WHAT’S ON

Unicornfest n Throughout August, around Bristol

We’ve had gorillas and we’ve had Gromits, now we can enjoy a giant herd of unicorns (or ‘blessing’ as a group of unicorns is known), which has descended upon the streets of Bristol. Enjoy the colourful arts trail of decorated mythical unicorns with Unicornfest 2023 in celebration of Bristol’s 650th anniversary.

ValleyFest n 3 –6 August

Valley Fest is the best-tasting music festival in the South West, taking place next to the glittering Chew Valley Lake. The weekend is perfect for first-time festival goers as well as families of all ages. This year’s headliners include Bananarama, Soul II Soul and The Kooks. As well as music, enjoy fine food from local producers serving everything from charcuterie to cider, street food to sitdown feasts – all with plenty of Somerset style and sizzle. Book your tickets at: valleyfest.co.uk

St Nicks Night Market n 4 August, St Nicks Market

St Nicks Night Market will see musicians and performers bring the market and Old City to life by night, the stunning streets bustling with happy crowds ready to enjoy a fine array of delectable street food, local tipples, dancing, and that wonderful Night Market atmosphere.

Sea Shanty and Folk Music Festival n 4 –6 August, various venues in Weston-Super-Mare

Enjoy a weekend of brilliant acts singing traditional shanties relating to our local maritime history. Ahaaaargh! Pirate crews will also be invading Weston-Super-Mare. Why not dress as your favourite pirate and join in the fun?! No tickets are required for any of the performances. To see the full programme, visit: wsmshantyfest.com

Oppenheimer n 4 –10 August, Watershed

Written and directed by Christopher Nolan, Oppenheimer is an IMAX®-shot epic thriller that thrusts you into the pulsepounding paradox of the enigmatic man who risked destroying the world in order to save it.

Based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning book, Cillian Murphy portrays American scientist J. Robert Oppenheimer, who played a crucial role in developing the atomic bomb. Together with a stellar cast including Emily Blunt, Matt Damon and Robert Downey, Jr., Nolan has created another visually impressive spectacle that stands on par with his previous work directing Tenet, Dunkirk and Inception watershed.co.uk

FreddieMcGregor n 10 August, Trinity Centre

Freddie McGregor is a singer, musician and record producer from Jamaica. He is one of Reggae’s most durable and soulful singers, with an incredibly steady career that started all the way back in the ‘60s when he was just seven years old. Since then, he’s spanned nearly every stylistic shift in Jamaican music; from ska and rocksteady, to dabbling in dancehall, raga and dub. trinitybristol.org.uk

Summer Film Takeover: The 4 Pillars: 50 Years of Hip Hop n 12 August, Sparks Bristol Film, music and more... Freestyle CIC and Bris-Story present a day of free screenings and activities to celebrate Hip Hop’s 50th birthday, exploring its four pillars –breakdancing, graffiti, DJing and rap – and how it has helped influence Bristol’s culture, leaving a lasting legacy. bristolcityoffilm.co.uk

Bristol Bonsai Society Annual Show n 13 August, Failand Village Hall, Oxhouse Lane, BS8 3TS

Bristol Bonsai Society’s Annual Show is taking place from 10am –4pm (last entry at 3pm) on 13 August. Entry is £5 per person for over 16s (cash only, payable at the door on arrival). Enjoy light refreshments and a bonsai raffle and look out for the Best Display on Show Award. For more information about the show and the society, visit: bristolbonsaisociety.wordpress.com

Bristol Film Festival: Everything Everywhere All at Once n 15 August, Averys Wine Merchants Bristol Film Festival is putting on a special screening of Everything Everywhere All At Once, which recently won the Academy Award for Best Picture. If you missed this instant cult classic the first time round, or need another viewing of this multiverse masterpiece, then head down to Averys Wine Merchants and enjoy it with a glass of wine or two. bristolfilmfestival.com

Summer Film Takeover: Aardman at Sparks Bristol n 18 –20 August, Sparks Bristol

An exciting weekend of free Aardman workshops and film screenings, taking place in Bristol's new sustainability hub - fun for all the family! Presented by Global Goals Centre and Aardman Animations. bristolcityoffilm.co.uk

Old City Sounds n 26 August, various locations

This free-to-attend one-day event will take over King Street, St Stephen’s Church, St Nicholas Street and St Nicks Market in a musical celebration for those young and young at heart.

Old City Sounds, a new for summer 2023 family-friendly music event, was created by Bristol City Centre Business Improvement

District (BID). With musical fun for all the family on offer, all genres will be celebrated throughout four melodic zones.

East Bristol Brewery Trail n 26 –27 August, various breweries

Seven East Bristol breweries will open up their taproom bars once again in 2023 in what has become one of Bristol’s most popular, and most missed, beer events. The trail includes Arbor Ales, Dawkins Ales,

Good Chemistry Brewing, Left Handed Giant Brewing Co, Little Martha Brewing and Moor Beer and Wiper & True.

The two day event, which started in 2016, will take place over the August bank holiday. eastbristolbrewerytrail.com

Blood Brothers n 29 August –2 September, Bristol Hippodrome

Written by Willy Russell, the legendary Blood Brothers tells the captivating and moving tale of twins who, separated at birth, grow up on opposite sides of the tracks, only to meet again with fateful consequences. Few musicals have received quite such acclaim as the multi-awardwinning Blood Brothers, which, having opened in 1988 to tremendous acclaim, continues to enjoy standing ovations at almost every devastating performance. Book your tickets at: atgtickets.com

Orpheus and Eurydice n 31 August –2 September, Bristol Old Vic It’s midnight, and Orpheus is once again amongst the grime of Bristol: broken glass, graffiti and late-night ravers.

He stands older, wiser maybe, trying to remember a moment of importance, of love… He is looking back, but perhaps he shouldn’t. Not again. Join Orpheus as he descends into the Underworld, for one final time. How does it feel to fall head-overheels in love, to trust that person will follow wherever you go, then to have them taken from you in the blink of an eye? bristololdvic.org.uk n