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Planning to attend a festival in 2019? Want to dance the night away in an open field? Want to camp-out under the stars or simply enjoy great food and drink? This year Hampshire will be playing host to several of the UK’s best festivals.
Hampshire’s music festivals will be attracting some of the world’s most renowned artists. Chris Evans’ own festival Car Fest South will be back for another year raising money for Children in Need and the colourful and spectacular Southampton Mela Festival returns.
It’s not all loud music and partying in the Hampshire festival scene, the county can offer you a more relaxed festival environment with fantastic food, ales and acoustic music or for those petrol heads amongst you, a weekend full of motors and the sound of engines. 2019 will see a brand new festival held within the New Forest National Park for you and your four-legged friends, Dogstival.
Whether you’re new to the festival scene or you’re a seasoned festival goer who enjoys the alfresco lifestyle, Hampshire has festivals that are ideal for the foodies, the water sports enthusiasts, families looking for a fun day out or those ready to party all night into the early hours with friends.
Click here for our 2020 guide to Hampshire's Top festivals
Dogstival
18th - 19th May 2019, New Forest National Park
This is an exciting new festival for 2019 for dogs and dog lovers. Hosted by Chris Packham and with a stunning venue at Pylewell Park near Lymington in the New Forest, which has fields, exciting woodlands to explore and even its own beach! The festival will have some of the best food and drink producers from across the New Forest, a vintage fun fair and live music. They'll be interactive displays where everyone can get involved and learn more about their four-legged friends, but more importantly have lots of fun.
Alresford Watercress Festival
19th May 2019, Alresford near Winchester
This nationally acclaimed foodie festival celebrates the locally grown delicious crop of watercress. Situated in the quaint village of Alresford, this day festival is a must for food lovers with Hampshire Famers’ Market in attendance and watercress themed cooking demonstrations by celebrity chefs.
Find out more about the Alresford Watercress Festival
Alresford Music Festival
8th June 2019, Alresford near Winchester
This unique festival attracts over 4000 festival goers and is probably one of Hampshire best kept secrets. With five stages there is always something to see and dance to, from up and coming bands to established names. As well as a huge programme of music you'll find a festival village featuring a huge family arena with loads of free activities for all ages.
Find out more about Alresford Music Festival
Winchestival
15th June 2019, Winchester
If you love live music, good food and comedy this is the festival for you! Located in the historic city of Winchester this one-day family friendly festival is back for its 3rd year. Within the festival grounds you'll find the main stage with acts such as The Magic Numbers, Cassia and Lauran Hibberd performing, a comedy tent featuring Milton Jones, Zoe Lyons, Jonny Auwsum and more, the popular disco tent and a kids friendly stage with a line-up of entertainers. If you love food, the festival prides itself on offering the very best street food from across the UK.
Find out more about Winchestival
Smoked and Uncut
6th July (The Pig Brockenhurst) and 27th July (Lime Wood Hotel) 2019, New Forest
Hosted at the The Pig and the luxury country house, Lime Wood Hotel in the New Forest National Park. These day festivals offer the perfect blend of high-quality local food, English sparkling wine, local ale and great live musical entertainment. With a more relaxed feel, the event gives you the opportunity to unwind and enjoy the peaceful surroundings of the New Forest. This year The Vaccines will headline at The Pig and Sister Sledge will headline at Lime Wood Hotel.
Find out more about Smoked and Uncut at The Pig
Find out more about Smoked and Uncut at Lime Wood Hotel
Kitesurfing Armada
21st – 23rd June 2019, Hayling Island
Love kitesurfing, watersports and live music? This is the festival for you! The festival is the biggest kitesurfing event in Europe and combines kiting, live music, family activities and fundraising all into one weekend. The festival is free to attend and is popular with all ages. Everyone is welcome!
Find out more about the Kitesurfing Armada
Why not make your visit to Hampshire longer? Book accommodation and plan a visit to some of Hampshire’s amazing attractions.
Winchester Hat Fair
5th July – 7th July 2019, Winchester
Now the UK’s longest running festival of outdoor arts, this weekend festival is set in the centre of the historic city of Winchester. The Hat Fair offers a jam-packed programme of outdoor street performances, live music and fun and games over three days. There is something for all ages on offer across the city and best of all its absolutely free!
Find out more about the Winchester Hat Fair
Hampshire Food Festival
1st – 30th July 2019, across Hampshire
Organised by Hampshire Fare and originally established as a weekend event, this Festival has grown into a month-long, countywide programme of events celebrating the best of local food and farming. The Festival showcases the abundance of Hampshire’s food and drink through farm visits, vineyard and brewery tours, tastings, pop-ups, special menus, chef demonstrations, workshops, fairs and shows. It is believed that no other county does a Food Festival on such an ambitious scale as Hampshire!
Find out more about the Hampshire Food Festival
Mela Festival
Saturday 13th July 2019, Southampton
The Southampton Mela Festival returns for festival fun at Hoglands Park. Attracting over 20,000 people, this free festival is full of an assortment of musical styles including Indian Classical, Bollywood, Folk, World Music, Asian Fusion, Flamenco and Bhangra. Plus, exciting dance acts and family activities celebrating world culture.
Find out more about Mela Festival
Wickham Festival
1st – 4th August 2019, Wickham
This 4-day family friendly music and arts festival is held in the rural but beautiful location of the village of Wickham. In the past the festival has won prestigious awards for the best festival. Stay the whole weekend and camp out or if camping isn’t your scene full day and evening tickets are also available.
Find out more about Wickham Festival
Camping not your thing? How about Glamping? Glamping in Hampshire offers the experience of traditional camping but with a few added luxuries to make your stay more comfortable. See all glamping sites in Hampshire.
Boomtown
7th - 11th August 2019, The Matterley Estate near Winchester
For those looking for a party atmosphere all weekend Boomtown is one of Hampshire’s biggest festival. This 4-day festival takes place on the outskirts of the historic city of Winchester. Thousands are invited to embark on an immersive audio-visual joyride, dancing through the labyrinthine streets and plazas on a non-stop weekend journey of discovery! Every kind of musical genre is celebrated at BoomTown, from ska, folk, gypsy, reggae, world, punk, pirate and disco to electro-swing, jazz, blue-grass, bass, jungle and techno.
CarFest South
23rd – 25th August 2019, Overton
Carfest is a family friendly festival with a unique mix of fast cars, live music and tasty food. Located at Laverstoke Farm, this charity festival supports BBC Children In Need with the support of Virgin Radio DJ, Chris Evans. Camp the whole weekend or enjoy a day out. Tickets sell out fast, so be quick!
Find out more about CarFest South
Victorious
23rd - 25th August 2019, Portsmouth
Situated on the stunning Southsea Seafront in the maritime city of Portsmouth, Victorious is a three day festival, which is set to be bigger and better. This year's fantastic line up includes Two Door Cinema Club, The Zutons, Rudimental, Clean Bandit, The Vaccines, Razorlight and many more well known artists. As well as great music you can enjoy children's entertainment and activities, delicious food, comedy, real ale and much more. Tickets are now on sale.
Find out more about Victorious Festival
See what's new in Hampshire 2019 including events, exhibitions, attractions and accommodation
Discover our full list of festivals happening across Hampshire during 2019
Check out our full guide of 2019 events
Already know which Hampshire festivals you’ll be attending? Start looking for accommodation including campsites, glamping and holiday cottages.
Make sure you tag us in your Festival photos on Instagram using #VisitHampshire.
Related
Does your pooch deserve some love this summer? Dogstival returns to the Burley Park, in the heart of the New Forest National Park on 31st May-1 June 2025 and is packed full of canine approved entertainment.
The Alresford Watercress Festival returns to the streets of Alresford for 2024.
Alresford Music Festival is perhaps one of the most chilled, family friendly festivals of the summer. Welcoming over 4,000 festival visitors to an astonishing, music and fun filled 'party in the park' it's an established much loved festival which is a little known secret gem.
Held at THE PIG hotels and Lime Wood throughout the summer Smoked & Uncut promises street-food feasting, day-long drinking and dancing like no one is watching and sleeping under the stars. A stellar line up of musical talent will keep you entertained right throughout the day.
The Kitesurfing Armada is a unique kitesurfing festival held on Hayling Island, bringing the kitesurfing community and general public together for one fantastic weekend of kiting, live music, fundraising and entertainment! This event is the biggest kitesurfing and live music event in Europe!
A family-friendly festival of Street Performance and Outdoor Arts. Hat Fair 2024 will take place Fri 5 – Sun 7 July 2024 across the historic city of Winchester. Full festival line-up coming soon!
Hampshire Food Festival is taking a break for 2024. Check back for details of future events. Wander through vines, explore the lavender fields, tour breweries and get hands on in the kitchen. All this and more is happening across the county as part of July’s month-long Hampshire Food Festival organised by local food group, Hampshire Fare.
The Southampton Mela Festival is a long-standing summer highlight in Southampton's events calendar celebrating modern and traditional Asian culture. The festival will feature performances by world class musicians, dancers and feature a whole host delicous authentic food.
The outskirts of historic Wickham village provide a picturesque setting for one of the safest and most relaxed festivals of the summer. Enjoy some great live music. Wickham is rated by many as one of the safest, most relaxed and family-friendly festivals in the UK.
Carfest South will be returning to Laverstoke Park Farm, Hampshire in August as One Big Carfest. The 2,500 acres farm, near Overton, is owned by ex-racing driver and 1979 Formula 1 World Champion Jody Scheckter.
Victorious is a family friendly festival for music lovers and a stone’s throw from the sea. It’s a day festival located on the picturesque Southsea Seafront and takes place over August Bank Holiday Weekend.
