Here is your #OutdoorArts roundup – find out what’s happening over the next few weeks!

Bromsgrove | 14-15 Jul | Bromsgrove Carnival is a not-for-profit event that has been run for over 100 years and is run entirely by volunteers. Enjoy live music, street food, children’s entertainment, a fun funfair and more!

Cumbria | 14-15 Jul | Far more than an outdoor cinema, the Picnic Cinema experience includes dressing up, camping over, and letting your hair down with fun and games before the film, music, dancing and many more surprises (Eden Arts).

Bristol | 14-16 Jul | Featuring a stellar Bristol lineup this year for their 50th anniversary, Bristol Harbourside Festival will celebrate the best the city has to offer from bhangra to roots and blues to reggae. Packed full of circus, acrobatics, lion dancing and more: Cirque Bijou, Jones and Barnard, Circomedia, Laser Kiwi, Alexandra Feit, Chris and Iona, Zaki Musa, Gracie B, Jonny and Tilly, Farzad Nezameddini, Zane and Degge, HYPE Dance, Bunmi Odumosu and Servo, Bendy Bendini, Jennifer Hebden and Kaye Cygan, Eden and Danni’s Dance Academy.

Barnsley | 14-16 Jul | Barnsley’s Big Weekend is back with three days of free events, activities and culture, including the Brassed On! music festival, Barnsley Pride, Mayor’s Day and the #WhatsYourMove family-friendly sports day.

Belgium | 14-18 Jul | The circus is coming to Ghent for Miramiro Festival, ready to amaze young and old. Grease your vocal cords for all the oohs and aahs that will come with these neck-breaking acts, with acrobatics, clowns, dance and more.

London | 14 & 21 Jul | Head over to Greenwich Park after school or work for Summer Sessions. A free skate event from Greenwich Dance curated with support from Frankie J and Vibes On Vibes:

  • 14 Jul | Skate Jam and Simple Cypher, who will perform their breathtaking cyr wheel show – Roll Play.
  • 21 Jul | Skate Jam and Joss Arnott Dance, who will perform Rush, their brand new, fast-paced dance performance created for the streets.

Nine Elms | 15 Jul | This year’s Happy Streets Festival will bring free music, dance and family entertainment to the streets of Nine Elms! Don’t miss the local family highlight of the summer – six hours of live performances on- and off-stage, pizza making, crafts and activities, wellbeing sessions, play spaces and information stalls.

Grimsby | 15 Jul | Festival of the Sea returns for the third year running to celebrate what makes Grimsby great, our heritage and future relationship with the Sea! A community-led programme of including street theatre, walkabout acts, and interactive theatre shows: don’t miss The Aquatic Mermaids Family Gameshow, The Dancing Taps by Sole Rebel, Cap’n Fishcake and His Fabulous Fish Fingers by Kazbah Theatre, A Taste of Home by Fish Finger Theatre & Masala Masters, and The Postcard Posers by The Shenanigans.

Southampton | 15 Jul | The Southampton Mela Festival is a long-standing summer highlight in Southampton’s events calendar celebrating Modern and Traditional Asian Culture, produced by Art Asia. There’s a huge programme of dance, music and workshops – don’t miss Mughal Miniatures by Sonia Sabri Company.

Hounslow | 15 Jul | Streets Alive at Bell Square London presents Handle with Care by Diana Gadish, Street Games with Guixot de 8 and The Bewonderment Machine by A Bird in the Hand Theatre (Without Walls).

Sunderland | 15-16 Jul | Summer Streets Festival is an annual music, arts and community festival which takes place in Sunderland every July. Don’t miss Last Orders by 2Faced Dance Company, High Tea (with a twist) by Levantes Dance Theatre, and performances by Glass House Dance, Patrick ZizA, Uncaged Aerial Theatre and Maya Dhananjay.

Middlesbrough | 15-22 Jul | Sonic Arts Week is filling the street with some weird and wonderful artists! See if you can catch the giant megaphones and masked dancers moving to sound system beats. Don’t miss Sound Horn and The Call by Katie Anderson and performances by Oceanallover.

Liverpool | 16 Jul | Liverpool Arab Arts Festival is the UK’s longest-running annual Arab arts and culture festival, platforming the best UK and international Arab artists. The festival creates a dynamic between traditional and contemporary Arab art forms, encouraging informed debate that explores, and increases, appreciation of Arab people and their rich cultures.

Stoke-on-Trent | 16 Jul | Picnic in Paradise is brought to you by Appetite and Kidsgrove Town Council. Filled with circus, music, and dance, come along, bring your picnic and settle in for a day of free entertainment. Don’t miss High Tea by Levantes Dance Theatre, Step Hop House by Folk Dance Remixed, Heliosphere by The Dream Engine, Farmyard Circus, The Whale by Talking Birds Theatre Company and Hello Buoys by Kitsch & Sync.

Liverpool | 16 Jul | Taroo by Company Zid / ​​Said Mouhssine presented by Crying Out Loud as part of Sunday Funday in Victoria Park in association with Shubbak Festival and the Babylon Migrants Project. Taroo  is a Parkour and circus show telling the everyday story of what happens in streets across the world.

Barnet | 16 Jul | Mauritius Open Air Festival is a must-go, family-friendly event that will bring a taste of Mauritius’ culture and vibrancy to the famous Trent Park in London. An authentic and vibrant atmosphere will be created with Sega Dancing, Music from Mauritius and many other tropical performances, as well as arts and crafts workshops and face painting for children.

Fleetwood | 16 Jul | Fleetwood Festival of Transport, or Tram Sunday as it’s known, is a fun-packed transport event for all the family. It brought exciting, transport-themed professional arts performances, entertainment and displays to the event including professional street artists. Since then it’s been incredibly popular with everyone and only made the event bigger and better!

Andover | 16 Jul | Andover Carnival has lots of exciting stuff going on in Vigo Recreation Ground and throughout the High Street! Enjoy fairground rides, storytelling, face painting, food, circus stalls and the carnival procession at 4pm.

Derby | 16 Jul | Derby Caribbean Carnival is back! Created for the community by DWICA, enjoy the fun fair, beer tent, sound systems, arts and crafts, food stalls (selling Caribbean as well as European foods) and the carnival procession at 12.30pm.

France | 19-22 Jul | Pluralies is a festival which celebrates eclectic programming and high quality shows, the city’s beautiful architecture and bringing people together at an outdoor event. Don’t miss Smashed by Gandini Juggling.

Portugal | 19-22 Jul | Vaudeville Rendez Vous Festival celebrates freely inhabiting public space as a right acquired over time within democratic societies, and which, particularly in Europe, was taken for granted. Don’t miss Smashed 2 by Gandini Juggling.

France | 19-23 Jul | Chalon dans la Rue Festival is an essential benchmark for creation in public space and reflects current street art. Each year, nearly 150 French and international companies take over Chalon-sur-Saône.

Suffolk | 20-23 Jul | Your summer adventure awaits at Latitude Festival, which offers a wide programme of music, dance, comedy, poetry, theatre, literature, podcasts, family activities and wellness. Don’t miss SCRUM by Avant Garde (Dance East), BOOK 4 SHORTS by Birdgang Ltd, Look Mum, No Hands! by Daryl & Co and Mimbre, The Big Fat Dance Party by Fatt Projects, RUSH by Joss Arnott Dance, and Dovetail by Vanhulle Dance Theatre.

Cheshire | 20-23 Jul | Bluedot is a weekend in outer space, with an award-winning line-up of music, science and cosmic culture, plus live podcasts, immersive experiences and groundbreaking arts including The Celestial Sound Cloud by Pif-Paf, Cloud Chamber by Typething Theatre, workshops with Orchestra of Objects and The Actual Reality Arcade by Matthew Harrison.

Liverpool | 20-30 Jul | The multi-award-winning Liverpool Theatre Festival celebrates entertainment in the open air. This year’s programme is filled with the biggest and most diverse programme to date featuring live music, comedy, opera, Shakespeare, drama, LGBTQ+, musical theatre, family shows and pantomime to name a few.

Walpole Park | 20-30 Jul | Ealing Summer Festival is back with another year with all the fun of a summer holiday without the expensive flights. ESF this year will be packed with comedy, music, performances and kids’ activities whilst you dine off some of the best homegrown street food Ealing has to offer.

Grimsby | 21-22 Jul | Reflections: A Night-time Spectacular will have mesmerising projections, creative movement, original music and dazzling visuals. Co-presented by People Power Partnership, young European dance talent are on tour with their new international hip-hop project.

Milton Keynes | 21-30 Jul | IF: Milton Keynes International Festival creates unique and memorable experiences and presents a world-class, multi-arts programme including new commissions, site-specific and community participation projects, large-scale/outdoor and family events, concerts, theatre, dance, music and visual arts installations. OAUK will be there with a Festival Focus group – keep an eye out on our socials!

  • 28 Jul | Place des Anges by Gratte Ciel is a beautiful, astonishing and breathtaking spectacle to enchant audiences of all ages. Don’t miss what promises to be one the highlights of this year’s Festival!

London Bridge | 22-23 Jul | In a Field by a Bridge will feature live performances, interactive workshops, film screenings, architectural tours, activities for all the family and so much more. Don’t miss Rock n Roll Nature Revelation by Timberlina on Ukulele and Dan de le Motte.

Leicester | 21-23 Jul | An Indian Summer (produced by Inspirate) was born to share the sights, sounds and wonders of South Asia in the heart of Britain! They want to think and deliver cutting-edge, inspiring a new generation of 21st-century diverse arts and culture.

London | 21-23 Jul | Ensemble Festival is a free festival featuring an eclectic mix of circus, dance and street performances. Presented by Certain Blacks with the Royal Docks team and part of the Without Walls 2023 programme. Don’t miss Carbon Footprint by Bureau Of Silly Ideas, Out of the Deep Blue by Autin Dance Theatre, SCRUM by Avant Garde Dance, You & Me by Amina Khayyam Dance Company, Family Catwalk Extravaganza by Ghetto Fabulous, Fussy Foodies by Just More Productions, Mughal Miniatures by Sonia Sabri Company, Teabreak by Trigger, Serving Sounds by Working Boys Club, Eau de Memoire by Miss High Leg Kick, and UNITY by Gorilla Circus

Bath | 21 Jul-5 Aug | At Garden Theatre Festival you will be immersed in the world of fire-breathing dragons, car chases and convicts, Shakespeare galore, beautiful cabaret, slapstick, laughter, and so much more. Don’t miss The Jabberwocky & Other Nonsense by Calf 2 Cow, Bad Dad by Heart Break Productions, and As You Like It and Robin Hood by The Three Inch Tools.

Worthing | 22 Jul | The Precious Thing at Spin Out 2023 is a family friendly show by Inverted Theatre, using juggling, hand-balancing contortion, clowning and puppetry with two relatable and playful characters who have two things to do: fish for food and look after and nurture their one treasured possession.

West Yorkshire | 22 Jul | Shipley by the Sea is a family street arts festival celebrating local and national street theatre with free shows, walkabouts, workshops, games and more. It is set to be a fantastic family day in the centre of Shipley! Don’t miss The Great Fiasco by Markmark Productions.

Isle of Wight | 22 Jul | Taroo at Ventnor Fringe is a parkour and circus comedy show by Company Zid / ​​Said Mouhssine telling stories from streets all over the world. Presented by Crying Out Loud, in association with Shubbak Festival and the Babylon Migrants Project.

London | Jul & Aug | Kensington & Chelsea Festival offers a host of activities across the borough including indoor performances, art installations and free outdoor pop-up family shows.

  • 22 Jul | The Spurting Man by Avanti Display is a twenty-five-minute silent performance with 200 litres of water in just 3 mins…
  • 22 & 23 Jul | Roll Play by Simple Cypher blurs the boundaries between hip hop and circus, using intricate moves and agility to give a captivating performance.
  • 22 & 23 Jul | Forests by Rogue Play features a willow tree, fiery acrobatics and dance in this highly-visual family-friendly show.
  • 22 & 23 Jul | Earth and Sky by Bullzini Productions gives a voice to Mother Earth and uses circus and ritual to lift you out of your ordinary and up into active hope.

Greenwich | 22 Jul | Queenscroft Park Picnic is part of Greenwich Dance’s Summer in the Park programme. An afternoon of family friendly performances, workshops, games and community fun!

Leicester | 22-23 Jul | Journeys Festival International will fill the streets of Leicester with outdoor shows, circus, dance, hip-hop and disco bikes. Don’t miss Kamchatka, Out of the Deep Blue by Autin Dance Theatre, Refuge Island by Whispered Tales, Stick-stok by TeaTime Company, Scrum by Avant Garde Dance, Mughal Miniatures by Sonia Sabri Company and lots more outdoor arts!

Smethwick | 22-23 Jul | Sandwell & Birmingham Mela is the biggest South Asian music festival in Europe. Music, dance, food, arts and crafts bring the sights, sounds and spicy aromas of South Asia to Victoria Park, Smethwick.

London | 22-28 Jul | Journey down the rabbit hole at Alice in Wonderland at Kew Gardens and enter a fantastical world inhabited by curious and curiouser characters. Come and explore the enchanting surroundings of The Royal Botanic Gardens in this specially commissioned part-promenade theatre by Sixteenfeet Productions.

Tunbridge Wells | 23 Jul | Tunbridge Wells Mela is a free family festival by Cohesion Plus celebrating music food and dance from around the World!

Eastleigh | 23 Jul | Eastleigh Mela is led by AWCA (Asian Welfare and Culture Association) which works to promote the health, welfare and culture of Asian people in Eastleigh, encouraging cohesion, integration and fusion of cultural activities and celebration.

Didcot | 23 Jul-31 Aug | The Didcot Garden Party is returning throughout the summer holidays to bring exciting events and sports activities to Cornerstone Arts Centre and local parks in the town. The theme for this year’s Didcot Garden Party is health, wellbeing and the environment. Don’t miss High Tea (with a Twist) by Levantes Dance Theatre, The Giant Balloon Show by Dizzy O’dare, Jungle Book by Jellyfish Theatre and more!

Rochdale | 25-28 Jul | The Feel Good Family Picnic is a brand new free event for families organised by the team behind Rochdale Feel Good Festival. Fun activities, performances, music, sports and shows for children of all ages. Don’t miss Do What Your Mamma Told Ya! by Just More Productions and FLOOD by Theatre Temoin.

London Bridge | 26 Jul | Out of the Deep Blue at Summer by the River dives into the themes of the climate emergency and the biodiversity crisis in an outdoor spectacle by Autin Dance Theatre featuring a 13-foot-tall puppet operated by 5 world-class puppeteers and contemporary dancers. There will also be a puppet making workshop at 2pm in Hay’s Galleria.

Dorset | 27-30 Jul | The theme for Camp Bestival 2023 is…. Animal Snap! Inspired by the wonders of precious life on planet Earth, find your twin flame, match your mini me or find those fellow festivalgoers who are your creature counterparts. Don’t miss Circus Raj, Cirque Bijou and Marawa’s Majorettes.

Cumbria | 27-30 Jul | Kendal Calling is a music and arts festival and this year they’re going back to the Summer of Love! Don’t miss The Ragtag Roadshow by Ragtag Arts.

Exmouth | 27-30 Jul | Exmouth Festival is a free festival of the arts across the seaside town of Exmouth. Wander from film to music, through literature, performance and craft. Fuel your imagination and be a part of something unexpected.

Bradford | 28-29 Jul | BD:Festival will transform Bradford’s city centre into an imaginative, cultural explosion for all the family to enjoy. From innovative street theatre to immersive cultural installations and hip-hop hippo routines to interactive edible exhibitions. RUSH by Joss Arnott Dance, Mirage (A Day of Celebration) by CIE DYPTIK, Ancient Futures by Unlimited Theatre and Upswing, Nero’s Ices by Bloomin’ Buds Theatre, Hippos by Zum Zum Theatre, Underlooked by Vince Virr Aerial and more!