what's on

Gloucester is home to a wide range of festivals and some truly unique events throughout the year and 2013 is no exception. The flagship event of the year (pardon the pun) is Gloucester Tall Ships on 24-27 May. This will be the fourth festival since its inception in 2008 and attracts visitors from across the South West and beyond as the amzing tall sailing ships sail into the UK's most inland port. The Victorian docks provide the perfect backdrop for this award winning event.

This year's Summer in Gloucester Festival features Summer Sounds (20 July) - a FREE one-day music festival in itself featuring headline acts and local bands. Other events over the coming months include the Dragon Boat Regatta (12 May) in aid of Clic Sargent, the first Gloucestershire Showcase Short Film Festival (1 June) and the Race For Life (23 June) raising funds for Cancer Research UK and the Three Choirs Festival.

During the winter months, there are many reasons to visit this historic city, celebrating its Victorian and medieval heritage with events such as the Christmas Lantern Procession, the Gloucester Quays Victorian Market.

Art & Cultural Events

Gloucester Cathedral may seem an unlikely venue for modern art exhibitions, but the critically acclaimed ‘The Crucible’ in 2010 and last year’s ‘Open West’ used the dramatic gothic setting to their advantage. The Cathedral have even started showing classic silent films with live improvised organ playing. There are frequent exhibitions at the City Museum & Art Gallery, whilst Nature In Art is the first gallery in the UK where the exhibits are inspired exclusively by the natural world.

Gloucester Guildhall is the county’s most exciting arts and entertainment venue, hosting concerts, comedy, theatre and dance. There is a cinema showing a mix of the latest blockbusters, and the best in arthouse and world cinema. The Picturedrome and the Kings Theatre showcase the work of local and regional theatre groups.

Live Music

Gloucester is lucky to have an eclectic range of music venues, from small intimate gigs at the Guildhall (shortlisted as one of the best small venues in the South West by the NME), to stadium concerts at Gloucester Rugby (previous dates have included The Wanted and Sir Tom Jones) who will be hosting the McFly and Ronan Keating in June.

Historic venues such as Blackfriars and Llanthony Priory are often used for one-off events, whilst Cafe Rene and the Gloucester Blues Club are at the heart of the local live scene.

January’s Gloucester Cajun & Zydeco Festival is the largest event of its kind in the UK, whilst the Gloucester Rhythm and Blues Festival (now in its eleventh year) attracts local, national and international musicians and packs in nine days of free Blues gigs at multiple venues across the city every July. Gloucester Guildhall also organises the Underground Festival every September showcasing unsigned acts from the county and beyond.

Food & Lifestyle Events

Gloucester is surrounded by a cornucopia of quality food and drink producers, whose wares you’ll often find at the Gloucester Farmers Market (every Friday at the Cross) and monthly at the Orchard Street Food & Craft Market (first weekend of the month except August) at Gloucester Quays.

Gloucester Quays also host the annual Food & Drink Festival in July. This year’s festival features live cookery demonstrations from celebrity chefs James Martin and Gino D’Acampo plus more than 60 food stalls. It comes on the back of their highly successful Homes and Garden Party event During the Easter Bank Holiday.

Search the Gloucester What’s On pages for the latest events information on what’s happening in the city or contact the Gloucester Tourist Information Centre.

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