Bristol Events August 2012
By: Patricia

Major events

2 – 4 August

Redfest Bristol

Redfield Area, East Bristol

Redfest Bristol is an independent, free arts and music festival bringing music, film, cabaret, comedy, animation, graffiti, photography, art and fun to the community of Redfield, east Bristol. Free.

9 – 12 August

Bristol International Balloon Fiesta

Ashton Court Estate

More than 100 balloons will take to Bristol’s skies from 9-12 August as part of the annual Balloon Fiesta, held at Ashton Court. Visitors can catch the early morning mass ascent on the Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the weekend, or stay late on Thursday and Friday to watch the spectacular nightglows when over 30 balloons glow in time to music. This free world-class hot air ballooning festival is recognised as one of the UK’s top three best tourism events in the country, as awarded by Visit England this year. Free.

13 – 19 August

See No Evil 2012

See No Evil returns to Bristol from 17th – 19th August, this year as part of the Cultural Olympiad programme. A free party will take place on Friday 17 August to launch the See No Evil event, with a spectacular light show and live music. The show, with projected lights into the night sky, will be staged in the Passenger Shed next to Temple Meads railway station on the eve of the See No Evil street art weekend in Nelson Street. This free ticketed performance will be arranged with music by musicians Adrian Utley from Portishead and Will Gregory from Goldfrapp. On Saturday and Sunday, the celebrations continue on Nelson Street where new urban art installations will be unveiled and the whole street will be transformed into a New York-style block party. Free.

18 August

Outdoor cinema night – Jurassic Park

Bristol Zoo Gardens

An open-air screening of the iconic film, Jurassic Park will take place at Bristol Zoo Gardens which is the perfect setting for this unique evening showing as it is currently hosting DinoZoo; an exhibition of 12 large moving, roaring and water-spraying dinosaurs. Tickets £8 for adults, £5 for children.

22 – 25 August

FIRA Robo World Cup 2012

At-Bristol

At-Bristol is hosting the FIRA Robo World Cup this year – the first time it’s been held in the UK and the biggest one to date. This free event will feature plenty of robots competing to be the best at football, weightlifting, racing and basketball shooting. It’s showcasing pioneering mechanical, electronic and advanced artificial intelligence technology and is a collaboration between the University of Bristol and the University of the West of England, and is being hosted in At-Bristol. Free.

25 – 27 August

Treefest

Westonbirt Arboretum

This weekend event is a celebration of trees on a grand scale, with family activities, wood carving, live music, food and cookery demonstrations. Tickets £10 for advance adult day ticket, children free.

Until 2 September

Dinozoo

Bristol Zoo Gardens

Dinosaurs have made a comeback this summer. 12 huge animatronic life-like species have been placed around the zoo in an amazing exhibition. Entry is free with normal admission. Tickets £14 adults, £8.50 children.

31 August – 17 November

Disney’s The Lion King

The Bristol Hippodrome

A spectacular visual feast, this adaptation of Disney’s classic film transports audiences to a dazzling world that explodes with glorious colours, stunning effects and enchanting music. Tickets from £22.50.

Until 16 September

Exploring the Lion King from Inspiration to Realisation

Royal West of England Academy

Incorporating many of the iconic costumes, masks and puppets from the ground-breaking Disney production of The Lion King, this interactive exhibition will give visitors the opportunity to discover how the show was conceived and created. Free.

Ongoing

Our World – No More Waste Exhibition

At-Bristol

Visitors to At-Bristol’s latest exhibition can investigate how humans are made from volcanoes, ancient seas and dinosaurs! Supported by SITA Trust, the exhibition invites visitors to track real-time weather around the world with the interactive globe, change the way water moves, present a weather forecast and even trigger a mini volcanic eruption. Tickets £12.50 for adults, £8 for children, free for under 3’s.

Ongoing

All About Us Exhibition

At-Bristol

Visitors exploring the All About Us Exhibition can get under their own skin and discover how amazing the human body really is. With over 50 new exhibits, All About Us is a celebration of all things human. Tickets £12.50 for adults, £8 for children, free for under 3’s.

Family Fun

14 – 16 August

Arboretum Art Attack!

Westonbirt Arboretum

Westonbirt, The National Arboretum, is calling all artists to explore the artistic origins of Westonbirt and create their own work such as stick frames or designing a picturesque tree garden. Tickets £8 for adults, children free.

16 August

Gorge-ous Goats

Bristol Zoo Gardens

The Avon Gorge’s newest hairy residents will be at the zoo, giving visitors the chance to play the gobbling goats game and make a felt picture in the afternoon. Tickets £14 adults, £8.50 children.

18 – 19 August

The Daleks are coming!

Fleet Air Arm Museum

Security guards at RNAS Yeovilton have been put on a high state of alert in anticipation for the largest gathering of Daleks this side of Gallifrey, all set to invade the Fleet Air Arm Museum during the weekend. Tickets £13 for adults, £9 for children.

Ongoing

Animate It!

At-Bristol

Morph joins a host of other Aardman Animations favourites in At-Bristol’s permanent exhibition, Animate It!, giving visitors the chance to become an animator for the day. Tickets £12.50 for adults, £8 for children, free for under 3’s.

Exhibitions

Until 17 August

Angela Williams Photography Exhibition

Berkeley Square Hotel

Angela will open her first exhibition of modern editioned prints in Bristol at The Square Club on 17th August, with ‘Six Sixties Birds and Six Sixties Blokes’ featuring British fashion and music photography from the iconic 1960’s. Free.

18 – 19 August

Victorian Soldiers

Tyntesfield

Tyntesfield is being invaded by an army and visitors can find out more about life as a Victorian soldier – their weapons, their manoeuvres and their tents. Tickets from £8.30 for adults, £4.60 for children.

Until 9 September

Bristol Urban Sport

Mshed

Bristol Urban Sport is a free exhibition running through the summer at the new M Shed museum on Bristol's bustling harbourside. Bringing together contemporary and historical stories, Bristol Urban Sport reveals how the city's unique landscape influences particular sports and provides a picture of the people who take part. It uncovers unusual sporting activities of the past whilst tapping into a wide range of alternative sports that exist across Bristol today. Free.

Theatre and Music

2 August

Grimm fairy tales, outdoor theatre by The Pantaloons

Tyntesfield

The Brothers Grimm spin tales of wicked witches, talking animals, plucky maidens and dashing adventurers in this deliciously dark and thrillingly inventive show for adults and children alike. Tickets £16.50 for adults, £10 for children.

2 – 4 August

The Life After

Bristol Old Vic

The Life After explores loss and change, be it as monumental as death, or seemingly incidental, like the opening of the first daffodils in spring. Tickets £10 adults, £7 concessions.

4 August

Macbeth, outdoor theatre by The Lord Chamberlain’s Men

Tyntesfield

The Lord Chamberlain’s Men return with their all male production of Shakespeare’s devastating and gripping thriller: Macbeth. Tickets £16.50 for adults, £10 for children.

20 – 25 August

Three Men in a Boat

Tobacco Factory Theatre

Originally intended as a guide to boating on the Thames, Jerome’s ripping yarn of youthful friendship, mischief and folly encapsulates the very essence of Britishness. Tickets £13 for adults, £9 concessions.

29 August – 8 September

Jigsy

Tobacco Factory

Les Dennis returns to the Tobacco Factory Theatre in Tony Staveacre’s blisteringly funny and moving play. Tickets £14 for adults, £10 concessions.

Special Tours

Ongoing

Pirate Walks

Harbourside

Pirate Pete invites visitors to join him on his 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 on Bristol’s Harbourside. Tickets £7.50 for adults, £3.50 for children.

Fairs, Markets and 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.

Every Sunday

Tobacco Factory Market

Tobacco Factory

The market features around 30 food & craft stalls, with a strong bias towards ethical, eco-friendly, fair trade, organic and local products. Many of the traders that populate the market are themselves producers.

Every Sunday

Harbourside Market

Harbourside

This locally focused market aims to provide increased access to high quality locally produced food. It will also showcase arts and craft created in Bristol and the surrounding area. Taking place along the Watershed’s covered walkway on Bordeaux Quay.

Every third Sunday

Ashton Court Farmer Market

Ashton Court Estate

The new monthly market will take place in the courtyard of the estates’ mansion house from 10.30am – 2.30pm, every third Sunday of the month.

For further information on any of these events and more please check out www.visitbristol.co.uk/events