© Izzy Challoner
Line-ups are being announced, early bird tickets are selling out, and summer planning is well underway – festival season is coming. There are plenty of local offerings to look forward to, from food to opera and everything in between. We’ve rounded up a few of our favourites. Calendars at the ready…
Oxford Literary Festival
16-24 March
Oxford Literary Festival is the world's meeting place for writers and readers.
Various Venues, Oxford
Oxfordshire Artweeks 2024
4-27 May
Oxfordshire Artweeks, the UK’s oldest and biggest open studios and pop-up exhibition event, returns to Oxfordshire this year for three weeks in May to showcase the art of up to 2000 artists, including more than 200 who are new to the festival for 2024. These range from world-class painters, photographers, ceramicists, jewellers, and sculptors to talented and enthusiastic members of a variety of community groups working in many media.
Various venues across Oxfordshire
Artist: Alice Kwan
Wood Festival
17-19 May
Like a seasonal awakening and injection of optimism, Wood Festival is an intimate and perfectly programmed festival of music and nature that sees people gather in a glade too small to get lost in, to live, learn, and have fun, enjoying the simple, beautiful things in life for a weekend each May.
Braziers Park, Oxfordshire
Wychwood Festival Cheltenham
31 May-2 June
Wychwood Festival is an annual music festival held at Cheltenham racecourse in Gloucestershire, UK. As well as music, the family-friendly three-day festival includes workshops, comedy, the Children's Literature Festival, and a Headphone Disco.
Cheltenham Racecourse
Nocturne Live
12-16 June
This summer’s Nocturne Live concert series transforms the UNESCO World Heritage site of Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire into a spectacular 10,000-capacity open-air live music venue. This year the superstar acts include a triple bill of three era-defining British pop acts - Sugababes, Melanie C and Shaznay Lewis - 10-time Grammy-winning Chaka Khan, disco legends Sister Sledge, party-starting funk group The Fatback Band, multi-million-selling Australian pop group Crowded House, nine-time Grammy-winning US singer-songwriter Sheryl Crow, and Mercury and Brit-nominated duo Turin Brakes.
Blenheim Palace
Longborough Festival Opera
16 June-6 August
This year including Wagner’s Ring Cycle plus two performances of our new production of Die Walküre alongside Puccini’s La Bohème.
Longborough, Moreton-in-Marsh
Credit: Matthew Williams-Ellis
Solstice On the Mount
20 June
Taking place on the same day everywhere on the planet, the Solstice connects everyone in a truly global moment. Wasing believes we are all inherently part of nature and that what harms the planet, ultimately harms us; everything is connected. It is from this narrative that the iconic Mount was born as a fresh and pioneering space for people and planet to connect, unplugged from everyday reality.
Wasing Ln, Aldermaston
Beacon Festival
21-22 June
Offering everything from ska to rock, indie to folk,this plant-based, sustainable, community festival is the perfect way to celebrate the summer solstice. With kids under 14 going free, camping and glamping options, a dedicated Kids Zone - plus a Feel Good area for when you just want to unwind - Beacon Festival is Oxfordshire's ultimate family friendly event.
Hill Farm, Watlington
Elementary Festival
4-8 July
After the huge success of Elementary 2023, the team are already planning an even more spectacular line-up for this year. Elementary 2024 will bring together talented musicians and artists from around the world for a weekend of cultural celebration at the beautiful Braziers Park venue. Stay tuned for an announcement of the amazing musical acts, workshops, and activities we have in store for 2024. From African drumming to Aboriginal art, yoga, dance and more, there will be something for everyone to enjoy.
Braziers Park, Wallingford
Henley Festival
10-14 July
Henley Festival is an exclusive boutique black tie festival which takes place over five days celebrating the best of UK and International music and arts. The festival is a truly unique event. It embraces a vibrant programme from pop to world music, classical to jazz where art and gastronomy share equal billing with music. Headliners this year include Nicole Scherzinger, Gladys Knight, Rylan, Nigel Kennedy and Sam Ryder.
Henley Bridge, Henley-on-Thames
WOMAD
25-28 July
After its impressive 41st year celebration last summer, WOMAD is ready to transport festival goers on another rich musical journey around the world. WOMAD is not just about incredible music; it has an abundance of activity. Keep your eyes peeled for the line-up announcements soon.
Malmesbury, Wiltshire
Caption © Chris Saunders
Truck Festival
26-28 July
With the first acts announcement revealing a smashing line-up of Wet Leg, The Streets, Jamie T, Holly Humberstone and Declan McKenna (see pXX for our exclusive interview). Tickets are on sale so now’s the time to book.
Steventon, nr Drayton
Wilderness Festival
1-4 August
A four-day party like no other, Wilderness is a weekend of escapism, high jinks, and wholesome hedonism. This is the place where you can be who you want to be. Step in, explore and indulge your wild side.
Cornbury Park, Oxfordshire
Credit ©Richard Johnson
Rewind Festival
2-4 August
Rewind Festival is a celebration of music, fun and good times, set to a live 80s soundtrack from the biggest music icons from the decade of day-glo and big hair. This year acts include Billy Ocean, Kim Wilde, Jason Donovan and Altered Images. It’s the biggest party of the summer with camping, glamping, posh nosh, theme bars, DJ’s, street entertainment, funfairs, silent disco, big top bars, kidzone, trade stands, fancy dress and much more.
Temple Island Meadows, Henley-On-Thames
Waterperry Opera Festival
9-18 August
Proud to call themselves one the UK’s biggest open-air opera festivals, Waterperry opera festival has something for opera aficionados and families alike. Tickets are available from the 11 April.
Waterperry House & Gardens, Oxfordshire
The Big Feastival
23-25 August
Big Feastival, proudly presented by M&S Food, returns to the Cotswolds this summer with a sensational music line-up. Now in its 13th year the bank holiday spectacle, hosted at Blur bassist, Alex James’, farm, is renowned for delivering the perfect combination of incredible live music (Becky Hill, Snow Patrol and Cat Burns are headlining) acclaimed chefs, and award-winning food as well as an unparalleled programme of family entertainment.
Alex James' Farm, The Cotswolds
Credit: James Bridle
Foodies Festival
24-26 August
Foodies Festival returns to South Parks, Oxford, with brand new features and a star-studded line-up of celebrity chefs and chart-topping music stars, including: Blue, Sister Sledge featuring Kathy Sledge and the exhilarating Symphonic Ibiza Orchestra with live vocals and DJ.
Known as Gastro-Glastonbury, the three-day event will feature live cooking demonstrations from TV celebrities and chefs drawn from the ranks of MasterChef, Great British Bake Off and Great British Menu.
South Park, Oxford
