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Summer is in full swing, the school holidays start at the end of the month, and jubilant July brings an abundance of festival fun, exciting events, and outdoor adventures.
Here are our top picks of the happenings in Hampshire this July.
Hat Fair, Winchester
Friday 5 July – Sunday 7 July 2024
Winchester Hat Fair – the UK’s longest-running festival of outdoor arts – turns 50 this year and celebrates a golden half-century of street performances with its takeover of theatre, music, and dance in the city over the first weekend in July.
It opens with the Carnival on Friday 5 July, when school children and community groups will parade through the city centre in colourful costume and community choirs and dancers will congregate outside Winchester Cathedral for a joyous Opening Ceremony.
Portsmouth Pride
Saturday 6 July 2024
Portsmouth Pride returns to Southsea Common for a celebration of acceptance and inclusivity on 6 July.
2024 will see a host of top acts perform on Southsea Common including Drag Race UK series 5 sensation Vicki Vivacious, Amelle (former Sugababe), Lolly, the Cheeky Girls, and many more!
Portsmouth Pride comprises a group of local LGBTQ+ people and allies, who have gathered to create a pride event for the city. What's more, Portsmouth has been chosen as the host of UK Pride 2025.
CycleFest at Queen Elizabeth Country Park
Saturday 6 July 2024
Get on your bike at Queen Elizabeth Country Park on Saturday 6 July when CycleFest gives visitors the opportunity to try out different bikes and get advice from local bike shops.
There will also be guided rides and coaching taster sessions so you can make the most of the brilliant trails at the Park.
Let's Rock Southampton
Saturday 6 July 2024
The ultimate retro festival, Let’s Rock will be bringing back the best of the 80s to the Common in Southampton on Saturday 6 July.
80s icons The Human League and Jason Donovan are on the bill for 2024 amongst others, and the DJ battle between Harriet Scott and Pat Sharp is sure to have everyone up and dancing.
British Truck Racing at Thruxton Circuit
Saturday 6 July 2024 – Sunday 7 July 2024
Thruxton race circuit is hosting a festival of all things trucking on 6 and 7 July with some fantastic family activities alongside the British Truck Racing Championship at the UK's fastest race circuit as well as edge-of-the-seat action from a range of support championships.
Southern Cathedrals Festival 2024 at Winchester Cathedral
Wednesday 10 July – Sunday 14 July 2024
Bringing together the renowned choirs of Chichester, Salisbury, and Winchester Cathedrals, the Southern Cathedrals Festival 2024 at Winchester Cathedral brings five days of sacred choral and organ music performed to the very highest standard.
Outdoor theatre: The Adventures of Doctor Dolittle at The Vyne
Friday 12 July 2024
Pack your picnic and roll out your rug for an evening of outdoor theatre at The Vyne on Friday 12 July with a captivating performance of The Adventures of Doctor Dolittle.
Hugh Lofting's timeless classic celebrates the power of empathy and inspires audiences young and old to see the world through the eyes of animals. This funny, exciting new family musical is performed with flair and wit by Illyria in the great outdoors.
Lymington Seafood Festival
Friday 12 July – Sunday 14 July 2024
Eat and drink your way along Lymington’s pretty marina this July at the annual Lymington Seafood Festival – the ultimate summer food weekend full of delicious south coast food and music.
The Chefs Demo Stage showcases the region’s best cookery, and the smells from the BBQ, smoking, and asado fire cooking masterclasses will be hard to resist.
New for 2024, adults and kids can check in to the festival Cookery School for a range of culinary experiences and festival music includes ‘Tina Turner’ taking the stage for Saturday’s tribute night.
Dress Up Day: Jane Austen's House
Saturday 13 July 2024
Join Jane Austen's House for their popular annual Dress Up Day on Saturday 13 July. Step out in Regency finery to pose, picnic, or promenade at Jane Austen's House and their pretty cottage garden. If you don't have a Regency outfit of your own, there'll be lots available for you to try on.
Southampton Mela Festival
Saturday 13 July 2024
Celebrating modern and traditional Asian culture with performances by world-class musicians and dancers as well as a whole host of delicious and authentic food, the Southampton Mela Festival returns to Hoglands Park this July.
The Southampton Mela Festival is a celebration showcase of the year-round music and dance activity that Art Asia coordinates in the city. There will food stalls from local businesses across the southern region, as well as family fun activities, creative workshops, and a huge range of stalls to explore.
Stansted Summer Festival
Saturday 13 July – Sunday 14 July 2024
An eclectic weekend of family fun, the popular Stansted Summer Festival returns on 13 and 14 July for a weekend full of quirky entertainment – including music, performances, children’s entertainment, Napoleonic reenactments, classic cars, stall, and heritage crafts – within the setting of a quintessential country estate.
Fiesta - mini outdoor children's festival at Winchester Science Centre & Planetarium
Saturday 13 July – Monday 2 September 2024 (weekends and school holidays)
Get the summer started with a bang with Fiesta, an exciting mini children's festival of curiosity at Winchester Science Centre & Planetarium.
Themed around the Olympics and Paralympics, there will be interactive activities, Music Makers Mini Opening Ceremony hands on fun, and a free live science show about the body and exercise.
Sunset At The Trust at Hawk Conservancy Trust
Saturday 13 July, Saturday 27 July, and Saturday 10 August 2024
Spend a special summer’s evening at The Hawk Conservancy Trust as their feathered friends fly against a setting sun. Step inside the world of these awesome birds to watch them soar, swoop and dive over the grounds at dusk – showing off their skills before your very eyes.
Foodies Festival in Winchester
Friday 19 July 2024 – Sunday 21 July 2024
The nation’s top chefs and music artists are combined at the Winchester Foodies Festival – a delectable celebration of cooking, tasty food, delicious drinks, and live music known as Gastro-Glastonbury.
MasterChef Champions, Michelin-starred and top local chefs will be cooking up their signature summer recipes in the Chefs Theatre and the Great British Bake Off stars will be demonstrating how to make show-stopping cakes in The Cake & Bake Theatre.
Symphonic Ibiza and Blue will be bringing the music, and there will be plenty of street food and drinks to sample whilst the kids join in the fun at The Kids Cookery Theatre.
Hinton Ampner's Summer of Circus
Saturday 20 July – Sunday 1 September 2024
Roll up as a circus-themed summer of play arrives at Hinton Ampner later this month.
Step up onto the performance area and put on a show for your audience, conduct an outdoor orchestra in the music zone, practice your circus skills on the lawn, and test your flexibility with circus yoga.
The Hundred at The Utilita Bowl
Wednesday 24 July 2024
This July, The Hundred will return to the South Coast in 2024, delivering a month of world-class cricket and blockbuster entertainment for all the family.
The South Coast will host its first home fixture at The Utilita Bowl on Wednesday 24 July, with both Southern Brave men’s and women’s teams kicking off their competition against London Spirit.
The Brave will then be back at home for the first of three more double-headers on Thursday 1 August, taking on Manchester Originals, before their final two matchdays on Saturday 10 August against Trent Rockets and Wednesday 14 August versus Welsh Fire.
Mr Toad at Theatre Royal Winchester
Friday 26 July – Sunday 28 July 2024
Mr Toad is paying a visit to Theatre Royal Winchester just in time for the start of the summer holidays.
From Friday 26 July to Sunday 28 July the family show will tell the story of Toad Hall, which is under threat from the sly Miss Weasel, and Toad’s insatiable need for speed. Based on the classic, Wind in the Willows, Badger, Ratty and Mole also feature in a play filled with love, laughter, and puppets.
Portsmouth International Kite Festival
Saturday 27 July – Sunday 28 July 2024
Go fly a kite, up to the highest height at the kaleidoscopic Portsmouth Kite Festival on 27 and 28 July. This free event is a truly spectacular occasion with hundreds of kite fliers from around the world flying kites in a magical range of shapes and sizes on Southsea common.
The New Forest and Hampshire County Show
30 July 2024 – 1 Aug 2024
Showcasing the very best of all things agriculture from the New Forest and Hampshire, the New Forest and Hampshire County Show in Brockenhurst brings together livestock and equine competitors, local producers, and local businesses all topped off with lots of delicious food and drink and an exciting timetable of main ring attractions.
As well as the animals, there's countryside traditions and demonstrations, international show jumping, crafts, antiques, art, show gardens, flowers, vegetables, local produce, animals galore and show ring displays including the world-famous Heavy Horse Musical Drive.
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Related
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!
Chosen as the host of UK Pride 2025, Portsmouth Pride returns to Southsea Common for a celebration of acceptance and inclusivity.
We are excited to be bringing CycleFest to Queen Elizabeth Country Park this summer. There will be coaches on hand to help riders improve their skills, self-guided activities for families, free bicycle maintenance and representation from across the cycle industry bringing demo bikes and kit.
With a fabulous line-up of artists to bring you the very best of the 80s, and an action packed day of general 80s madness, there is plenty to do for everyone at this Family Friendly Festival!
Thruxton will host a festival of all things trucking and some fantastic family activities, making it a weekend that is not to be missed. Come and see British Truck Racing Championship at the UK's fastest race circuit.
The Southern Cathedrals Festival brings together the choirs of Chichester, Salisbury and Winchester, offering sacred choral and organ music performed to the very highest standard.
On 12 July at The Vyne, gates open 5.45pm. Performance 6.30-8.20pm. Illyria perform this much-loved family adventure; when Dr Dolittle learns how to talk to animals, he embarks on a thrilling quest to cure illness, spread kindness, and better understand animals.
Taking place on 14th – 16th July, Lymington Seafood Festival is one of the UK’s leading boutique food festivals. With views across the Solent, the town hosts some of the south coasts most delicious seafood stands, a pop-up restaurant, craft ales, gins, a rum shack and Hattingley Valley supplying award-winning bubbles. Expect live music all weekend with ‘Tina Turner’ taking the stage for Saturday’s tribute night.
Join Jane Austen's House for their popular annual Dress Up Day! On this special Saturday, they'd love you to join them by dressing up in your finest Regency outfits!
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.
Our highly popular Stansted Summer Festival will be back for 2024! Join us for our fourth eclectic weekend of family fun, quirky entertainment and a little bit of the eccentric all within the setting of a quintessential country estate.
Let's get the summer started with a bang – literally – with Fiesta, an exciting mini children's festival of curiosity! It's free with general admission and this year it's all about the Olympics and Paralympics.
The Hawk Conservancy Trust invites you to a special summer's evening with their feathered friends. Against a setting sun, you'll have the opportunity to meet a wide range of their incredible birds of prey and the dedicated team working alongside them. Step inside the world of these awesome birds to watch them soar, swoop and dive over the grounds at dusk – showing off their skills before your very eyes.
FOODIES FESTIVAL – the UK's biggest touring celebrity food and music festival series – announces a spectacular return to Winchester Foodies Festival returns to North Walls Recreation Ground, Winchester, from 19th - 21st July, with brand new features and a star-studded line-up of celebrity chefs and chart-topping music stars, including: Blue, Sister Sledge and the exhilarating Symphonic Ibiza Orchestra with live vocals and DJ.
FOODIES FESTIVAL – the UK's biggest touring celebrity food and music festival series – announces a spectacular return to Winchester Foodies Festival returns to North Walls Recreation Ground, Winchester, from 19th - 21st July, with brand new features and a star-studded line-up of celebrity chefs and chart-topping music stars, including: Blue, Sister Sledge and the exhilarating Symphonic Ibiza Orchestra with live vocals and DJ.
Roll up, roll up! A Summer of Play arrives at Hinton Ampner, with a circus twist! Step up and experience the gardens and grounds like never before and experience a whole world of PLAY.
The Hundred is an action-packed, unmissable cricket competition that fuses world-class cricket with blockbuster entertainment. Combining a short, fast format of cricket, with each game lasting less than three hours, and incredible entertainment beyond the sport, The Hundred is making cricket more accessible and reaching a broader audience. It’s simple: 100 balls per team, most runs wins, so every ball counts.
Wise Owl Theatre bring the high-spirited and downright ludicrous tale of Mr. Toad to the stage. With Toad Hall under threat from the sly Miss Weasel, Toads insatiable need for speed could land him in serious trouble! The story is based on Kenneth Grahame's Wind in the Willows, and includes appearances from the story's exquisitely drawn characters including: Badger, Ratty and Mole.
The 2024 Portsmouth Kite Festival will take place on the 27th and 28th July 2024. This free event is jointly organised by Portsmouth City Council and The Kite Society of Great Britain.
Taking place in Brockenhurst in the heart of the National Park, the New Forest Show offers visitors 30 acres of showground for the whole family to explore. Showcasing the very best of the New Forest and Hampshire, the Show brings together livestock and equine competitors, local producers, local businesses all topped off with lots of delicious food and drink and an exciting timetable of main ring attractions.
