Stratford upon Avon Events, Things to Do and Festivals

(Stratford upon Avon, Warwickshire, England, UK)

As soon as spring arrives in Stratford upon Avon, the events calendar kicks into action and the town's seasonal festivals begin pulling the crowds, with things to do for all ages. Often offering a definite Shakespeare flavour and theme, the biggest festivals of Stratford upon Avon include the Shakespeare Marathon each April, which is part of the bard's official birthday celebrations.

The popular sporting event is followed soon after by Shakespeare's Birthday Concert at the Civic Hall, and then every other May by the Stratford upon Avon and District English Music Festival. This event lasts around ten days and is held at various different venues, including the Town Hall, the Swan Theatre and also at the Holy Trinity Church.

Stratford upon Avon Calendar of Festivals and Events 2014 / 2015: General Information

The main annual festivals in the Stratford upon Avon area are as follows:

• Shakespeare Marathon - late April, organised by local Stratford Rotary Club, with around 1,500 people running through the town centre
• Shakespeare's Birthday Concert - late April, at the Civic Hall, celebrating the birthday of William Shakespeare on 23rd April
• Jousting Weekends - May to September, at Warwick Castle and held on selected weekends
• Stratford upon Avon and English Music Festival - throughout May, a biennial music extravaganza, with everything from classical music, to jazz, pop and brass bands
• Big Sheep Show - early June, a traditional farming event at Mary Arden's House in nearby Wilmcote, literally minutes away from Stratford upon Avon
• Sealed Knot Living History Weekend - mid-June, Civil War re-enactments, at the neighbouring Wellesbourne Watermill
• Stratford Regatta - late June, first held more than 120 years ago and based along the banks of the River Avon, with an array of family events
• Classic Car and Transport Show - late June, a car and motorcycle enthusiasts everywhere, at Ragley Hall in Alcester
• Leamington Peace Festival - late June, close to Stratford upon Avon, in nearby Leamington Spa, taking place on the weekend nearest to the Summer Solstice
• Poetry Festival - late June to late August, at Stratford's very own Shakespeare Centre, with further events at the Shakespeare Institute
• Three Counties Show - late June, a weekend agricultural event at the Malvern Showground, around an hour by car from Stratford upon Avon
• Charity Raft Race - late June, an annual charity event in Wasperton, with home-made rafts negotiating the weirs of the River Avon
• Last Night of the Proms - late June, with classical music performed to large crowds, at Stratford upon Avon's atmospheric Civic Hall
• Stratford upon Avon International Flute Festival - mid-July to early August, lasting around two weeks, with free admission
• Warwick Folk Festival - late July, with dancing, live music, childrens activities and folk programmes, at Leamington Spa
• Battle Proms Concerts - mid-July to mid-August, at various venues around Kenilworth, including the Stoneleigh Abbey and Highclere Castle
• Bulldog Bash - mid-August, a host of rock and heavy metal concerts, staged at the Shakespeare County Raceway in Stratford upon Avon
• Warwickshire and West Midlands Game and Country Fair - mid-August, at Alcester's Ragley Hall
• CAMRA Harbury Beer Festival - late August, a weekend event staged after the August Bank Holiday in the village of Harbury, with locally brewed ales and even Morris dancing
• Mop Fair - mid-October, a street fair offering much live entertainment, with origins in Stratford upon Avon dating as far back as medieval days
• Apple Week - late October to early November, held at Mary Arden's Farm, with many traditional local handicrafts demonstrated
• Alcester Singers Christmas Concert - mid-December, Yuletide carols at St. Nicholas Church in nearby Alcester