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Free Events
They say that in life nothing is really free, but sometimes, it really is! As well as providing a fabulous backdrop, packed full of things you can see, feel, explore, discover and enjoy, absolutely free, there is also a regular rotation of free events that you can pop along and take part in.
In June, the Chilli Street Fiesta brings together a fiery blend of competition and chilli, bringing more than 15 chilli specialists to the town with some of the UK's best chilli based jams, chutneys and marinades. The highlight of the show is of course the 'Clash of the Titans' chilli eating competition which regularly brings tears to the contestants eyes as they work up to the volcanic heat.
In July (7th), the Midsummer Fiesta comes to town, creating a bustling, buzzing and free family event, right in the centre of Cheltenham. You can sit all day and just soak up the atmosphere without spending a penny, although be warned - your kids will definitely nag you for an ice cream or two!
Another top pick has to be our Heritage Open Days, which run every September and see some very unique and special places open their doors for one day only. This year, they are running between 6th-9th September and the 13th-16th September, and have a uniquely WW1 theme as part of the commemorative events happening across Cheltenham. In fact, the majority of these WW1 commemoration events are also free, from the recreation of a WW1 aeroplane workshop at the Jet Age museum, to the stories of real Cheltenham people and their war effort, being held at the Cheltenham Ladies' College, Parabola Arts Centre.
Of course, we cannot mention free events, without paying homage to the ...around town programmes which run at the Jazz, Science, Music and Literature festival each year. As well as an outstanding programme of concerts, lectures, talks and exhibitions, Cheltenham Festivals put in amazing effort to producing a completely free ...around town programme, which features some fantastic speakers / artists, and which anyone can enjoy, anytime, absolutely free. Keep an eye on the 'Festivals' section of our blog where we'll post the ...around town programmes as they are announced.
Of course, as well as all the great events listed below (with more being added all the time), you can also spend hours for free in our amazing parks and gardens, taking in some of the Regency architecture, following one of our tours & trails, soaking up the buskers and continental vibe to the town centre, and even just popping along to one of our community events...
