45 things to do in Bristol in August 2022

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Weekends Throughout August: Sensory Chocolate Experience
Carlos Ayala is a third-generation Italian Ecuadorian chocolate maker who hosts chocolate-making workshops. With family from the Amazon, Carlos grew up around raw cacao beans and weaves his culture and heritage into each delicious creation. You’ll taste different chocolates, discover chocolate flavour profiles, learn the history and geography of chocolate, and give chocolate making a whirl yourself!

August 1: Fun Family Day out by bike, rural Somerset
Don your helmet and get out into the gorgeous South West countryside with the family on this Yuup experience. Bikes/equipment provided.

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Throughout August: Studio Ghibli Summer, Watershed
Fresh for the Summer Holidays, we are excited to be screening this collection of Japanese animation giant Studio Ghibli masterpieces, specially selected to delight and entertain the whole family.

August 2: Board Game Night, The Greenbank
A free monthly board game night at Easton’s The Greenbank. Bring your own games if you have them.

August 3: Street Art Bristol: City Game – From Banksy to the Capital of Graffiti, Mercure Bristol Grand Hotel
A tour around central Bristol, visiting and learning about some of the most famous street art spots in the city.

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August 4-7: Valley Fest, Chew Magna
Last few weekend and Sunday tickets left! Valley Fest, (August 4-7) the best-tasting music festival in the South West is taking place alongside Chew Valley Lake, nine miles from Bristol. With a huge music line up, Josh Eggleton at the helm of the food programme and a brand new area – the Alchemist’s Playground, there’s plenty of wholesome fun to be had by everyone.

August 5: Excess presents: Scar Duggy, Kouslin, Josi Devil, Loco Klub
Exciting outing from Bristol bass collective Excess – a variety of forward thinking, left field club sounds.

August 6: Jamaican Independence Celebration, Caribbean Croft
The Stokes Croft restaurant celebrates 60 years of Jamaican Independence from the UK with a big party, with great drinks and no doubt even better food.

August 7: Tipping Point, Leigh Woods Secret Location
An immersive theatre experience in the woods, exploring the climate catastrophe and the effect it is having on all our lives.

August 8: The Yellow Mic Stand Comedy Night, The Canteen
Comedy open mic night at friendly central Stokes bar/kitchen The Canteen.

August 9: Kokoroko: Live + Signing, Rough Trade
A performance from London based jazz/afrobeat eight-piece Kokoroko, followed by a signing at Central Bristol’s Rough Trade.

August 10: A Midsummer Night’s Dream – BSL Interpreted, Eastville Park Swimming Pool
The highly acclaimed production takes place in an abandoned swimming pool, with a British Sign Language accompaniment.

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August 10: Rum Club with Black Tot, Nadu
Join Nadu in Stokes Croft for a special edition of Rum Club! Grab a taste of rum and naval history with Black Tot Rum and commemorate Black Tot Day, the day that the British Navy were served their last daily rum ration which ended a 239 year naval tradition.

The UK Brand Ambassador for Black Tot Rum will lead guests through the history of the navy’s relationship with rum, dispel myths about navy rum, and showcase characteristics of rum blending through a unique tasting.

August 11-14: Bristol Balloon Fiesta, Ashton Court
One of Europe’s largest hot air balloon celebrations takes place at Ashton Court, with over 100 balloons launching across the weekend.

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Discover Slimbridge Wetland Centre this Summer
Immerse yourself in the beauty of wetland wildlife and explore Slimbridge’s eight NEW exhibits. Meet the world’s rarest goose and experience birds soaring overhead in the open-air Living Wetland Theatre.

August 11: Goya, The Canteen
A fusion of a vast array of musical styles, Goya take to the stage at The Canteen, Goya create their own unique take on cinematic and atmospheric music.

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August 11: MC Yallah & Debmaster, Trinity Centre
MC Yallah is a Kenyan artists based in Uganda, and an affiliate of the big Nyege Nyege crew. Her fierce and intense lyrics are drawn from real-life experiences and often address women’s issues, spreading a powerful message of integrity and self-determination. Plus support from Grove.

August 12: Misscoteque #5: Return of the Funk, Lost Horizon
Exciting rising queer collective Misscoteque continue their run of nights at Lost Horizon.

August 13: Terrific Trees of Stoke Park, The Cameron Centre
A walk around Stoke Park, examining the different types of trees that reside there, and how to identify them from one another.

August 14: Bearpit Market, The Bearpit
A monthly community summer market at The Bearpit, where anyone can apply to sell their wares/showcase their business.

August 15: Break Free Holiday Project, The Park Centre
A free holiday club running throughout August, with a host of activities to keep the children busy.

August 16: Beginners Unicycle Masterclass, Ashton Park School
If you’ve ever wanted to learn the art of the unicycle, there’s no better opportunity than this Yuup experience.

August 17: Paddle Boarding for Beginners, St Dilas DSC
Learn to paddle board for free with Oasis Hub North Bristol.

August 18: Aromatherapy and Herbs for Wellbeing, Prior Shop Cabot Circus
Learn to make your own herbal/aromatic products to help boost your mental health and overall wellbeing.

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Opens August 19: The Feast, Watershed
This outstanding slow burn, Welsh-language folk horror sees a wealthy family host a sumptuous dinner, only for a mysterious young server to chillingly unravel their lives with terrifying consequences they could never see coming. Filmmakers Q&A on Saturday, August 20.

August 19-20: Legends Festival, Blaise Castle
A festival showcasing some of the world’s most talented and well known tribute artists.

August 20: Glasshouse Stokes Croft Summer Courthouse Party, The Full Moon
Bristol techno/electro promoters host a stacked day party at The Full Moon/Attic Bar.

August 21: Much Ado About Nothing, Windmill Hill City Farm
Sun and Moon Theatre’s rendition of the Shakespeare classic. Part of Bristol Shakespeare Festival.

August 22: Junk Scrap Modelling (Free), Hartcliffe City Farm
Let your imagination run wild, and assist with the creation of a giant scrap dragon at Hartcliffe City Farm.

August 23: Porcelain Jug Workshop, Centrespace Gallery
Central Bristol independent gallery Centrespace hosts a workshop where you’ll learn to make your very own porcelain jug.

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August 23: Drake White, Trinity Centre
Known for his own brand of country soul, Drake made his first debut single, Simple Life, in 2013. Drake has received accolades including Rolling Stone’s 10 Country Artists You Need to Know, The Grammy’s Artist of Tomorrow, and the British CMA Awards’ International Song of the Year; as well as sharing the stage with Country music superstars like Luke Bryan, Eric Church and Zac Brown Band.

August 24: Bat Walk, Winterbourne Medieval Barn
An evening walk around the rural outskirts of Bristol, looking for bats and finishing with drinks/nibbles in an old barn.

August 25: Rupert Clervaux, Dania & B. Rupp – LIVE, Strange Brew
A free/pay what you can live experimental jazz/electronica night at always inventive Strange Brew.

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August 26: Cola, Rough Trade
From the ashes of Ought, new project Cola rises. Following the break-up of the post-punk outfit last year, Tim Darcy and Ben Stidworthy teamed up with Evan Cartwright, of US Girls and The Weather Station. Together, the trio combines resonant guitar grooves, tight angular rhythms and idiosyncratic wry vocals. Their first full-length release Deep In View sees their precise and adroit musicianship in fine form, with astute lyrical vignettes and a self-aware charm. Fans of this art-punk trio might also enjoy Taraka, who is playing at Dareshack on Wednesday, August 31.

August 26: Forest Sensory Tours, Arnolfini
Sensory tours of the new Arnolfini exhibition, in which you’ll be able to touch samples from the exhibition itself, and explore the work in a multisensory way.

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August 27: Luisa Omielan – Ten, Redgrave Theatre
Luisa Omielan creates iconic one woman shows. She was the first comedian to receive a Bafta Breakthrough for stand up. Not the first female comedian. The first.

August 27: Shake Ya Brass + Santa Fe, Mr Wolfs
Experience covers of all your favourite tracks in brass form at Mr Wolf’s.

August 28: Bank Holiday Summer Terrace Party, Propyard
Celebrate the long weekend with an outdoor day party at Bristol’s newest large venue.

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August 29: Tank and the Bangas, The Fleece
Tank and the Bangas’ sound is effervescent. The New Orleans outfit craft shimmering, poetic soul infused with gospel, R&B, pop and then some. Helmed by vocalist and poet Tarriona “Tank” Ball, the group won NPR’s Tiny Desk Contest back in 2017 which propelled them to worldwide renown. Since then they’ve garnered acclaim for their energetic and remarkable live shows, as well as being nominated for Best New Artist at the 2020 Grammys. Their new album Red Balloon is out now.

August 29: A Sense of Belonging Art Exhibition, Prior Shop Cabot Circus
An exhibition showcasing six rising Bristol artists, exploring their sense of belonging in the city.

August 30 – September 10: Joseph and The Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, Hippodrome
Bristol Hippodrome presents their limited time production of the tale as old as time.

August 31: Relive your Childhood at Bristol Zoo, Bristol Zoo Gardens
A final opportunity to visit the zoo before its planned closure in September.

And coming soon…

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September 1: Jenny Eclair – Sixty, Redgrave Theatre
Having hit 60, Jenny Eclair confronts a new decade of decrepitude. Now that it takes 30 minutes of scrolling to find her DOB when she’s filling in forms online, should she celebrate or crawl into a hole? What will her 60’s hold for this 1960’s babe and is it a legal requirement to buy Nordic walking poles?

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December 1 – January 15: The Snow Queen, Tobacco Factort
Join Gerda on her quest to the frozen north as she tries to save her best friend Kaj from the icy clutches of The Snow Queen. Bursting with rich acoustic music and brought to life by a multi-talented cast, this unforgettable folk tale is full of heart, courage, and a lot of laughter.

Book before July 31 and save 20 per cent on all tickets!

The Snow Queen is Tobacco Factory’s Christmas production – Photo: Tobacco Factory

Main Photo: Yuup

Read more: 22 things to do in Bristol this Summer Holidays, July – August 2022

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