Southampton Events and Festivals

(Southampton, Hampshire, England, UK)

Whether you are looking for live music, open-air concerts, flower shows, theatrical events, a balloon festival, boat show, art exhibitions or simply a lively nightclub, Southampton's annual calendar offers something for everyone, with many of the most prominent musical events taking place at the Guildhall, in the city centre.

The summer months are crammed with festivals and during June and July, there are plenty of things to do. Highlights at this time of the year include the Kite Festival at the Lordshill Recreation Grounds, the Beer Festival at the Guildhall, and the Power in the Park at Southampton Common.

National Public Holidays

• 1st January - New Year's Day
• Good Friday / Easter Monday - late March or early April
• First and last Monday in May
• Last Monday in August
• 25th December - Christmas Day
• 26th December - Boxing Day

Calendar of Festivals and Events 2014 / 2015

January

• New Year's Day - January 1st, national public holiday when a number of local festivities take place, although many people are often recovering from the night before
• January Sales - throughout January, most shops, both large and small, offer huge discounts to make way for their spring stock

February

• Southampton Film Festival - mid-February, well-attended screenings of the latest films, at the Harbour Lights Cinema in the city's Ocean Village area

March

• No notable festivals are held in the city of Southampton during the month of March

April

• Hampshire Spring Garden and Craft Show - early April, notable horticultural event, held at Broadlands in nearby Romsey

May

• Access Festival (Accessfest) - early May, local bands play to large crowds at Mayflower Park, in aid of charity

June

• Southampton Kite Festival - mid-June, with many large and colourful kites, flying displays and trade stands, held at the Lordshill Recreation Grounds
• Southampton Beer Festival - early June, held at the Guildhall and featuring over 80 different real ales, ciders and also a number of bottle beers, together with beer-related competitions, food stalls and live music
• Power in the Park - late June, a major annual music event taking place on the Southampton Common, famous for being the largest free open-air concert in the whole of the south, regularly attracting in excess of 80,000 people

July

• The Larmer Tree Festival - early July, expect a real party atmosphere at this growing music festival, with live bands performing on an outdoor stage at the Victorian Pleasant Gardens, in Cranborne Chase
• Garden Festival - mid-July, with flower tents, trade stands and a host of colourful plants, at Southampton Common

August

• Cowes Week - early August, a major sailing event on the nearby Isle of Wight, with day trips departing from Southampton's Ocean Village Marina and offering excellent views of this major event

September

• International Boat Show - mid-September, noteworthy boat show taking place at the Mayflower Park, including many large trade stands, stunning boats, and a gala dinner

October

• Autumn Pumpkin Festival and Scarecrow Avenue - held in early October at the Royal Victoria Country Park. Organised by the Jubilee Sailing Trust (J.S.T.) proceeds will enable people of all physical abilities to participate in Tall Ship Sailing
• Digital Arts Festivals - late October, lasting approximately eight weeks, this relatively new event showcases a range of modern works, by both local and international artists. The festival is centred around the Bargate Monument Gallery and a number of other nearby venues

November

• Christmas Lights Switch-On - mid-November, official start of the Christmas season, with the city's lights usually being switched on by a local celebrity, in front of large crowds
• University Craft Fair - late November, held at Southampton University, with a number of stalls offering a range of Christmas gift ideas

December

• German Market - throughout December, a traditional German-style Christmas market, held in the Above Bar precinct and featuring many genuine German traders and plenty of hot food
• Christmas Production at the Mayflower Theatre - mid-December, Christmas-themed music events are normally held at the Mayflower at this time of the year
• New Year's Eve Celebrations - December 31st, with parties all over the city, including many ticket-only events. Clubs and restaurants fill up quickly all over the city on this night