Greenwich | London’s leading festival of free outdoor theatre and performing arts, Greenwich+Docklands International Festival runs until 11 Sep. See Charon by Peter Hudson with Building 180 and Les Machines de l’île, Unfurl by Air Giants, There Should Be Unicorns by Middle Child, Roll Play by Simple Cypher, Gobbledegook Theatre’s Geophonic, Common Wealth and Fuel Theatre’s Peaceophobia, and many more. Also don’t miss two extraordinary days of discovery and dance transforming the piazzas, parks and waterfronts of Canary Wharf into Dancing City on 10-11 Sep.
Hull | It’s the second weekend of Freedom Festival in Hull with free theatre, dance, contemporary circus, sideshows, audio walks, music, art exhibitions and unforgettable performances, alongside a digital programme of films, podcasts and talks. Look out for amazing outdoor acts this weekend including Close Act, Cie Dyptik, Cie L’Homme Debout, Mimbre, Jon Hicks and Matt Rudkin, 16 RPM, Tombs Creatius, Joseph Toonga & Just Us Dance, Firma Kodde, 2Faced Dance, Sam Goodburn, Adhok, and more!
Lake District & Ben Nevis | Green Space Dark Skies, led by Walk the Plank, heads to Scafell Pike: Lake District National Park tomorrow and Ben Nevis: Ben Nevis and Glen Coe NSA on 10 Sep. 20,000 people will become Lumenators, each carrying a low-impact light into the landscape, making patterns on mountains, lakes and moorland.
London | Throughout September Totally Thames celebrates the River Thames with arts events, active adventures, environmental initiatives, and heritage and education programmes. This weekend check out Hands on History: In the Footsteps of Mudlarks, Summer Sessions, London Bridge Discovery Tour, and Thames Tidefest.
Coventry | Head to Coventry’s historic War Memorial Park this weekend for the three-day Godiva Festival, offering great live music, family entertainment, international food and drink, a craft village, and a children’s fun fair.
Goole | Experience an amazing sonic voyage through the streets of Goole today and tomorrow with Ray Lee’s Congregation, an interactive adventure in which you are made the guardian of a magical, silver sphere, which seemingly has a mind of its own.
Birmingham | From today until 18 Sep Birmingham city centre will bloom into a vibrant living oasis filled with thousands of plants and brought to life through free garden tours, audio baths, live music and light shows, costume design workshops, sensory experiences, poetry and performances, all part of PoliNations. Each evening this weekend experience Sunset Shift, a spectacular light and sound show, as PoliNations transitions into an evening wonderland with light, music and sound.
Morecambe | Take all the family along to Vintage By The Sea this weekend, a free festival in Morecambe celebrating the brilliance of timeless design, fashion, art, vehicles, entertainment and culture from the 1920s to 1990s. With a vintage marketplace, routemaster bus bar with DJs, family workshops, street theatre, pop up dance, arts exhibitions, street food, Melodrome Music Stage, classic car show, and vintage mobile cinema. Don’t miss Kitsch n Sync, Jean and Morag: The Tea Ladies, Viv and Spiv, About Time Dance Company, The Meyer Dancers, The Old Time Sailors.
Mansfield | Tomorrow will see Mansfield town centre buzzing with all manner of amazing acts, fun activities, witty walkabout entertainment, live music and more for The Full Shebang. See Roll Play by Simple Cypher, Why? by Gravity and Levity, Forbidden Identity by Billy Read, Produced by Deaf Explorer, Urban Astronaut by Highly Sprung, The Time Machine Disco by Glass House Dance, Books by Tit for Tat, What Happened To You? by Nikki Charlesworth, and The Poetry Takeaway.
Kings Cross | There’s loads of fun in store at Hillview Festival tomorrow, set in and around the leafy Victorian Hillview Estate. Head to the free, family-friendly festival for live music, dance, puppetry, circus skills, a community marketplace, drop-in arts and craft sessions, and more. Including La Escuela de Baile, Folk Dance Remixed, Bus King Puppet Theatre, Carl Blarx, and Stamford Hill Billy Street Band.
Portland | b-side makes a welcome return 8-11 Sep with some wonderful artistic talent to celebrate, explore and engage with around Portland. Don’t miss the Festival Launch Night on 8 Sep with The Fantasy Orchestra, and the Portland Parade on 11 Sep.
Spain | Heading to FiraTàrrega in Spain from 8-11 Sep? Don’t miss theatre, movement and circus performances from the likes of Joseph Toonga, Sound de Secà, Théâtre de la Toupine, Batbatuka, David Somló, Circumstances, Cia Manolo Alcántara, Compagnie Dyptik, Insectotròpics, Kaleider, and more.
Inverness | The second and final Dandelion Festival takes place in Inverness’s Northern Meeting Park this weekend, a three-day spectacular of live music, performances, talks, workshops and food. See live music across two stages, the Pavilion of Perpetual Light, a spectacular 10-metre vertical farm and concert platform made from dozens of Cubes of Perpetual Light, and outdoor performances from Urban Oasis, Mischief la-Bas, and Pif-Paf.
Weston-super-Mare | International and local performers will come together to bring you jaw dropping outdoor arts experiences in the heart of Weston-super-Mare for Whirligig Festival 9-10 Sep. Watch out for Close Act Theatre’s Saurus, Alleyne Dance with Bonded, Spurting Man by Avanti Display, Dizzy O’Dare with The Giant Balloon Show, Urban Astronaut by Highly Sprung, The Actual Reality Arcade by Matthew Harrison, Motionhouse’s Captive, Elvis In Blue Hawaii by Spitz & Co, Serving Sound by Working Boys Club, and circus skills workshops with Circomedia.
North Devon | Red Herring invite you to join in the fun at their new festival of adventure, performance and entertainment, Stepping Out from 9-25 Sep. There’s street entertainment in Bideford Town Centre on 10 Sep, and Westward Ho! Seafront and Green on 11 Sep, from Ramshacklicious, Bureau of Silly Ideas, The Burton Art Box, Frenetic Engineering and Angie Mack. Also on 11 Sep at Northam Burrows Visitor Centre go cloud gazing with Gobbledegook Theatre, and enjoy Where the River Meets the Sea, a collaboration between East the Water Primary School, Red Herring, Amanda McCormack, and Ed Jobling.
Saltaire | The annual Saltaire Festival returns to the village of Saltaire, on the outskirts of Bradford, from 9-18 Sep. A celebration of the arts, community, and the village’s unique history, expect 10 days of live music, exhibitions, open gardens, activities, local tours, outdoor cinema, performances, dance, and more.
Basingstoke | The 7th All in the Mind Festival is on 10 Sep in Glebe Gardens in Basingstoke. An amazing free day that will inspire and delight audiences of all ages, offering multiple ways to have your mind blown! The theme of the festival this year is ‘Thrive’ and will be jam-packed with family friendly shows and activities, from inspirational and quirky performances, to fun and interactive workshops, nature trails, a solar powered carousel, local food and drink, and a community parade.
Hounslow | If you’re near Hounslow on 10 Sep be sure to head to Bell Square for two free performances of Seeta Patel Dance’s Rite of Spring. Taking the South Indian classical dance form of Bharatanatyam with it’s intricate rhythmic footwork, geometric and dynamic movements and expressive prowess, Seeta has created a compelling and visually breathtaking interpretation of the iconic Rite of Spring with 6 dancers.
