Salisbury Events and Festivals

(Salisbury, Wiltshire, England, UK)

The festivals scene in Salisbury is certainly well developed, with plenty of things to do all through the year. Many events are staged at Salisbury's cathedral, leisure centre, racecourse and Market Square.

Further events take place close to the city, with steam weekends, classic car rallies and craft shows regularly hosted by nearby Breamore House, roughly 20 minutes away. Just on the outskirts of the city, Wilton House also stages annual antiques fairs, classical concerts and flower shows, while around 45 minutes away are even more festivals, concerts, horse trials, fireworks and parties at Longleat.

National Public Holidays

• 1st January - New Year's Day
• Good Friday / Easter Monday - late March or early April
• First and last Monday in May
• Last Monday in August
• 25th December - Christmas Day
• 26th December - Boxing Day

(If Christmas Day, Boxing Day or New Year's Day falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the next weekday becomes a public holiday).

Salisbury Calendar of Festivals and Events 2014 / 2015

January

• Antiques Fair - late January, this popular antiques fair is held at the Salisbury Leisure Centre

February

• Snowdrop Sundays - early February, held at Heale House and Gardens, hundreds of people come to see the huge drifts of snowdrops

March

• Antiques Fair - early March, held at Wilton House, on the outskirts of the city

April

• Salisbury Music Society Concert - early April, this concert event is held in Salisbury Cathedral, which has excellent acoustics
• Museum Exhibitions - various specialist exhibitions are held at Salisbury Museum throughout April, May and June
• Wessex Flower Show - this colourful horticultural event is held at Wilton House, on the outskirts of the city
• Antiques Fair - this popular antiques fair is held at the Salisbury Leisure Centre
• Specialist Plant Sale - mid-April, held at nearby Breamore House
• First Race Meeting - late April, held at Salisbury Racecourse
• St. George's Festival - late April, celebrations take place in the city centre
• Producers Market - late April, held at nearby Breamore House

May

• Downton Cuckoo Fair - early May, this popular event includes street markets and general festivities, at Downton, near Salisbury and close to the New Forest
• Steam Museums Working Weekend - early May, this exciting event is held at nearby Breamore House
• Salisbury Festival - late May to early June, this is one of the city's largest events and always draws large crowds
• Producers Market - late May, held at nearby Breamore House

June

• Longleat Horse Trials - early June, this equestrian event takes place at Longleat House, near Warminster
• D-Day Remembered - early June, services are held in Salisbury Cathedral
• Wilton Horse Trials - mid-June, horse trials at held in Wilton, on the outskirts
• Musical Society Concert - mid-June, this musical event takes place in Salisbury Cathedral, which has exceptional acoustics
• Producers Market - late June, held at nearby Breamore House
• Music in the Parks - late June to September, musical events, festivals and concerts are held in a number of the city's parks and gardens

July

• Classical Concert - mid-July, this concert is held at Wilton House
• Poole Bay Classic Car Club Extravaganza - mid-July, this car event takes place at nearby Breamore House
• Salisbury Country and Garden Show - late July, this is a popular horticultural event each summer
• Vintage Motor Cycle Club - late July, held at nearby Breamore House
• Breamore Craft Show - late July / early August, this arts and crafts event is held at nearby Breamore House

August

• Classic Car Show - late August, held at nearby Breamore House

September

• Traction Owners Club National Rally - early September, held at nearby Breamore House
• Wessex 100 Mile Cycle Ride - mid-September, this large cycling event starts at Salisbury Leisure Centre
• Redcoats in the Wardrobe - mid-September, living history displays of Queen's Victoria's Army are held in the Wardrobe Military Museum, in Cathedral Close
• Salisbury Food and Drink Festival - late September, a number of food events are held throughout the city
• Vintage Motor Cycle Club - mid-September, held at nearby Breamore House
• Antiques Fair - late September, this popular antiques fair is held at the Salisbury Leisure Centre
• Last Steam Working of the Year - late September, held at nearby Breamore House
• Festival of the Voice - every Sunday, this takes place in the stunning gardens at Stourhead

October

• Spooky Weekend - late October, various Halloween events take place around the city
• Charter Fair - mid-October, this fair takes place in Salisbury Market Square, in the heart of the city centre
• Mere Literary Festival - mid-October, this festivals is held in the town of Mere, nearby

November

• Christmas Service - late November, celebrations are held at Salisbury Cathedral to mark the beginning of the Christmas period
• Christmas Lights Switch On - late November, the Christmas tree lights and street decorations are switched on in the centre of Salisbury

December

• Antiques Fair - early December, this popular antiques fair is held at the Salisbury Leisure Centre
• Midnight Mass - December 24th, a late service held at Salisbury Cathedral on Christmas Eve
• New Years Eve - December 31st, New Year's Eve celebrations and general festivities are held throughout the city, culminating in fireworks displays at midnight