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Acoustic, electric, eclectic: Bradford on Avon’s iconic festival. Money raised goes to local charities. www.wiltshiremusic.org.uk
Woodford, near Salisbury. 01722 782504. www.healegarden.co.uk
On Shrove Tuesday.
Barbury Racecourse, Marlborough, SN8 1RS. The Vine & Craven’s first race meeting stages 7 races beginning at 1130. There’s some archly competitive races to blow away the cobwebs, as well as trade stands to while away the time between races.There’s a fair chance you’ll bump into one of Wiltshire or Lambourn’s many National Hunt trainers, so it’s a good place to get a steer on what’s hot for the following month’s Cheltenham Festival. www.barburyraces.co.uk
Various locations around Swindon. Fascinating films and film related events led by Swindon Film Society. www.swindonfilmfestival.org
Larkhill Racecourse, Amesbury, SP4 8AT. One of Wiltshire’s premier Point-to-Point Steeplechase meetings, held annually at Larkhill Racecourse, near Amesbury. Over 2,000 horses are trained for racing within 30 minutes drive of Larkhill! The yards of Alan King, Brian Meehan, Neil Mulholland, Seamus Mullins and Roger Charlton, just to name a few, sit within our country and its surrounds. If you follow racing, then this is a great starting point. The annual Point-to-Point has always been a great tradition, a chance to dust down the picnic and watch some competitive racing in the Spring sunshine. There’s also shopping, a licensed bar, an Easter egg hunt, and race riding tuition from a professional rider. www.avonvaleraces.com
Bowood House. Late April to early June. www.bowood-house.co.uk/rhododendrons
Near Salisbury. www.gurstondown.org.
23rd April. See George and the Dragon.
29th April – 8 May 2013 – The Wye Valley Art Trail is a biennial, award winning festival of visual art and craft in South West Wiltshire. www.wvat.co.uk
Sponsor a duck and watch it race.
Corsham Community Centre. Dr Who, Star Wars and more. www.corshamscifi.co.uk.
Street festival in Salisbury started in 2015. Music, food, drink, stalls. www.fishertonfestival.co.uk
Barbury Racecourse, Marlborough, SN8 1RS. The Tedworth concludes the Barbury racing season featuring the £750 Tedworth Gold Cup over 3 3/4 miles in a six race card that provides plenty of opportunity for shopping, children’s activities and all the fun of a country fair. www.barburyraces.co.uk
Over two Sundays the woods are open to vehicles to raise money for charity. The dates are usually late April into early may
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.
In the picturesque riverside town of Bradford on Avon. A family friendly community festival of traditional dance, music, song and folklore led by 10′ giant Jack in the Green. Over 58 dance group, markets, kids funfair, two all day concerts and it’s all free. More info at boagreenmanfest.org/welcome/
Celebrates the written and spoken word. Includes competitions and workshops as well as a wide range of speakers. www.swindonfestivalofliterature.co.uk
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.
Crowning of princess, procession, maypole and Morris dancers, street entertainers, Downton Brass Band and plenty of stalls.www.cuckoofair.co.uk
Bowood Estate (Chippenham), Oakfrith Wood (Devizes), West Woods (Marlborough) and Grovely Woods (Salisbury)
May to June. Free opening event and a party in Salisbury Cathedral Close to close. 0845 241 9651. www.salisburyfestival.co.uk
See the stunning flowers in the grounds of this National Trust property
Villagers re-assert their right to collect firewood in Grovely Woods. Procession and maypole dancing. 29th May.
Drama, music and dance. First year in 2014. www.deverillsfestival.com
The Landmarc Cycle Wiltshire Grand Prix.
Kings Arms, All Cannings. www.concertatthekings.co.uk
Bowerchalke. Talks and debates on everything from Ancient Rome to The English at Home. June to July. 01722 781206. www.cvhf.org.uk
3 and 4 of June 2023. Set within the stunning Vale of Pewsey the show promotes rural and country life. The Rainscombe Country Show encourages local businesses and craft to exhibit and show off the best of what Wiltshire and the surrounding counties have to offer. A great day out for all the family with everything from vintage tractors to arena displays and rural craft. Rainscombe House and Park is situated in a natural bowl below the Downs to the north of the village of Oare.
amesburycarnival.webeden.co.uk
The biggest annual event for Naomi House children’s hospice. The 26 miles walk starts between 8am and 9am at Winchester Cathedral. It follows the beautiful route of the historic Clarendon Way, finishing at Salisbury Cathedral. The walk encompasses a diverse range of terrain and will take about 9 hours so make sure that you’re physically prepared for the challenge. www.naomihouse.org.uk
Various locations. www.wvat.co.uk
Warminster Lakeside Park. Free. www.warminsterwobble.co.uk
Salisbury Cathedral. 01722 320333. www.salisburycathedral.co.uk
Dinton. www.wiltshirejazzfestival.co.uk
Folk music, Morris dancers, children’s festival, workshops. www.chippfolk.co.uk
Stonehenge.
Various events throughout the county. In 2019, Salisbury hosted the national event.
All Saints Church in Farley.
www.devizesfestival.co.uk
Music in the beautiful Grade 1 listed gardens of Iford Manor. www.ifordarts.org.uk
Melksham. See some fabulous Cacti and Succulents. There will also be a chance to purchase some from the members plant stall. Expert advice on hand. Refreshments & Tombola. Melksham Assembly Hall, Melksham, Wiltshire SN12 6ES.
Just over the border in Dorset is Larmer Tree Festival – just a few miles from Salisbury – family music festival
Barbury Estate
Ladies night at Salisbury Racecourse. Great prizes for the best dressed ladies. 01722 326461. www.salisburyracecourse.co.uk/race-days
nr Marlborough, SN8 1RS. Set on the Marlborough downs across 4 days in July, the world’s best horses and riders will compete for the winner’s podium in the St James’s Place Barbury International Horse Trials. From the elegance of dressage through the speed and agility of show jumping to the white knuckle ride that is cross country eventing, the 4th leg of the innovative international Event Rider Masters Series holds centre stage at Barbury mid summer. With over 800 competitors, this is horse heaven. www.barburyhorsetrials.co.uk
Literature, folk, classical music and more. 01373 455420. www.fromefestival.co.uk
Westbury. Running on the last weekend of July in the festival offers the visitor the very best in folk, roots and acoustic music from all over the UK and beyond. www.villagepumpfolkfestival.co.uk
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.
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UK’s largest one-day Boules tournament. Teams from far and wide come together to compete. The village’s wide high street is closed to traffic to make room for the 16 Boules pitches (or ‘pistes’) on which the 100+ games are contested throughout the day. Wide selection of stalls, cafés and bars providing plenty of refreshments. sherston.net/boules
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
Charity polo match followed by the annual army v navy match. Held in Tidworth.
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
At various locations including Salisbury Museum. View pics from 2016
Charlton Park, Malmesbury. World music festival.
www.malmesburycarnival.co.uk
Wilton House www.wiltonhorsetrials.co.uk
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
On the Wilton House Estate. A celebration of country ways, rural lifestyles and country sports. Attractions include Dressage Camels, Dog Agility, Birds of Prey and Steam and Vintage Vehicles. Try your skills at archery or enter your four-legged friend into the dog show. Buy good quality crafts, delicious foods and beautiful fashion and home accessories. Bar and live music. www.wessexcountryfair.co.uk
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
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www.trowbridgeartsfestival.co.uk
Bringing some of the best of the White Island’s dance tunes to orchestral life. View photo gallery
Held on the first weekend in September. Good range of walk lengths. walkbradfordonavon.org/bradford-on-avon-walking-festival
A range of literary events for all ages including fiction, non-fiction, poetry and the annual Big Town Read. The festival aims to champion new, upcoming writers as well as established names and also encourage a love of reading in children and young people with author talks, competitions and LitFest’s community outreach programme. www.marlboroughlitfest.org
Experience the wonderful views from the top of the Odstock Downs and walk through the Longford Estate past the spectacular Longford Castle. Choice of either 7 miles, 13 miles or the complete 20 mile route there is something for walkers of all abilities. Dogs on leads welcome. Raising money for Salisbury Hospice.
A choice of three exciting routes, all starting and finishing in the historic market town of Devizes. If you’re up for it, there’s the heroic 100 mile route touching nearly every corner of Wiltshire, or opt for the gentler 45 mile route. And for those families with younger children there’s a great 12 mile ride exploring the peaceful Vale of Pewsey. This is an Open Event – raise money for the charity of your choice.
Celebrates everything foodie that’s local and regional, with a bustling Market Day and a week of food events.
The skies above Wiltshire are filled with dozens of spectacular hot air balloons. There are also night glows.
www.gurstondown.org.
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
Bowood Estate
www.steam-museum.org.uk
30+ events. wmafestival.co.uk
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
In and around the town hall. Free.
Held on the third Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in Salisbury Market Square.
An evening carnival around the streets of Salisbury. www.salisburycarnival.co.uk
Illuminated floats and masqueraders wind their way through the town centre.
www.swindoncamra.org.uk
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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
On Saturday 2nd November 2019 from 10:30 – 3:30 at Flaxlands Manor Farm Royal Wootton Bassett SN15 5BB. All proceeds to Alzheimer’s Support Wiltshire. Amazing homemade food and wonderful handcrafted gifts. Activities for the children and plenty of free parking.
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Christian Malford Bonfire and Fireworks night – charity event at Christian Malford Meadow 6 November 2022 christianmalford.org.uk/fireworks-bonfire-night
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Hundreds of lanterns paraded through Salisbury city centre.
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.
Salisbury Cathedral
Raises funds for the Wiltshire Bobby Van Trust. Shoppers will have the chance to seek out upscale items from a wealth of gift stalls spreading out from the House Restaurant, through to the Sculpture Gallery and on into the Orangery.
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High quality local art for sale at this year’s Christmas Art Fair in Chippenham. Paintings, jewellery, textiles, sculpture, ceramics at affordable prices. The fair takes place across four beautiful historic buildings in the Market Place at the top of the high street; the King Alfred Hall, Platinum House, the Yelde Hall and the Museum. 10am to 4pm Saturday 3 December 2022 Www.chippenhamart.com
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