Bristol Harbour Festival 2019

Bristol, UK

Bristol Harbour Festival 2019: The Biggest, Liveliest Summer Festival In Bristol

Each summer, the gorgeous UK port town of Bristol comes alive with vibrant revelries, celebrating the city’s rich maritime heritage. The annual Bristol Harbour Festival is a fascinating experience whether it’s your first or tenth time here; it provides you a fun glimpse into the local culture and history while you indulge in crazy, all ages entertainment.

One of the major attractions is the phenomenal shows at The Dance Village, where spectators will be treated to sensational choreography and free dance classes. Learn a thing or two about Bristol’s shipbuilding past at the Floating Harbour, where you get to see majestic ships and mind-bending displays right on the water. Several stages will be placed around the city center, with music of all genres including jazz, funk and indie rock. You’ll not only discover new music, but dance to your favorite tunes on the street with 250,000 other people. Browse for unique vintage finds and drool-worthy food at the numerous stalls around town. The entire weekend will be jam-packed with so much blockbuster entertainment that the only difficult part about the festival will be deciding where to go.

The Bristol Harbour Festival is a nautical summer celebration unlike any other, providing incredible free entertainment that will blow your mind.

In the past, acts such as Beth Rowley, DJ Derek, The Hot 8 Brass Band, Natty, Kid Carpet, and Phantom Limb have made appearances.

Where to view the Bristol Harbour Festival 2019

Bristol Harbour Festival takes place at several venues near the waterfront. These include Queens Square, Millennium Square, Castle Park, and Lloyd’s Ampitheatre. Most of the lively festivities will be taking place by the quay, so be there or be square! All attractions are free, so there’ll be no need for tickets.

How to get around Bristol

During the Bristol Harbour Festival, some roads will be closed. It wouldn’t be convenient to bring around a car rental during the weekend; instead take advantage of the First Bus service to get around. Better yet, travel on foot whenever possible. You can also opt to take the comfortable and efficient inter-city trains into Bristol from London, Bath, or Reading.

If you are bringing a car, park and ride bus services will be available from Portway, Brislington, Lyde Green, and Long Ashton. Visitors taking a bicycle can park at designated lock-up points throughout town, with the main one located at The Grove. Several ferry operators will also be providing trips around the harbor.

Where to stay for Bristol Harbour Festival 2019

Old City is a great place to base yourself during the festival. You’ll be close to the street parties and the many terrific establishments in town, as well as many historical attractions. Other great areas to look for accommodations include Temple, Old Market, and Harbourside. After the festival, you might want to consider moving to a countryside hotel to explore the numerous sights while indulging in a more laid-back ambiance.

Things to do in Bristol

Bristol’s lovely people, delicious food, vibrant nightlife, and amazing music scene makes this a terrific place for young travelers to visit. Get your arts and culture fix by catching a show at The Cube, and take a stroll along the iconic suspension bridge.

There are enough pubs in the city to do do a pub crawl every night here, but don’t leave without sampling at least a few of their delicious ciders. Take Instagram photos with the dozens of street art you’ll find here… it’s said that Bristol is the home of famous graffiti artist Banksy; so it isn’t surprising that street art is literally everywhere.

Dates of the Bristol Harbour Festival

Bristol Harbour Festival takes place next from July 19-21, 2019.