August Bank Holiday
Your complete guide to what's on in and around Swindon
And there's loads to do here in the most northern part of Wiltshire - live music, country shows, big stage productions, sport, and - our favourite - great country pubs.
So check out our guide below for a few ideas on what to venture out for and where to go. And then check out full listings via the quick-guide on the front-page of SwindonEvent.
Little Explorers Dinosaur Fun
The Brunel Centre, Swindon
24-25 August, 10.00am - 4.00pm
Ok, so this event takes place a couple of days before the Bank Holiday break, but we thought it was too good not to include!
The Brunel Centre in Swindon will be hosting a Dinosaurium with
a variety of dinosaur models for your little explorers to marvel at! The Brunel's Dinosaur expert will be on hand to give you information on where each dinosaur lived, what they ate and who they hunted. You can also dig for fossils in sand boxes, create cut and colour pictures - pls meet Pete, the Brunel's very own baby Tyrannosaurus Rex!
Entry: FREE
Sausage Fest @ The Victoria
Sunday 28 August, from 2.00pm
After a successful event last year, The Victoria are doing it all over again!
Come and sample a selection of the finest sausages in the area and wash it down with a range of traditional ciders. There will be live music upstairs throughout the afternoon followed by more live music downstairs from 8:30pm.
Entry: FREE
Made In Chelsea Party at Tree Nightclub
Friday 26 August 2016, from 11.00pm
Come and start your bank holiday weekend with Jamie Laing from Made In Chelsea. Meet, Greet and move your feet with Jamie who will be bringing his huge personality to the party!
Lightbox is the perfect combination of entertainment, DJ's, musicians, live performances with a premium service. Bringing a whole new nightlife experience to the South-West! Lightbox is the place to be whatever the occasion! Tickets are £5.00 with a 50p booking fee and are available via the Tree Swindon website link below.
Bank Holiday Weekend @ The Crown, Broad Hinton
Friday 26, Saturday 27 & Sunday 28 August
The Crown at Broad Hinton are hiring a large Marquee and turning their garden into an OldSkool nightclub for a night on Friday 26th August! Tickets start from £2.50 and a BBQ will be available from 9pm.
A Poker night on Saturday and a comedy night on the Sunday will complete the packed Bank Holiday weekend!
Beer Festival @ The Fox & Hounds, Uffington
Friday 26, Saturday 27, Sunday 28 & Monday 29 August
Why not come and make the most of the bank holiday with the Fox & Hounds at Uffington. They will be serving a whole host of local real ales from their garden bar plus live music on all four days!
Summer Fair at The Southbrook Inn
Saturday 27 August, 1.00pm - 5.00pm
Pony rides, arts and crafts stalls, competitions and more will be on offer at The Southbrook Inn this Bank Holiday weekend. The fair is raising money for the Brighter Futures Radiotherapy appeal and will take place between 1pm and 5pm.
A hog roast and evening disco will get underway from 9pm.
The Tawny Owl's Big Weekend
Thursday 25 - Monday 29 August 2016
Join the Tawny Team from Thursday 25th August right through till Monday 29th August for their Big Weekend featuring:
- Kosmic Karaoke
- Bank Holiday BBQ
- Family Fun Day incl Bird Show, Bouncy Castle, DJ & Magician
- Live Music from 'More Than One' on Sunday
- Meat & Beer Raffle on Monday
The Mantiques at The Sun, Coate
Saturday 27 August, from 9.00pm
Young Vintage at Woodlands Edge
Saturday 27 August, from 8.00pm
Taking on many covers of their favourite artists and putting their quirky twist on them, everything from Coldplay, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash to name a few.
Entry: FREE
Live Jazz at The Plough
Sunday 28 August, 3.00pm - 5.30pm
Sip back and relax to the smooth sound of jazz at The Plough Inn this bank holiday with Dave Newton's Trio getting underway from 3.00pm on Sunday.
Uffington White Horse Show
Sunday 28 & Monday 29 August, 11.00am - 5.00pm
Can you think of anything more country than the White Horse? We can't.
Headline acts this year include the Great War Display Team, The Royal Signals Motorcycle Display Team, Paws for Thought dog agility, Meirion Owen and his Quack Pack and a Battle of Britain Hurricane and Spitfire display.
Shrivenham Village Fete
Saturday 27 August 2016, 12.45pm onwards
The 2016 Shrivenham Village Fete will be held on Saturday 27 August from 12.45pm onwards on the Recreation Ground. Plus...the whole afternoon is free to all!
Spend the weekend on two wheels
We're really plugging this great outside malarkey, aren't we?....
And so we should!
Take advantage while you can, that's what we say.
Just think of what'll it be like in dark and damp November.
And if you have been cooped up all weekend - and possibly hungover - what better way than blowing away the cobwebs that some good old fresh air.
They say a walk around Coate Water or Stanton Park at this time of year is most refreshing. Or.... why not hire a bike at Lydiard park and have a pedal round what has to be Swindon's best country park?
Get around for less!
Thamesdown Transport are currently running a 'Family DayRider' bus ticket, which lets 2 adults and up to 3 children travel
all day for just £5 during the holidays!
For more details please visit their website.
Saturday 27 August, KO @ 1.30pm
Having just started the League 1 2016/17 season, this game against local rivals Bristol Rovers should be quite the match!
If you've got kids, why not make the most of some of Swindon's top family attractions?
Chick this out!
Roves Farm
Bank holiday weekend is the ideal time to pay a visit to Roves Farm, with free tractor rides throughout the day, craft sessions, animal feeding and handling and lots of indoor and outdoor play areas. Situated in Sevenhampton, this working farm is the perfect spot for some family fun, come rain or shine.
NEW: Bear Hunt
Opening hours: 10.30am - 5.00pm Meerkat Mayhem! 
There's no shortage of top wildlife to see in and around Swindon. And seeing that there are now otters AND meerkats at Studley Grange - we reckon a trip to check them out sounds 'simples' enough!
Or perhaps something
larger?!...
Take the kids to see their giraffes, rhinos, monkeys - or even the penguins? P-p-p-perfect!
Greyhound Racing
Fancy a flutter on the six dog? There's greyhound racing on Wednesday and Saturday night at the Abbey.
Kids for a quid at STEAM
Until Sunday 04 September STEAM is celebrating the summer holidays with a fantastic offer for families! Children aged 3-15 years get to visit STEAM for just £1 per child when accompanied by a full-paying adult.
To get the special price, you just need to visit the page below and print off the page with the voucher and complete your details before handing it to the STEAM ticket desk.
Sunday 28 - Monday 29 August
Let the little ones blow off some steam (pun intended) as they search around the Swindon & Cricklade Railway for named engine cutouts - plus there's prizes to be won!
The cafe and gift shop will also be open.
Fancy some car booty?
Whether it be the home baking and preserves at Swindon Country Market on Friday, or a car boot sale at the Abbey Stadium on Saturday - there are all kinds of produce and items on offer this weekend.
Don't Bank on Sunshine!
 There's always a chance - a pretty good one, actually - that it'll chuck it down over the weekend. So be prepared! Luckily, we've got plenty of ideas to help you get through this bank holiday if it rains.
Club Nights and DJs
It's what the weekend was made for!
Normally, going out on a Sunday is a big no-no! But that's the beauty of Bank Holiday Monday. Make the most of an extra day off - don your party shoes, and dance the night away at one of Swindon's top nightspots!
Nightlife Guide
And if you need any more inspiration, guys, check out our Liz's Nightlife Guide...
A Weekend to DIY for
And if our tantalisng guide hasn't tempted you enough to get out there and enjoy yourself, perhaps it's good old DIY for you....
..... and then BBQ!
And we've just the guide to make sure it's a sizzler!
Have a great bank holiday! Christmas coming up next! |
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