What’s on
Annual events held in Wiltshire:
February:
Snowdrop walks at Heale House, Woodford, near Salisbury. 01722 782504. www.healegarden.co.uk
Pancake races in various locations around the county on Shrove Tuesday.
March:
Swindon Film Festival. Various locations around Swindon. Fascinating films and film related events led by Swindon Film Society. www.swindonfilmfestival.org
April:
Bowood Rhodedendron Walks, Bowood House. Late April to early June. www.bowood-house.co.uk/rhododendrons
Speed hillclimb season opens at Gurston Down near Salisbury.www.gurstondown.org.
St George’s Day celebrations at various locations. 23rd April. See George and the Dragon.
Corsham Sci-Fi (Family Funday, Corsham Community Centre. Dr Who, Star Wars and more.www.corshamscifi.co.uk.
May:
May Day at Ansty. 1st May. Procession of children and the White Horse Morris Men to the Maypole for the crowning of the May Queen followed by Morris dancing.
Urchfont Scarecrow Festival, bank holiday weekend.45–50 scarecrows are made by families, groups and individuals in the village and visitors can follow the scarecrow trail. Started in 1997 as a small scale event to raise money for the refurbishment of the village hall, it is now a major local event and attracting thousands of visitors. The Scarecrow Festival was the very first in Wiltshire. www.urchfont-pc.gov.uk/News_and_Events/Scarecrow_Festival.aspx
Downton Cuckoo Fair. Crowning of princess, procession, maypole and Morris dancers, street entertainers, Downton Brass Band and plenty of stalls.www.cuckoofair.co.uk
Bluebell walks at Stourhead, Bowood Estate (Chippenham), Oakfrith Wood (Devizes), West Woods (Marlborough) and Grovely Woods (Salisbury) .
Salisbury International Arts Festival. May to June. Free opening event and a party in Salisbury Cathedral Close to close. 0845 241 9651. www.salisburyfestival.co.uk
Rhododendron walks at Stourhead. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/stourhead/things-to-see-and-do/events
Oak Apple Day, Great Wishford. Villagers re-assert their right to collect firewood in Grovely Woods. Procession and maypole dancing. 29th May.
June:
Chalke Valley History Festival, Bowerchalke. Talks and debates on everything from Ancient Rome to The English at Home. June to July. 01722 781206. www.cvhf.org.uk
Amesbury Community Carnival and Show. amesburycarnival.webeden.co.uk
Wylye Valley Art Trail, various locations. www.wvat.co.uk
Warminster Wobble Cycling Festival, Warminster Lakeside Park. Free. www.warminsterwobble.co.uk
Flower Festival, Salisbury Cathedral. 01722 320333. www.salisburycathedral.co.uk
Wiltshire Jazz Festival, Dinton. www.wiltshirejazzfestival.co.uk
Chippenham Folk Festival. Folk music, Morris dancers, children’s festival, workshops. www.chippfolk.co.uk
Summer Solstice, Stonehenge.
Armed Forces Day – various events throughout the county.
Farley Music Festival – All Saints Church in Farley. 18th – 23rd June 2013. It starts with an evening to celebrate Benjamin Britten’s centenary,followed by 3 evenings of superb piano concertos performed by 3 young , talented pianists from The Royal Academy of Music and finishes on Saturday with a performance of English choral songs by the Sarum Six, a male voice ensemble, led by Philip Lawson. Programme information from www.farleymusic.co.uk and tickets ar £15 available from Salisbury Playhouse tel:01722 320333
July:
Wiltshire County Show, Barbury Estate
Ladies night at Salisbury Racecourse. Great prizes for the best dressed ladies. 01722 326461. www.salisburyracecourse.co.uk/race-days
Frome Festival. Literature, folk, classical music and more. 01373 455420. www.fromefestival.co.uk
Stourhead Picnic and Firework Display, Stourhead. Gather family and friends, pack a hamper and enjoy a summer evening lakeside picnic, with classical temples illuminated and a spectacular firework display. NOT HELD EVERY YEAR. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/stourhead/things-to-see-and-do/events
Open Gardens for NGS. www.ngs.org.uk/gardens-to-visit/visit-wiltshire-gardens.aspx
Marlborough International Jazz Festival. A music extravaganza over one weekend each July. Music includes Jazz, Blues, African Rhythms, Fusion, Swing, Latin, Bebop and everything in between. Venues are all within easy walking distance of each other. www.marlboroughjazz.com
Rundle Cup Day – Charity polo match followed by the annual army v navy match. Held in Tidworth.
RowdyFest. Rowdeford School, Rwode, Devizes, SN10 2QQ. One day festival to raise funds for Rwodeford Charity Trust’s Eco Learning Project. Inclusive outdoor one day Festival featuring fresh, new and local Wiltshire musicians. Particularly aimed at young people. www.rowdyfest.moonfruit.com
WOMAD, Charlton Park, Malmesbury. World music festival.
August:
Malmesbury Carnival. www.malmesburycarnival.co.uk
Classic Rendezvous and Supercars, Wilton House near Salisbury. Plenty of cars, live music and an air display.
Devizes International Street Festival, Market Place, Devizes. Held over the Bank Holiday Weekend. Free family event with an all day programme, featuring some of the best in European Street theatre, live music, kids entertainment, festival stalls and food and drink. www.devizescarnival.co.uk
Swindon Mela, The Town Gardens, Old Town, Swindon. Celebrating the sights, sounds and tastes of the best that the Indian sub-continent has to offer. www.swindonmela.com
September:
Salisbury Food and Drink Festival. Featues all things food and drink and includes a hard fought waiters race. www.salisburyfestival.co.uk
Final speed hillclimb meeting at Gurston Down. www.gurstondown.org
Berwick St John Country Fayre – Biennial fayre started in 1992. Steam engines, vintage tractors, lorries, cars, and bikes, military vehicle display, fair ground rides, produce,tea tent and trade stands. Free entry but donations to the nominated charity are appreciated. www.berwickstjohncountryfayre.co.uk
Wiltshire Game & County Fair, Bowood Estate
October:
Mere literary Festival. Second Monday of October. Literary festival to support the Linkscheme charity. Local and international writers and performers put on a variety of talks, workshops and shows. www.merelitfest.co.uk
Marlborough Apple Day. In and around the town hall. Free .
Salisbury Fair. Held on the third Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in Salisbury Market Square.
Salisbury Carnival. An evening carnival around the streets of Salisbury. www.salisburycarnival.co.uk
Trowbridge Carnival Procession. Illuminated floats and masqueraders wind their way through the town centre.
Swindon & North Wilts CAMRA Annual Beer Festival. www.swindoncamra.org.uk
Salisbury half marathon
November:
Tidworth 10k and 3k Fun Run. Charity run starting at Tedworth House and crossing usually restricted areas of Salisbury Plain.Organised by the Army to raise money for the Salisbury District Hospital Stars Appeal. 01722 429005. www.tidworth10k.co.uk
Firework displays throughout the county.
Salisbury Lantern Procession. Hundreds of lanterns paraded through Salisbury city centre. www.salisburychristmasmarket.co.uk/lantern.html
Devizes Christmas Festival. All day long Christmas markets in the Market Place and Corn Exchange, live music, street theatre and parade of lanterns. The parade circles the town and returns to the Market Place in time for Father Christmas to switch on the Christmas Lights and start the firework display.
Christmas light switch-ons around the county.
2012 Christmas events in Wiltshire
December:
Christmas light switch-ons around the county.
Winter solstice at Stonehenge.
2012 Christmas events in Wiltshire