London | A whole summer season of amazing live performances and arts awaits at Kensington + Chelsea Festival, running until 31 Aug. This weekend see PUBLIC by Ockham’s Razor, Smashed2 by Gandini Juggling, and Lives of Clay by The Clay Connection.
Trafford | There’s a ten-day summer programme bursting with experiential performance, music and events to challenge visitors of all ages at Refract Festival, running until 30 Jul. Outdoor Arts highlights include Mimbre’s Lifted, Street Cat Strut by TrashCat productions, and Glam by Etta Ermini Dance Theatre and Van Huynh Company.
Newport | Newport’s free family street theatre festival Big Splash returns for 2022 this weekend! There’s loads of amazing outdoor arts to see including Tit for Tat, Patrick Ziza, Defying Gravity Academy, BACA & Rhiannon Mair, Dizzy O’Dare, Hijinx Theatre, Theatr Iolo, Flossy & Boo, Kitsch & Sync Collective and Teifi, Pete Anderson, Pif-Paf, Taking Flight Theatre Co. and many more! AND OutdoorArtsUK will be in Newport to host an On the Road networking event with Articulture on Saturday at 5pm.
Bromyard | Nozstock: The Hidden Valley runs 21-24 Jul, a sonic escape boasting eleven stages of entertainment with surprising sights and intimate, secluded areas of theatre and discovery to be unearthed. With workshops from Spare Rooms Arts.
Cheshire | Enjoy four days of music, science, cosmic culture and family fun beneath Cheshire’s iconic Lovell Telescope at Bluedot this weekend.
Canary Wharf | Canary Wharf’s new four-day arts festival, Festival14, runs this weekend, featuring a packed programme of music, theatre, dance, comedy and children’s activities. Westferry Circus will be transformed into an intimate outdoor theatre, featuring Shakespearean plays from 440 Theatre and The HandleBards. The festival will also include a variety of children’s activities, from the Big Fish Little Fish Family Rave to storytelling in Crossrail Place Roof Garden. Look out for a visit from Eko by Autin Dance Theatre.
Huntingdon | After a five-year hiatus, Secret Garden Party is returning this weekend for its 20th anniversary, with this year’s theme ‘All you need is love’. The secret line-up will be announced at 12.01am on the day, how mysterious!
Suffolk | This weekend marks the return of Latitude in Henham Park, Suffolk, featuring the very best artists from the worlds of music, comedy, theatre, dance, literature and more.
Hertfordshire | Each year Standon Calling presents a weird and wonderful story to spark creativity across all corners of the festival. 2022 is no different, as ‘Who Let The Toys Out?’ comes to life through immersive storytelling and spectacular settings this weekend. Get involved by meeting characters, completing quests and having a go at Story-themed workshops. Plus, don’t miss the Annual Costume Parade on Saturday afternoon!
Greenwich | This afternoon head to Greenwich Park for a fantastic family afternoon and see Folk Dance Remixed fuse fun folk dance with funky hip hop styles in their show Step Hop House. Then UK Latin Community CIC will be adding an extra burst of colour with their wonderful array of Latin dance styles. All part of Summer in the Park, produced by Greenwich Dance and Artstrust Productions.
Lewisham | Liberty Festival 2022 starts today with a diverse programme of ground-breaking art and performance, interactive installations, a thought-provoking symposium, new commissions and participatory workshops for all. Featuring Spare Tyre, Joel Brown and Eve Mutso, Mind the Gap, Kat Hawkins, Stephen Bailey, Yinka Shonibare, Agata Kik and Tim Byford, Ambient Jam Collective, and many more!
Aldgate | For a celebration of Bangladeshi, Latino and Cockney cultures, head to BaLaCo Festival today from 2-8pm in Aldgate. A community arts and culture festival celebrating the different cultures in Aldgate, BaLaCo Festival will include free entry, music, dance, food, and surprise guests. Artists confirmed include Peter Donegan, Ina Khan, and Jairo Castro.
London | It’s the River Stage 2022: HOME weekend at the National Theatre’s River Stage, bringing the best of Manchester (and beyond) to the South bank. Expect music, spoken word, shows for families, drag and DJs.
Royal Docks | Tomorrow, Ensemble Festival takes over Western Gateway Victoria Docks, with an explosive mix or art and performance. This year’s festival is part of the Certain Blacks Heroes programme and will feature Joli Vyann, Clay Connection, Daryl Beeton Productions and Mimbre, Collectif & Then, Tara Theatre, and Fatt Projects.
Isle of Wight | The Isle of Wight Carnival Season has begun! Tomorrow don’t miss the Newport Carnival, starting at Church Litten, then on 27 Jul it’s the Cowes Carnival, starting at Crossfield Avenue.
Platt Fields Park | Music, dance, food and traditional arts and crafts will bring the sights, sounds and aromas of South Asia to Platt Fields Park this weekend at the Manchester Mega Mela. Some of the biggest names in the UK and International Asian entertainment scene will perform on two stages on both days, with other attractions including a huge selection of food stalls, free henna painting, rangoli, face painting, dance workshops, fashion show, a funfair and Kabaddi.
London Bridge | A weekend of fun and adventure awaits at Family Dayz in Potters Fields Park. Meet the brilliant poet chefs at the mobile poetry emporium and watch the magic unfold, let Anatomical take you on an interactive journey of the imagination through their trademark mix of comedy, dance, and theatre, collect your special cloak and become a Tallestian to experience the world from up high, and go on an imaginative and interactive audio adventure to save the city at the Unicorn.
Royal Docks | Head to Queens’ Square, Green Street tomorrow for Versus Or, choreographed by Chandenie Gobardhan, with music by Charlotte Bickley. With a vibrant mix of contemporary dance, hip-hop and Bharata Natyam, dancers will unite in this pop-up performance to show their collective strength and resistance just like a women’s football team.
Redbridge | Prepare to be amazed by the explosive tricks and artful dexterity of Simple Cypher’s newest outdoor production Roll Play this weekend with Redbridge Outdoor Arts. Three performers blur the boundaries between hip hop and circus through a series of captivating and playful interactions challenging identity, status and societal roles. Tomorrow at Fullwell Cross Leisure Centre and on Sunday at Ilford Town Centre – Wilderness Street.
Tunbridge Wells | Get ready for a huge celebration of music, visual arts, food, and dance from around the world at the Tunbridge Wells Mela Festival 2022 on Sunday. Returning to Calverley Grounds between 12-6pm. OAUK will be there with one of our Festival Focus cohorts.
Norwich | Each Sunday from 24 Jul- 4 Sep, the streets of Norwich will come alive with Head Out Not Home, the summer festival of music and street theatre. Commissioned by Norwich BID, and programmed and run by NORCA & Sistema in Norwich, the festival is back for its 9th season with a huge range of artists performing across the city centre.
Eastleigh | Head to Leigh Road Recreation Ground on Sunday for the Eastleigh Mela, featuring live music, food from around the world, lion dancers, climbing wall, circus skills, martial arts and more!
Covent Garden | Experience Shakespeare’s best-loved comedy in the heart of Covent Garden with the award-winning Iris Theatre’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, running until 13 Aug.
Dundee | There are free all-ages shows, street entertainment, live music, storytelling, interactive activities, workshops and more at Dundee Summer (Bash) Streets Festival 2022, running until Sunday.
