We’ve successfully had freedom day, so let’s see what’s out there so we can start living our lives again (but let’s stay safe still). As always our listed events are run by small companies or celebrate diversity or the arts. Read on to find out whats on in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds and York in August.
London
Sunday 1st August – Up-cycled, Vintage and Retro Market, Between the Bridges, South Bank
Browse dozens of stalls selling vintage fashion, antique jewellery, retro art and up-cycled home accessories whilst in London’s biggest beer garden with tons of food stalls, plonk golf and Columbian Boules just a stone’s throw from the London Eye. Free entry.
Saturday 7th August – Bootleg Blondie, 100 Club, Oxford Street
Dance the night away at one of London’s most iconic music venues to all of Blondie’s great tunes. Tickets £20 from here.
Saturday 14th August – Inside Out, Beckenham Place Park, Beckenham
Visit the beautiful Beckenham Place Park Mansion for the Inside Out event, spend the day dipping in and out of exciting activities. From String Quartets to Samba to food and drink stalls, there’s something for everyone to enjoy! Curated by Classical PopUps. Free entry, but some events and workshops are ticketed. More information here.
Thursday 19th August – Paint Van Gogh, London Art Bar, Holborn
PopUp Painting invites you to sip and paint in London’s newest creative hub London Art Bar. Unleash your creativity – glass in one hand, paint brush in the other – no experience needed. This evening’s event will be themed around Van Gogh‘s Mountains At Saint Remy painting. Tickets £32.99 from here.
Saturday 28th August – Yam Festival, Clapham Common, Clapham
A festival celebrating black culture, music and food on Clapham Common. Tickets are various prices from here.
Birmingham
Sunday 8th August – Lee Jones Trio, Live Jazz in the Botanical Gardens, Birmingham Botanical Gardens, B15 3TR
Live Jazz is set to return to Birmingham Botanical Gardens this Summer. This week will be the fabulous Lee Jones Trio. Concert runs from 2pm-4pm. Tickets £6.75 from here.
Saturday 28th August – Monday 30th August – Birmingham Mela, Victoria Park, Smethwick
Sandwell & Birmingham Mela is the biggest Asian music festival in Europe. Music, dance, food and traditional arts and crafts bring the sights, sounds and spicy aromas of South Asia to Victoria Park, Smethwick. Tickets from here.
All Month – Mark a Mark: Dutch and Flemish Drawings from the Royal Collection, The Barber Institute of Fine Arts, B15 2TT
Exquisite and intriguing 16th- and 17th-century drawings by Dutch and Flemish artists, including Rubens, Rembrandt and Van Dyck, feature in ‘Making a Mark’, the Barber’s first physical exhibition for more than a year. Free entry, but booking essential from here.
Manchester
Sunday 1st August – Heatons Comedy Evening, The Heatons Sports Club, Green Lane, Stockport, SK4 2NF
An extended set from Channel 4’s comedian Tez Ilyas along with Vancouver’s Glenn Wool and Alistair Barrie will be joining the set! Tickets £11.45 from here.
Saturday 14th – Sunday 15th August – Ancoats Pop Up Market, 23 Radium Street, M4 6AY
This Pop Up Market is nestled amongst the backstreets of Manchester and tucked into the loading bay of an old, red-brick historic mill. The market runs over the weekend and features stallholders such as Manchester-based speciality coffee roasters, locally brewed rum liqueurs and locally sourced bakes and crafts! Find out more here.
All Month – Pick your Own Berries, Kenyon Hall Farm, Winwick Lane Croft, Warrington , WA3 7ED
Visit Kenyon Hall Farm this summer and pick your own strawberries, gooseberries, raspberries and more. You can also visit the farm shop, cafe and plant cafe for the ultimate wholesome day out. Find out more here.
Leeds & York
Sunday 1st August – Heritage Craft Skills Demonstration, Calverley Old Hall, LS28 5NL
Meet local heritage craft professionals and artisans and watch demonstrations of some of the key skills. If you see something that intrigues you, there is the opportunity to arrange a hands-on workshops at a later date. More information here.
Friday 20th – Friday 27th August – Alice in Wonderland, Leeds Kirkgate Market Event Space 34 George Street, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS2 7HY
Follow Alice down the rabbit hole as Same Difference Arts present this brand new production of Alice in Wonderland. This energetic and hilarious re-telling of the iconic story finds Alice in a world of wonder. This highly interactive show will have families joining in, helping Alice along her journey, with song and laughter throughout. Children old and young alike are invited to bring your own picnic blanket and favourite piece of cake, and join in our tea party in the garden. Tickets from here.
Sunday 29th August – Discover Vintage Flea Market, Headingley Enterprise and Arts Centre (HEART), LS6 3HN
Find plenty of Vintage treasures including fashion, furniture, bric-a-brac, jewellery, vinyl and more. Plus enjoy vintage tunes from DJs. Great Food and Drinks available from the onsite Assembly Bar & Kitchen. Free entry.
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