies and bloody nightmares.

5 - 8 June
Venn Festival
Various venues

Taking in over 50 local and international acts of the highest calibre, this year's Venn line-up is the broadest and strongest yet.

8 June
Much Ado About Nothing
Berkeley Castle

The Castle Gardens are open for picnics from 6.30pm and the open-air performance starts at 7.30pm. The cast is the all-male group, The Lord Chamberlain's Men.

12 - 21 June
A Month in the Country
The Tobacco Factory

Turgenev uses the complex interplay of love, esteem and affection, to explore the fragilities of human relationships, with comic results.

18 - 21 June
Oh! What a Night
Bristol Hippodrome

Oh! What a Night is an unashamedly escapist, high-energy, feel good show, combining comedy, romance and stunningly choreographed versions of everybody's favourite 70's hits.

20 June
Summer Evening Concert
Westonbirt Arboretum

The Zutons with guests Mystery Jets and Noah and the Whale. £26.00 plus booking fee.

21 June
Concert
Bristol Cathedral

Saturday 21 June: Bristol Choral Society Concert
Bach Mass in B minor.

24 - 28 June
Shout!
Bristol Hippodrome

Whether you're an original baby boomer or born in the 90s, Shout! is a celebration of an era everyone wishes they could have experienced - and now you can! Ready, steady, go!

25 June
Bon Jovi
Ashton Gate Stadium

The legendary rock band - lead by namesake Jon Bon Jovi - will be visiting Bristol as part of their Lost Highway UK tour.

25 - 28 June
Bristol Old Vic Theatre School presents: Emma
The Tobacco Factory

Emma Woodhouse is perfectly content with her life and sees no need for either love or marriage. But her carefully laid plans don’t take long to unravel and there are consequences she never expected…

27 June
Lee Lard
Thistle Hotel

Hilarious, side splitting comedy. Come join the fun! For bookings call 0117 930 33 21.

Until 5 June
¡Viva! Spanish & Latin American Film Festival
Watershed

Look back to historical events and periods of change in Spain and Latin America during the 70s and 80s.

Until 12 June
Jules et Jim
Watershed

The film follows the lifelong relationship between two writers and their mutual love for the beautiful but volatile Catherine.

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.