Festivals

Festivals in Winchester

We rather like festivals in Winchester. And you’ll find one on almost every month. So how do we choose?

Perhaps you enjoy food, wine or cocktails? While maybe you’d like the exciting and good range of music and live performances? In addition, if you’re a creative, you’ll almost certainly enjoy the short-film and writing festivals. And we can’t fail to mention Hat Fair, the street-arts takeover.

Here’s our Win Guide to festivals:

February

Cocktail Week – First up and shaking it up in the city of Winchester.

COWfest (The Children of Winchester Festival) – new festival in arts and craft for children, championing youth arts.

Hampshire Pride – Hampshire Pride is space to celebrate the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and more community

March

Real Ale & Cider Festival – Hugely popular, book early to avoid disappointment.

April

Fashion Week – A week long celebration of fashion and style in the beautiful city of Winchester.

May

Chamber Music Festival – Concerts, talks, masterclasses and open rehearsals.

Speaker’s Festival – Rather incredible selection of writers, journalists and key speakers carefully programmed for talks.

June

Ukulele Festival – Winchester welcomes the finest national and international ukelele players.

Writer’s Festival – Based at the University of Winchester providing support and networking for new and established writers.

July

Hat Fair – Street art and live performance festival.

Hampshire Food Festival – Celebrating local food with events throughout the county.

Winchester Festival – Nine days of music, talks and drama.

Winchester Science Festival – Celebrating science with talks and events.

August

Wickham Festival – Big name music festival.

BoomTown – Immersive music festival.

Cheese and Chilli Festival – Food, arts, craft and family entertainment.

Graze Festival – Food and family entertainment in Twyford.

September

Winchester Heritage Open Days (Winchester HODS) – be a tourist in your own city with free events celebrating local and national heritage.

Jazz Festival – Four days of music by major Jazz and Swing acts in Winchester

Comedy Festival – Get your dose of funny in Winchester.

October

Poetry Festival – Poems, readings and prizes.

Children’s Books Festival – Readings with authors, illustrators and events.

November

Short Film Festival – Short film competition and screenings.

Wine Festival – BBC’s Susy & Peter celebration of Wine with tastings and masterclasses.

Ice Rink & Christmas Market – Christmas at the Cathedral, inspired by German christmas markets with open ice-rink.

December