Packed calendar of summer fun

2:47pm - 13 July 2022
Man and woman helping their little girl to walk over a tightrope

School summer holidays start next week and there is already a packed calendar of events ready to help keep boredom at bay.

Many events are free or low cost so take the opportunity to get out and about with friends and family.

New events are being advertised all the time so for the most up-to-date information, visit the local town websites of Clevedon, Nailsea, Portishead or Weston.

Or catch up with latest events for Clevedon on Facebook or Twitter; Portishead on Facebook; Weston on Facebook or Twitter; as well as Theatre Orchard on Facebook and Twitter; and Culture Weston on Facebook and Twitter.

Free family fun

  • Head down to Weston’s High Street for an incredible party tomorrow (Saturday). Weston is one of just six towns in the country to be chosen for a very special music project, Music and Circus Round Here. The free Historic England and Live Music Now project is presented by Culture Weston and celebrates high street heritage. It will premiere a new community song for Weston, co-created with students from Baytree School and Herons' Moor Academy and residents at Acer House Care Home. Hear the song at 2pm at Big Lamp Corner, followed by a fusion of local and international music until 4pm. Have-a-go circus-themed street workshops by Circomedia also take place from 1pm-5pm. More creative projects are coming this summer as part of the Weston Presents project. See the Culture Weston website for more details.
  • Street artists are returning to Weston-super-Mare to decorate buildings around the town centre with stunning murals. Weston Wallz is a spin-off off of Bristol’s popular Upfest festival and it returns next week after a successful launch last year. The festival, a partnership between Culture Weston and Weston-super-Mare Town Council, starts next Friday (22 July) and runs until Sunday 31 July. The Upfest interactive Google map will be updated to include the Weston locations for trail hunters to identify the murals easily. Updates will also be put on Twitter and Instagram.
  • Explore the history of journeys and transport in North Somerset with displays, maps and family-friendly activities at Weston Museum, as part of the Council for British Archaeology’s Festival of Archaeology. The museum, in Burlington Street, is hosting a day of drop-in activities between 10am and 3pm on Saturday 23 July. Find out about transport in the past, explore the online map site Know Your Place and chat to experts and volunteers. There will also be online information and resources running across the whole festival, which starts tomorrow (Saturday) and runs until Sunday 31 July. See the Facebook page for details.
  • A free outdoor show will capture the imagination in Clevedon. The Theatre Shop is hosting The Shodessey, a journey about the Tropjan War, performed by Assembleth Theatre, on Tuesday 26 July. Suitable for ages 8+. No need to book, just head to Queens Square at 6pm.
  • While work gets under way to transform the retired North Sea offshore platform into SEE MONSTER, the What’s Next Festival is taking place in the indoor spaces of the Tropicana throughout the summer. The line-up during July and August includes:
    • a vegan and eco fair showcasing exceptional plant-based food and drink, ethical clothing brands and sustainable and cruelty-free products. Pilates taster sessions will also take place at 11am and 2pm. Visit from 10am-4pm on Sunday 31 July
    • a STEAM-themed art exhibition (science, technology, engineering, art and maths), with paintings and sculptures by local artists. Using recycled materials, art will merge with technology, science and sustainability. Educational workshops and expert talks will also take place. Visit from Tuesday 2 to Sunday 13 August
    • Tropicana From Page to Stage, creative writing courses for young people, on Monday 15 and Monday 22 August (tickets needed)
    • Tropicana Re:Member – daily workshops exploring whether creative arts can help with wellbeing, loneliness, mental health and memory, from Tuesday 16 to Thursday 18 August (tickets needed)
    • work your body with Pilates and Franklin Method workshops on Tuesday 16 and Wednesday 17 August (tickets needed)
    • discuss climate change in a series of educational panels, at Tropicana Co:Laboratory, on Tuesday 23 and Thursday 25 August
    • YouTube sensation and musical theatre star Christina Bianco performs on Friday 26 August (tickets needed)
    • More events are coming in September.
  • Budding archaeologists can dig deep at a Family Fun Day in Banwell on Saturday 13 August. Weston Museum is joining Banwell Society of Archaeology for free hands-on activities for all ages. No need to book. Just turn up between 10am and 4pm at Banwell Village Hall. Free for children and £1 for adults.