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Festivals in Wiltshire

Wiltshire is busy for most of the year with music, food and drink and arts festivals. Whatever part of the county you decide to visit this year, you will find plenty of activity. Check the list below to help you decide when and where to take your break in Wiltshire. You might need to visit more than once to fit it all in!

 February

Sci-Fi at STEAM, Museum of the Great Western Railway - Saturday 11 February Thursday 31 May

Jewellery, Beads and Findings Fair - Saturday 18 - Sunday 19 February

Bradford-on-Avon

Inner Spirit - Saturday 18 February - Sunday 4 March

Wire sculptures by Derek Kinzett at Lacock Abbey

March

Wilton House Antiques Fair - Friday 2 - Sunday 4 March

Swindon Music Festival - Thursday 15 - Saturday 24 March

Great Western Embroiderers Exhibition - Thursday 29 March - Sunday 10 June

Lydiard House

April

Devizes to Westminster Canoe Race - Friday 6 - Monday 9 April 2012

The annual Canoe Race from Devizes to Westminster. This event takes place over the Easter weekend, starting in Devizes on Good Friday. It is the longest non-stop canoe race in the world, presenting an enormous physical and mental challenge for the participants.

 

Historica Racing Festival - Monday 9 April

Castle Combe Circuit

St George's Day Celebrations - Sunday 22 April

Salisbury

Warm Up Concert - Sunday 29 April

Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford-on-Avon

Bowood Rhododendron Walks - Late April / early May

Bowood House and Gardens

May

The full Festival programme will be published in March 2012, so for more information visit www.swindonfestivalofliterature.co.uk

For more information visit the website http://www.whkf.org.uk/infonew.html

The Salisbury International Arts Festival was named 'one of the top multi-arts festivals in the country''. It returns in 2012 with a packed programme of theatre, dance, circus, film, music and spoken word in locations around the historic city. The dates for 2012 are 25 May - 9 June.

For more information visit www.salisburyfestival.co.uk.

June

The Chippenham Folk Festival still retains its 'village' atmosphere, providing three and a half days packed with song, dance, workshops and dance displays. Over 200 events take place within the town centre, turning the whole town into a giant party.

Details of the 2012 Festival will be added to the website so for more information visit www.chippfolk.co.uk.

Roman Family Fun Trail - Saturday 2 - Sunday 10 June

Old Sarum

A festival of music and the arts taking place in various venues around Devizes.

For more information visit www.devizesfestival.co.uk

More information is available on the website http://www.wiltshirejazzfestival.co.uk/

For further information visit the Scarecrow festival website.

There will be much more for all the family that we will be announcing over the coming months, for more information visit the website http://cotswoldairshow.com/.

Eight days of eclectic, energetic and entertaining events taking place in this beautiful Wiltshire town.

For more information visit www.corshamfestival.org.uk.

Avenue of Champions - Saturday 23 June - Sunday 16 September

Salisbury Cathedral

Calne Summer Festival - Saturday 30 June 2012

The Summer festival in the centre of town has a variety of events and activities to suit all tastes.  There will be entertainment throughout the week.  Attractions include a Town Criers Competition, Carnival, arts & crafts market, street stalls, community stalls, funfair, classic car display, live music & entertainment and a children’s village.  Refreshments will also be available. For more information contact charris@calne.gov.uk or visit www.calne.gov.uk.

English Heritage usually provide access to the stones at Stonehenge for the celebration of the Summer Solstice. Many people gather on the evening before (from 10 pm onwards) and there is usually casual entertainment from musicians within the crowd. There are conditions of entry which must be complied with.

For more information about Stonehenge and the conditions of entry visit www.english-heritage.org.uk.

 Bradford on Avon Arts Festival - Late June / early July 2012 (dates to be confirmed)

September 2011 is the eighth annual arts festival, with events being held in various venues and open spaces in and around the town. Our arts festival is not only a joyous occasion, there is an abundance of talent across the arts that comes together every year to give the event its distinctive and creative edge.

For more information visit the website http://www.theartsfestival.co.uk/.

For more information visit the website http://www.barburyhorsetrials.co.uk/

Illumination of Wiltshire's White Horses - Saturday 30 June

July

None stop Live country music from the best of British Bands on both days. Many attractions including a western show team and trade stalls.

For more information telephone 01249 720820 or email sandiandsandra@aol.com. www.calnecountrymusicfestival.com

This Festival takes place deep in the heart of the remote and beautiful Cranborne Chase, in the most southerly part of Wiltshire, where the Victorian Larmer Tree Gardens come alive with music, workshops and a huge carnival procession.

Established in 1990 - over 80 diverse artists - 6 stages - 150 free workshops - street theatre - huge carnival procession - intimate crowd of 4,000 - voted Best UK Family Festival 08 - tickets sold out for the past 16 years - The perfect escape from it all!

Camping and showers are included in the ticket price. Tickets sell out very quickly so book early.

For more information visit www.larmertreefestival.co.uk.

Marlborough International Jazz was founded in 1986 and it features on Tower Records list of the top events of its kind in the British Isles. As well as individual concerts, a major feature is the "Stroller". These are tickets that enable the holder to see a large number of bands in over 20 locations on Friday evening from 6pm and on Saturday from before 12 noon until after midnight.

Bands range from famous touring stars and many of the home-grown variety to young up-and-coming groups. Free events in the streets add to the carnival atmosphere that pervades the town over the weekend. Please note that possession of a stroller does not guarantee admission to a venue if it is full.

For more information visit www.marlboroughjazz.co.uk.

Bradford-on-Avon. For more information visit the website http://www.woolleyfestival.com

Big Arts Day - Saturday 14 July 2012

Lydiard Park

Annual Food and Drink Festival. Talks and meals will be held in various 'unusual' venues around the town. Admittance is by reservation only and early booking is recommended.

For more information and to book telephone 01380 734669.

All events take place in marquees and the compact site includes three separate stages plus children's tent, three beer tents and a myriad of trade stalls selling food and items from all over the world. This year there will be a General Store and ATM cash machine. Free camping and free car parking are all on site close at hand.

For more information visit www.villagepumpfolkfestival.co.uk  

For more information visit the website http://www.festivalonthefarm.co.uk/

Marlborough College Summer School - Sunday 22 July - Saturday 11 August

Marlborough College

Discovery is the key, and musical revelations causing spine tingling sensations are rife.  Who will be your discovery at WOMAD 2012?

Tickets are expected to sell fast, so for more information about booking visit www.womad.org.

Archaeology Weekend - Saturday 28 - Sunday 29 July

Old Sarum

A shoppers paradise of Asian products from stalls selling contemporary and traditional clothing, jewellery, accessories, music, spices and nik naks. Something for everyone!

There are plenty of ways to delve into and enjoy Asian inspired activities including all day arts and crafts workshops, Carrom tournaments, sari and turban tying plus walkabout street theatre and entertainments. An astounding wealth of Asian artistic talent, a wonderful mix of Bollywood, Bhangra, modern and traditional music and dance.

For more information visit www.swindonmela.com.

August

Venue: Market Place and town centre streets.

A big, family event , featuring some of the very best in European Street theatre and live music, kids entertainment, food, drink and festival stalls - and it's all free! See website for latest programme information.

Further details: www.streetsofdevizes.co.uk

http://www.crickladeshow.co.uk/index.php

The idea with the End of the Road Festival was to organise an intimate festival with our favourite artists and to create a festival with a friendly and relaxed feel. This is the kind of festival where the ENTIRE line-up is the headliner in itself!

For more information visit the website http://www.endoftheroadfestival.com/ 

September

Devizes Carnival - Saturday 1 September 2012

Devizes Carnival is a thriving annual event that attracts hundreds of participants and gets bigger each year.  One of the reasons for this is the free community costume-making workshops programme, available to all in the run up to Carnival.  It's a happy colourful event for all the family.  The Procession starts on the Green and goes through the town centre.

For more information visit the website http://www.devizescarnival.co.uk/  

For more information visit the website http://melkshamfoodfestival.co.uk/index.html

Calne Food and Drink Festival - Saturday 8 September 2012

The inaugural festival will incorporate a week packed full of events, before a market in the town centre on Saturday, September 10th. There will be lots going on all week, with themed nights at the local restaurants and then a food market in the town centre on the Saturday. The festival will have a harvest theme and some of the planned events include continental market stalls and cooking demonstrations from chefs, plus a junior Masterchef competition. For more information contact charris@calne.gov.uk or visit www.calne.gov.uk

Swindon Railway Festival - Saturday 15 - Sunday 16 September 2012

STEAM, Museum of the Great Western Railway, Swindon

Westbury Music and Arts Festival - September 2012 (dates to be confirmed)

Running over 3 weekends, Westbury Music and Arts Festival will be jam packed with musical and artistic talent! We welcome back some of the amazing artists from last year, celebrate our local talent and welcome new performers. WMAF will include folk, jazz, rock, classic and all sorts of music, plus photography, drawings, contemporary printmaking, poetry and many other events!
All the information is our website: www.wmafestival.co.uk

A showcase for the very best of local fare. Salisbury's Food and Drink Festival promises a range of foodie treats for all the family!

The main event takes place in the city's Market Place and as in previous years, there will be plenty on the menu, from the hotly-contested Waiters' and Bar Tenders' Race (a perennial favourite) to wine and beer tents, cookery demonstrations, barbecues and special food festival menus at local restaurants.

Other venues around south Wiltshire will be joining in too, so come along and make the most of the wealth of delicious produce for which south Wiltshire is renowned.

For more information visit www.salisburyfestival.co.uk.

Illuminated Carnival Procession - Saturday 22 September 2012

Pewsey

Town Crier Competition - Saturday 22 September

Royal Wootton Bassett

Visit the website for more information: www.marlboroughlitfest.org or call  01249 701628 for tickets.

October

Now in its 36th year, the programme for this year's Festival is yet to be announced.  For more information visit www.calnemusicandartsfestival.co.uk.

Further information will appear on www.salisburycarnival.co.uk.

Marlborough Food and Drink Festival - October 2012 (date to be confirmed)

Swindon CAMRA Beer Festival - Friday 26 - Sunday 28 October

STEAM, Museum of the Great Western Railway

Spooky Weekend - October 2012 (dates to be confirmed)

Salisbury

November

Christmas Lights Switch-On events in Salisbury, Swindon and other Wiltshire towns.

Christmas Launch - Saturday 10 November

McArthurGlen Swindon Designer Outlet

Calne Winter Festival - Saturday 24 November 2012

A fantastic afternoon/evening of fun & entertainment in the town centre, incorporating a lantern parade and official switch on of our Christmas Lights. 

Devizes Christmas Festival and Lantern Parade - Friday 30 November 2012

The night that Devizes turns on the Christmas Lights is now a day long festival of fun and music! There are all day long Christmas markets in the Market Place and Corn Exchange, live music and street theatre shows but the most awaited feature of the day is the gigantic parade of lanterns made by children and community groups from Devizes and the surrounding villages.

Darkness to Light Advent Services - November 2012 (dates to be confirmed)

Salisbury Cathedral

December

Christmas Carol Services at Salisbury Cathedral and other Wiltshire venues.

Country House Christmas - Saturday 1 - Sunday 23 December

Lydiard House and Park

Enchanted Christmas - Weekends in December 2012

Westonbirt, The National Arboretum

Lantern Parades - December 2012 (dates to be confirmed)

Amesbury and Salisbury

Christmas Processions - December 2012 (dates to be confirmed)

Salisbury Cathedral

Winter Sales Begin - Wednesday 26 December 2012

McArthurGlen Swindon Designer Outlet

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