things to do in June 5

Enjoy

Explore

Festival of Nature returns to Bristol and Bath from 9 – 18 June for its 20th anniversary event. Join the celebration with this year’s unmissable 10-day programme of vibrant city-centre events, family nature parties, wildlife workshops, walks and talks, film screenings, spectacular performances, and digital activities across the week.

• bnhc.org.uk/festival-of-nature

Listen

Bristol Opera is celebrating its centenary with a spectacular concert under the wings of the iconic Concorde at the Aerospace Museum in Filton on 24 June at 7.30pm.

Doors open at 6.45pm, allowing the audience to walk through Concorde to their seats situated below the airliner. The concert is set to be packed with popular choruses, solos and fully orchestrated overtures from operas performed during Bristol Opera’s 100 years. Plus, concert-goers can enjoy an exciting world premiere of a specially commissioned short opera by Joel Baldwin, based on the life of local illustrator and cartoonist Anne Harriet Fish, born in Horfield (1809-1964).

International baritone Andrew Shore plays the role of Omar Khayyam, whom Anne Fish illustrated for ‘The Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyam’ in her inimitable Jazz Age style in the 1920s.

• Book your tickets at: tickets@bristolopera.co.uk

The Rockhampton Folk and World Music Festival is taking place on 17 June at Rockhampton, Gloucestershire GL13 9DX. Expect top-quality Gaelic folk from two of the best young musicians of their generation. Plus, music from the Balkans, traditional African harpist Bach and Bubbles and loads more. Free participation workshops for all ages.

The festival all happens in a small field by the church in Rockhampton and is simply about quality music and having fun in a safe, relaxed, friendly atmosphere.

• Book your tickets at rockhamptonfolkfest.org.uk

Celebrate

Running from 24 June –9 July, Bristol Pride is a unique and important event that celebrates the LGBT+ community offering the chance to connect people.

The countdown to Pride 2023 has begun and Scissor Sisters’ frontman Jake Shears is set to headline Pride Day on 8 July. Alongside Jake Shears, Girls Aloud’s Nadine Coyle, 90s dance sensation Alison Limerick, Sheffield-helmed band Sophie and the Giants and Brit award-nominee Ladyhawke will also be performing on the main stage. Meanwhile, international icon Natalie Imbruglia will take over the Afternoon Legends slot.

Bristol Pride has also announced over 35 performers on its star-studded Cabaret stage with headline performances from the winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race, Ra’jah O’Hara alongside Drag Race UK fan favourite Tia Kofi and a special guest appearance from The Traitors UK star Amanda.

• For more information, visit: bristolpride.co.uk

Escape

Visit the communal gardens and squares hidden behind the elegant terraces of Clifton and Hotwells on 10 and 11 June, 10.30am –5pm and enjoy homemade refreshments, stalls and entertainment including singing by local choirs and a concert from the Fitzhardinge consort in All Saints church.

This is a rare opportunity to escape the hustle and bustle of Clifton village and enjoy the beautiful formal gardens, woodlands and wild gardens, most of which are rarely open to the public. There will be a variety of activities including talks, conducted walks and a tree trail.

• For more information and to book tickets, visit: gssg-bristol.com