Summer in Cheltenham

The sun is shining and Cheltenham is gearing up for its most action-packed summer yet. With a lineup free events, festivals, live music, performances & much more to look forward to!

Download a guide to the Summer Festivals in Cheltenham.

In June, Cheltenham well and truly comes alive for The Festival Town season. Discover the ways that science is shaping our future at the Science Festival. Marvel as the sky fills with colour at the Cheltenham Balloon Fiesta, and dine and drink to your heart's content at the Cheltenham Food and Drink and Big English & Welsh Wine festivals.  

Music fans will be spoilt for choice this summer as well. For classical enthusiasts, look out for the Cheltenham Music Festival in July, while rock fans should have the award-winning 2000Trees Festival on their radar.

Meanwhile, there's fun for the whole family at the Midsummer Fiesta and Fantasy Forest Festivals this June and July. Or why not check out Bottle-Feeding at Cotswold Farm Park or the Cotswold Festival of Steam for a brilliant day out with the little ones.  

For the art lovers, there will be plenty to see and do in Cheltenham this summer too. The annual Art in the Park exhibition is back for its 53rd year in June with the Cheltenham Paint Festival promising a grand return in July. The Cheltenham International Film Festival set to make a big splash this year as Dame Judi Dench comes to the Town Hall for a retrospective talk about her illustrious career.

Speaking of film, there will be plenty of opportunities to catch some summer rays and a movie with the Sandford Parks Lido outdoor cinema. With Grease, Ghostbusters and (terrifyingly for all the swimmers) Jaws to look forward to this August. Or, why not head on over to the Tuckwell Amphitheatre for some brilliant open-air theatre.

Finally, for the sports lovers, there will be plenty of activities to sink your teeth into this summer. The world’s longest-running cricket festival, The Cheltenham Cricket Festival, celebrates its 150th anniversary this year, while rugby, netball and dodgeball fans will certainly want to get the Cheltenham 7’s Festival down in their diary. For participatory events, The Cheltenham Running Festival, Ride for Ryder and Trek 26 offer a rewarding challenge for all ages and abilities. Phew!

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You'll also find lots more inspiration in our things to do in Cheltenham guide including our suggested weekend itineraries, tours and trails, things to do outdoors and activities plus of course beer gardens to enjoy and lots of places to eat outdoors in Cheltenham!  

Download a guide to the Summer Festivals in Cheltenham.

Keep scrolling folks for the best events this summer in Cheltenham.

(Event organisers you can add your event to our what's on guide for free here).