Top 20 summer festivals in the Cotswolds
It’s festival time – no matter what the weather is like! Here’s our pick of the best summer festivals in the Cotswolds, from free community events such as Riverside Festival at Chipping Norton to the massive WOMAD festival in Malmesbury. If you’d rather wander back to the comfort of a lovely Cotswold cottage instead of camping or glamping, check out our cottages – we have at least one gorgeous cottage close to each of the events.
DogFest
2–3 September 2023
Ashton Court, Bristol
It’s the weekend that dog-lovers all over the country have been waiting for! Yes, it’s slightly out of the Cotswolds, but it’s definitely worth a mention. DogFest, the creation of the nation’s favourite Supervet, Noel Fitzpatrick, is a weekend full of everything and anything canine-related, with special guests Matt Baker and Michaela Strachan. Bring your pooch, bring your family and prepare for a day of pups, mutts, hounds and hilarity.
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Vintage Prescott
5-7 August 2023
Prescott Speed Hill Climb, Cheltenham
This is a weekend of family fun, vintage vehicles and trade stands. Practice takes place on the Saturday with timed competition on the Sunday. It’s the only event now held on the historic Short Course, organised by the Vintage Sports Car Club.
Barn on the Farm
29 June-2 July 2023
Over Farm, Over, near Gloucester
Barn on the Farm is a popular farm-based music festival. Confirmed headliners for 2023 are Gang of Youths, Bleachers and Holly Humberstone. Once you’ve received your wristband you can come and go as you wish.
Nibley Music Festival
30 June-1 July 2023
North Nibley, near Wotton-under-Edge
This highly respected music festival has grown from a very small village-run affair to a festival that now attracts thousands of people. Situated in the quiet village of North Nibley on the edge of the Cotswolds, over-looked by the Tyndale Monument, it promises a weekend of fantastic family fun – after all, it’s the friendliest festival around!
Cheltenham Music Festival
8-15 July 2023
Cheltenham
This year, Cheltenham Music Festival will be presenting major world premieres, world-leading ensembles, Festival debuts and some much-loved regulars.
“From symphonic grandeur to the intimacy of chamber music, and from sublime choral experiences to brand new musical adventures. With its excursions, too, into world music, film, dance, the visual arts and the spoken word, it’s a musically-centred cultural banquet that has few equals in the UK.”
2000 Trees Festival
5-8 July 2023
Upcote Farm, Withington, near Cheltenham
The multi-award-winning 2000trees festival – named as ‘Britain’s Coolest Festival’ by Kerrang! Magazine– this three-day event is in set in the stunning Cotswold Hills. Expect a friendly, intimate atmosphere, plus amazing food and locally produced ciders, ales and lagers.
The Cotswold Show and Food Festival
1-2 July 2023
Cirencester Park, Cirencester
An authentic country show with a difference, The Cotswold Show and Food Festival is a fantastic day out for the whole family with displays, stalls and entertainment to suite everyone. Featuring food and drinks stands, animals, shopping, the World of Dogs, polo matches and the fantastic Horsemen of the Knight!
Tewkesbury Medieval Festival
8-9 July 2023
Tewkesbury
Tewkesbury Medieval Festival is widely regarded as the biggest free Medieval gathering in Europe with over 2,000 re-enactors and traders travelling from as far afield as France, Poland, Belgium, Spain, Italy and Germany. Many live in full Medieval style for the weekend and welcome visitors to the living history camps around the battlefield, King Edward’s camp on Windmill Hill, and Queen Margaret’s camp in Bloody Meadow.
The Royal International Air Tattoo
14-16 July 2023
RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire
One of the UK’s biggest and most respected air shows, the Royal International Air Tattoo is a weekend of non-stop aerial entertainment for the entire family.
Riverside Festival
29-30 July 2023
Charlbury
Riverside is a free family-friendly music festival in an idyllic riverside setting with more than 40 acts playing across four stages, with all kinds of music from rock, indie and folk on the main two stages and all sorts on the Riverside Fringe and Buskers stages.
Chalfest
21-22 July 2023
Chalford Hill, near Stroud
A not for profit, community, family-friendly music and entertainment festival in France Lynch Pleasure Grounds in Stroud. Headlining this year are Melanic C, Republica and Neville Staple from The Specials and Arrested Development.
Cotswold Beer Festival
14-16 July 2023
Postlip Hall, Winchombe
Packed with local ales and ciders, this weekend festival offers live music, a delicious BBQ and of course most importantly – the best drink for miles around! Why not stay at one of our cottages near Postlip Hall, Paddock Cottage or The Hayloft?
Womad
27-31 July 2023
Malmesbury
WOMAD (World of Music, Arts and Dance) is an international arts festival. The central aim of WOMAD is to celebrate the world’s many forms of music, arts and dance, and all this taking place at Charlton Park in Malmesbury on the edge of the Cotswolds. This year catch Jungle Brothers, Kate Rusby, Bombay Bicycle Club, The Cinematic Orchestra and Soul II Soul.
Wilderness
3-6 August 2023
Cornbury Park, Oxfordshire
Wilderness Festival is so much more than just a music festival. Explore your senses and open your mind to new ideas and experiences. It’s a weekend filled with wellness, inspiration, motivation and top-class music from the likes of The Chemical Brothers, Christine and the Queens and Fatboy Slim.
