FESTIVAL FEVER HITS SOUTHAMPTON THIS SUMMER

There’s a summery zing to Southampton’s mid-year line up with live music, festivals and events all reflecting the coastal city’s diversity and verve. Running throughout the summer, many of the top picks from Visit Southampton are free to attend. The full programme is detailed on Visit Southampton’s What’s On events pages, with highlights including:

PLAYING THE FIELD FESTIVAL SET TO IGNITE SOUTHAMPTON THIS MAY BANK HOLIDAY

This Bank Holiday, Southampton will host its inaugural Playing The Field Festival at Silverlake Stadium, Eastleigh. Taking place the 24th and 25th May 2025, the two-day event kicks off Saturday with family-friendly entertainment, featuring performances by Feeder, The Coral, The Hoosiers and Peter Andre. Alongside the music, activity zones will include circus workshops, a silent disco, and the world’s biggest bouncy castle. Sunday shifts to an 18+ electronic music party, headlined by Bru-C, Andy C, Sigma, and Joel Corry with house and techno acts in the Big Top Stage. VIP experiences and local food and drink vendors will be available throughout. Adult tickets from £42.50 and children £10. For more information: https://www.playingthefieldfestival.co.uk/

THE BIG EAT FESTIVAL RETURNS TO ROYAL VICTORIA COUNTRY PARK MAY 24-26TH

Southampton’s tastiest weekend, The Big Eat Festival is set to take over the Royal Victoria Country Park in Netley this Saturday 24th to Monday 26th May. The free, family-friendly event features over 50 street food vendors competing for the Hampshire Street Food Awards, alongside live music across two stages, a silent disco, petting zoo, and a dog show. With all profits supporting local food banks, it’s a feel-good feast for all ages. For more information: https://thebigeatfestival.co.uk/

WEAVING CULTURES TOGETHER AT FREE NEW TAPESTRY FESTIVAL

Festival Poster

A newcomer to Southampton’s events scene, The Tapestry Festival on 19th and 20th July, will celebrate Southampton’s rich cultural landscape, with a free and vibrant coming together of world-class artists, rising stars, exclusive collaborations, food and drink. Running throughout the day from 2-7pm, from classical Indian music and African beats to Irish folk dancing the event will be underpinned by the city’s unique connection to Jane Austen. For more information visit https://tapestryfestival.co.uk/

SOUTHAMPTON’S VERY OWN – CRAIG DAVID – ALONG WITH THE McFLY, SIMPLE MINDS, THE STRANGLERS, UB40 FEATURING ALI CAMPBELL, OCEAN COLOUR SCENE AND THE HUMAN LEAGUE PERFORM AT THE CITY’S TKMAX SUMMER SESSION SERIES THIS JUNE

An international line-up of musicians including, Southampton’s favourite son Craig David, McFly, Simple Minds, Rag ‘n’ Bone Man, The Stranglers, UB40 Featuring Ali Campbell, Ocean Colour Scene, The Human League and Train will be performing live at Guildhall Square this 13-29th June as part of the Southampton Summer Sessions.  Home to the city’s cultural hub, as well as enjoying the open-air concerts, visitors can make a day of it and explore the area’s museums, galleries, bars, cafes, and restaurants. Tickets from £55.45 for more information: https://www.smmrsessions.com/locations/southampton

JANE AUSTEN’S SHOWTUNES AT ST MICHAEL’S CHURCH, 5TH JUNE

Jane Austen celebrations

Musical theatre and literature are set to collide on the 5th June for Jane Austen’s Showtunes - a joyful tribute to the music the author would have known and loved. Part of Southampton’s celebrations marking 250 years since Austen’s birth, the event takes place in the atmospheric St Michael’s Church, just steps from the author’s former home in Castle Square. The evening features performances by folk singer Jeff Henry and Charles Dibdin expert Nicola Pritchard-Pink, highlighting Austen’s passion for music and the works of the 18th-century Southampton-born composer. Doors open at 7pm. Tickets are £10 from

www.wegottickets.com/sarahsiddonsfanclub. For more information about the Jane Austen 2025 visit: https://visitsouthampton.co.uk/janeausten250

STREET FOOD, COMMUNITY, FAMILY AND MUSIC THIS JUNE

There are rich pickings for festival goers of all ages in June.  Kicking off with The Street Food Circus on 6th - 8th June, the event will see Crosshouse car park (right by the river under Itchin Bridge) transform into a festival site enabling revellers to enjoy delicious street food stalls, craft beer and cocktails with DJs, local bands and street performance (tickets £8).  For more information https://streetfoodcircus.co.uk/summer-feastival

On Sunday 22nd June the Bedford Place Summer Festival celebrates the area’s independent businesses and local community with a free outdoor market, live family-friendly entertainment and fun throughout the day and into the early evening https://www.facebook.com/bedfordplacefestival

While the June line-up concludes with a Summer Family Fun Day at Turner Sims (the University of Southampton’s music venue). Filled with musical activities and workshops it’s a hands-on affair featuring drop-in and ticketed performances. For more information: https://www.turnersims.co.uk

ASIANA FLAVOUR TO JULY’S FESTIVAL IN SOUTHAMPTON

Mela Festival

Asian communities will celebrate their cultures this July in Southampton at two standout events both taking place at Hoglands Park. 

The Thai Festival on 5-6th July, will bring together the wonders of Thai culture through food, dancing, traditional boxing and entertainment aimed at all ages (tickets £6 adults and £3 children). https://www.southamptonthaifestival.com/  While the following weekend, on 12-13th July the venue will host the annual Mela Festival.  This free and colourful celebration is one of Southampton’s biggest and attracts huge crowds keen to experience modern and traditional Asian culture through music, dance, and family-friendly activities with performances by renowned artists from around the globe. For more information https://artasia.org.uk/mela-festival/

DANCE LEGENDS GO ORCHESTRAL AT CLUB CLASSICS EVENT

Some of the most iconic dance floor anthems including ‘Insomnia,’ ‘Show Me Love,’ and ‘Sing It Back,’ will have an orchestral overhaul on the 1st August at the Club Classics Orchestra.  Taking place at Southampton’s Silverlake Stadium, the open-air concert will be headlined by a 24-piece ensemble with DJ sets and live vocalists all complemented by gourmet street food and festival-style bars to add to the vibe.

Tickets from £25. For more information: https://www.clubclassicsorchestra.co.uk/

SOUTHAMPTON MEETS NASHVILLE AT COUNTRY ROAD FESTIVAL

Lovers of the Nashville sound can enjoy a proper hoedown at Country Road Southampton Festival, taking place on 2nd August at Silverlake Stadium. This all-day event is set to feature top UK country artists, line dancing, themed bars, street food and family activities.

Adult tickets from £32.50, children £10 and under 8yrs free. For more information: https://www.countryroadfestival.co.uk/

BIGGER AND BETTER SOUTHAMPTON PRIDE WEEKEND THIS AUGUST

Southampton Pride - Cherry Liquor

Spread over the weekend of 23-24th August, Southampton will be flying the rainbow flag with gusto this August and staging the city’s biggest Pride event to date.  A highlight of the two-day celebration will be the Parade which will meander through the centre before finishing at Guildhall Square, where the Pride Village and Market Hall will entertain festival goers with talks, music, entertainment and market stalls that support the LGBT+ community.  For more information: www.southamptonpride.org

For more information about what to do and where to stay www.visitsouthampton.co.uk