29 Best Festivals in Hampshire 2024 An Ultimate Guide
Interested in heading to some festivals in Hampshire this summer?
We live in Hamble near Southampton and absolutely love living in Hampshire! We also love the festival scene, we go to quite a few each year with our boys. Whether that’s a Hampshire food festival like Foodies in Winchester or crazy music festivals like Victorious Festival. We enjoy them all! As a family, we’re always up for trying some of the best events that Hampshire has to offer, there are lots of festivals in Hampshire this summer!
To help you have fun this summer we’ve put together our ultimate guide to festivals in Hampshire. There are 29 top-notch festivals on our list from music to arts to food to running. We’ve got it all covered. If you’re excited for beer festivals then we’ve got a separate guide to cover them here.
Quick Guide To The Best Festivals In Hampshire
Best for music – Victorious Festival, Mucky Weekender, Isle of Wight Festival, Boomtown Fair & Wickham Festival
Best for foodies – The Big Eat Festival, Foodies Festival, Lymington Food Festival, Southsea Food Festival, Trout ‘n About, Sausage & Cider Fest, IOW Garlic Festival & Great Wight Bite
Fun for car lovers – Beaulieu Supercar Weekend & CarFest
Festivals in Hampshire in May 2024
1. The Big Eat Festival
Netley | 25th-27th May 2024 | www.thebigeatfestival.co.uk
This free, family-friendly festival is great fun and will be filled with street food vendors from across the south to celebrate local food and talent, with all the profits being donated to charity. You’ll find it in Royal Victoria Country Park, so you can tie it into a visit to the beach there as well. There is a huge range of street food available to purchase and while you feast you can enjoy live music and children’s entertainment. We live on one side of the festival in Hamble so always pop along for at least one day as it’s such a chilled out way to entertain our boys whilst enjoying some great food!
Festivals in Hampshire in June 2024
2. Dogstival
Burley Park | 1st-2nd June 2024 | www.dogstival.co.uk
As their website explains, “it’s a day out dedicated to your four-legged friends and packed full of canine approved entertainment. With paw-dropping arena displays, heaps of ‘have a go’ activities for you and your pooch. Plus live music and treats for everyone”.
3. Nostalgia Show
Broadlands Estate | Taking a Break in 2024 | www.thenostalgiashow.com
You can travel back in time to this kitschy little number at The Broadlands Estate near Romsey. You’ll have to dig out the wiggle dress and get ready to party like it’s 1959. You should expect classic cars, pimped prosecco, a hugely competitive retro space hopper race, vintage hair dos, retro fashion and lots and lots of taffeta. On the mainstage, there’ll be vintage delights from live music acts.
4. The Good Festival
Basingstoke | 16th June 2024 | www.goodfestival.co.uk
Good Festival is a fantastic family-friendly festival and all about the great outdoors! With a focus on enjoying being active and outside, the festival is jam-packed with fun for all of the whole family. There is a wide range of children’s activities such as bushcraft, bubble football, alpaca walking, crocodile encounters, family yoga, drumming, Punch & Judy and festival flower headdresses, to name but a few!
Good Festival is also infamous for its dog show. Take along your much-loved four-legged friend and enter one of the many classes throughout the day. From the music side of things, the party legends, Sharky & George will entertain younger visitors from start to finish. And finally you’ll need to remember to bring a towel and your swimmers for the awesome slippery slide and be prepared to whizz, skid and laugh a lot!
5. Southampton Running Festival
Southampton | 16th June 2024 | Southampton Running Festival
Slip on your trainers ready for the third instalment of the Southampton Running Festival which begins and ends in the pretty Southampton Common. Whether you sign up for a Half Marathon, 10K or 5K race, this is the best route for trying to get a personal best. It features grassland, lakes, woodland, wetlands, parkland and ponds, in this popular open green space in the middle of the city.
6. Isle of Wight Festival
Newport | 20th-23rd June 2024 | www.isleofwightfestival.com
We love the IOW Festival, it’s such a great atmosphere. We took our eldest there when he was 8 months old. Whilst it’s not got a specific focus on family activities, it does have a very cool family friendly atmosphere and plenty of space to be able to bring prams and trailers for kids. It’s got a great kids zone in the middles of the site, and has some great fairground rides for kids of all ages. It’s also got some great on-site camping that’s great for families with kids.
Headliners this year are epic (we would be going but we’re camping in Norway in June!). On the main stage they have The Prodigy, Pet Shop Boys, Green Day and Simple Minds as headline acts.
7. Fizz Fest
Alresford | 23rd June 2024 | Fizz Fest
Love a drop of the local fizz? Then visit the Vineyards of Hampshire Fizz Fest – celebrating fabulous English sparkling wines. Because Hampshire is a hotspot for English sparkling wine, something that’s celebrated stylishly each year at Vineyard’s of Hampshire’s Festival of Fizz. Run by Held this year The Winery at Burges Field Vineyard, it’ll feature the wares of eight top local producers. Head for the tasting tent to try find your favourites. There’s live music, Hampshire street food stalls and the option to tour the host vineyard’s state-of-the-art winery.
Festivals in Hampshire in July 2024
8. Winchester Hat Fair
Winchester | 5th-7th July 2024 | www.hatfair.co.uk
With a tagline of “the art of the unexpected”, Winchester becomes a collection of curious sights and moments during the Hat Fair. This is the UK’s longest continually running Outdoor Arts festival. With street theatre, dancing and bonkers things at every turn, this is Winchester in a totally different light.
9. Hampshire Food Festival
Hampshire | Taking a Break in 2024 | Hampshire Food Festival
Think vineyard picnics combined with delicious cheese feasts and gin workshops alongside brewery tours are all included in this month-long Hampshire Food Festival. More than 60 events taking place at pubs, farms, restaurants, and hotels throughout Hampshire. From pop-up restaurants to cooking demonstrations to choose from, there’s something for everyone, covering different budgets and tastes. Don’t miss out on the food market that is taking place in the large grounds at the Winchester Cathedral.
10. Smoked & Uncut
Lyndhurst | Taking a Break in 2024 | www.smokedanduncut.com
This is Limewood Hotel’s foodie-music summer festival, Smoked & Uncut. Usually held in the luxe New Forest hotel near Lyndhurst, they’ll be back next year!
11. Let’s Rock Southampton
Southampton | 6th July 2024 | www.letsrocksouthampton.com
Dust off your leg warmers and don your biggest shoulder pads. The UK’s biggest retro festival celebrating all-things 80s returns to Southampton Common this summer. Featuring more than 12 legendary musicians who will take you on a musical odyssey with their greatest hits. Relive 1980’s all in one unforgettable day!
Headliners this year include The Human League, Level 42 and Jason Donovan.
12. Lymington Seafood Festival
Lymington | 12th-14th July 2024 | www.lymingtonseafoodfestival.co.uk
This is the best festival for foodie fun in the New Forest. It is a must-visit festival packed with artisanal street food from local producers. There are demonstration kitchens that will get you cooking like a pro. Plus on the music front there’s a line-up of soul, Motown, blues, rock and pop acts to go with your lobster. Local craft ales will also be free flowing, along with fabulous Hattingley Valley fizz. This makes a great day out if you love tasty food and fancy a local foods extravaganza!
13. Ventnor Fringe Festival
Ventnor, IOW | 19th-28th July 2024 | www.vfringe.co.uk
You can hit the streets as Isle of Wight’s southernmost town, Ventor, is taken over by pop up venues and bars hosting well over 100 different shows. From comedy and music to improvised hip hop, there’s literally fun and curious happenings at every turn. Check out the site for the latest on free fringe and ticketed events.
14. Foodies Festival
Winchester | 19th-21st July 2024 | www.foodiesfestival.com
We’ve been two years in a row to this fantastic festival. It’s a great combination of food and music det during the day on the edge of Winchester. As well as celebrity chefs, stalls and activities, there’s also an incredible chilli eating contest not to be missed! Headline acts for this year are Sister Sledge, Blue and Symphonic Ibiza.
15. Southsea Food Festival
Southsea | 20th-21st July 2024 | Southsea Food Festival
The annual Southsea Food Festival is back with lots of food and drink stalls to sample. Local restaurants and businesses along Palmerston, Clarendon and Osborne Roads, as well as Avenue de Caen, will offer food from the South Coast that take inspiration from far-flung corners of the world. You can watch meals being produced or pick up some new skills with live displays from the pros. There will also be two live music stages hosting live acoustic sets from local bands, plus family friendly entertainment too.
It also has a fantastic sandy beach if you want to make a day of it and head to the beach as well.
16. Portsmouth International Kite Festival
Southsea Beach | 27th-28th July 2024 | www.portsmouthkitefestival.org.uk
Portsmouth International Kite Festival is an awesome – and free – event! We first went to a kite festival in Antigua and absolutely loved it! Hundreds of international specialist kite fliers arrive in Southsea Common for what is now known as the biggest and most popular Kite Festivals in the world. The beach side location has a fantastic wide open space and great winds that allow the kites fliers to showcase their creations in their very best light (and winds!).
17. Cowes Week
Cowes, IOW | 27th July-2nd August 2024 | www.cowesweek.co.uk
If camping, mud and music aren’t your cup of tea (or flute of champers), then Cowes Week could be a better option for your festival calendar. This week-long regatta of sailing in the Solent is also a huge social event. There are parties, live music and a spectacular fireworks display. You can watch from your yacht or head into the Cowes town for all the fun and games. You don’t have to be a sailor to join in the fun!
18. The New Forest Show
Brockenhurst | 30th July-1st August 2024 | www.newforestshow.co.uk
The New Forest and Hampshire County Show is a three-day extravaganza of all things farming, fun and food at Brockenhurst at the heart of the New Forest National Park. The show first started in 1920, and has now grown to be recognised as one of the leading agricultural shows in the country, with around 90,000 visitors descending into the 30-acre of show ground. As well as sheep, cattle and horse competitions, you’ll find countryside traditional workers showcasing there skills and sports demonstrations, as well as international horse show jumping, antiques, crafts, art, show gardens, show ring displays, flowers, animals, as well as vegetables alongside a massive selection of food & drink vendors. If you’ve got young kids then this is one of the best things happening over the summer in Hampshire.
Festivals in Hampshire in August 2024
19. Wickham Festival
Wickham | 1st-4th August 2024 | www.wickhamfestival.co.uk
This is a super family affair of a festival located in the historic village of Wickham just outside of Fareham. Just because it’s smaller than other local music festivals, don’t expect anything less. With Susie Quatro, The Levellers and Curtis Stigers on the bill plus the usual mix of folk, ska, circus acts and more, the 2024 line-up is as varied as ever and ticks the boxes for most tastes. This fun little festival for all the family set in a beautiful rural location.
20. Beaulieu Supercar Weekend
Beaulieu | 3rd-4th August 2024 | Beaulieu Supercar Weekend
One of the biggest supercar events on the South Coast of England heads to Beaulieu. A must-see highlight for all event goers are the demonstration runs where you’ll see incredible machines put through their paces along Beaulieu’s Chestnut Avenue. Watch as drivers test their supercar’s acceleration and braking. Returning for 2024, a selection of cars will be demonstrating on the arena, the tunes of their powerful engines.
21. Trout ‘n About
Stockbridge | 4th August 2024 | www.tnastockbridge.com
This fantastic one day festival celebrates the trout that Stockbridge if famous for – we’ve been lots of times as my mum lives in Stockbridge and it’s a fun event. It has more than 100 stalls showcasing the best (and tastiest) local food, crafts, and produce. It is a popular family friendly event that attracts thousands of hungry visitors each year. The stunning (and historic) high street that runs alongside the River Test becomes buzzing with activity. In the play field there’s live music, a kids entertainer call Juggling Jake keeping kids busy with his fun circus skills and small fairground rides. The countryside comes to the high street with farm animals alongside vintage pieces of agriculture equipment, face painting, craft demonstrations as well as many local stalls selling their local handmade products. And yes, you’ll find lots of different types of tour to taste – our favourite is the trout pate!
22. Boomtown Fair
Winchester | 7th-11th August 2024 | www.boomtownfair.co.uk
The biggest immersive theatre and music festival in the UK. You can escape to Boomtown’s parallel world for five whole days of wonder and debauchery. Wander through unique ‘districts’ that are flooded with characters telling the story of their town and pulling people in for games, secret rooms and adventures. The festival showcases music from artists spanning all genres. You can get lost in the forests with reggae, dub and roots, before dancing late into the night to music from across the electronic spectrum.
23. New Forest Fairy Festival
Burley | 10th-11th August 2024 | www.newforestfairyfestival.com
You can sprinkle some fairy dust and fly off to the New Forest for an enchanting festival. This family-friendly weekend has fairy workshops, and handmade arts and crafts designed to help you discover the magic of nature. There’ll be live acoustic music, storytelling, belly dancing, a healing area and talks from the wise women of the Forest who teach the fairies their secrets. And of course, keep your eyes peeled for resident Forest Folk.
24. Sausage and Cider Fest
Winchester | 17th August 2024 | Sausage and Cider Fest
The large outdoor Sausage & Cider Festival will be arriving at North Walls Recreation Ground in Winchester. You can expect live music from some of the UK’s foremost tribute acts such as Sterophonics, ABBAa and Artic Monkeys. Plus an epic range of cider and sausage flavours to try. If you’re feeling adventurous then you can even try your luck at the sausage and chilli eating competitions. A great day for all the family!
25. Isle of Wight Garlic Festival
IOW | 17th-18th August 2024 | www.garlicfestival.co.uk
The world-famous Isle of Wight Garlic Festival celebrates Britain’s most loved and pungent bulb, grown by the island’s Garlic Farm. The intoxicating combo of garlic-inspired cuisine with a late sixties pop festival ambiance and country fair. Coupled with masses of entertainment for children and adults and its very own garlic festival dog show. Don’t miss the celebrity chefs and Island producers who will cook up and demo in the hugely popular theatre kitchen. Our favourite are the sweetcorn cobs, grown just down the road, smothered in garlic butter – yum!
26. Victorious Festival
Southsea | 23rd-25th August 2024 | www.victoriousfestival.co.uk
This music festival on the August Bank Holiday weekend has a big focus on the music side of their lineup. Perfect if you’re like us and love great music! It also has a fun dedicated kids area with free bouncy castles, face painting and other games to try. For older children there is a free zipline to try as well as a climbing wall – all included in the ticket price!
Every year they have an eclectic mix of headliners that appeal to music lovers of all genres. Although weekend tickets are on sale, many people head there who come on day tickets. Big names this year on the main stage include Fat Boy Slim, Snow Patrol, Jess Glynne, Jamie T, Pixies and Biffy Clyro.
27. CarFest South
Laverstoke Park Farm | 23rd-25th August 2024 | www.carfest.org
Another festival that’s on over the August Bank Holiday weekend is CarFest. Hosted by auto-nut Chris Evans, you can ogle over fancy cars and even take a spin in some. Then, sing and dance your heart out with the likes of McFly, Craig David and Texas. The awesome retro lineup this year includes Beverley Knight, Scouting For Girls and Reef. Plus there’s entertainment from comedians. As well as music and cars, there’s also AdventureFest, FoodFest, KidsFest, RetroFest, StarFest and the wellness special SpaFest all alongside the original CarFest. This is one of the largest family festivals in Hampshire and a wonderful festival for those that love cars!
Festivals in Hampshire in September 2024
28. Mucky Weekender
Winchester | 5th-7th September 2024 | www.mucky-weekender.co.uk
Mucky Weekender returns to the beautiful hazy glade on Vicarage Farm Woodmancott for another much-loved laid-back party vibe. ‘You can expect the most electric of atmospheres,’ says organiser Barry Ashworth, ‘you can arrive alone and leave with 100 new friends.’ Mucky
This weekend festival champions all music genres, but don’t miss drum and bass legends Dreadzone as well as Dub Pistols and LTJ Bukem. Along with street performers, circus acts and an exclusive art installation in the woods.
29. Great Wight Bite
Cowes, IOW | 7th-8th September 2024 | www.greatwightbite.co.uk
If you head to the beautiful Northwood House near Cowes you’ll find this relatively new foodie festival extravaganza. It features foodie royalty in the form of writer and broadcaster Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall. You can eat your way around artisan and independent producers and taste top dishes from leading chefs and restaurants in the demo kitchen. You’ll learn pro tips from the Isle of Wight’s own Robert Thompson and there’s live music to entertain.
Final thoughts on festivals in Hampshire 2024
Some great local festivals are happening this year in Hampshire. What’s great is that some are free such as the Portsmouth International Kite Festival. We’ll be getting to as many as we can this year, as there’s nothing we love more on a weekend then get outdoors and trying new things. We’ll hopefully see you at one of the many festivals in Hampshire happening this summer!
