Stuck for ideas to kick start your summer holiday? The Hampshire Chronicle has created a list of the top things happening within the local area.
1. Foodies festival - River Park Recreational Ground
The UK’s renowned Foodies Festival is returning again to River Park Recreational Ground. Running from Friday July 18 to Sunday July 20. From live shows from award winning chefs, cooking schools and a variety stalls offering a diverse array of food and drink for you to try! There are ample activities for children, where kids also have the opportunity for a cooking lesson, and to enjoy the fairground rides. But sure you stay till the evening, where live music from the festival’s headliners, Blue, Wanted 2.0 and Symphonic Ibiza will be taking place across the weekend.
2. Regency Candle making – Winchester Cathedral
A luxury candle making workshop is taking place on at 1.30 pm on Saturday July 19, continuing to celebrate 250 years of Jane Austen. The masterclass is led by a team of Laura Fisher's candle makers, in the cathedral. Tickets are £97 pp, including the workshop, refreshments and 10% off the pop up shop. If you are unable to make this event, there is another chance to attend on Saturday August 30.
Tickets available at: https://www.winchester-cathedral.org.uk/event/regency-candlemaking/
3. Time Detective Agency 2.0 - Winchester City Museum
The Time Detective Agency challenge is returning to Winchester City Museum and need your help to fix their time machine. Each week features a different historical period, and your task will be to return artefacts to their correct time. Beginning on Saturday July 19 with the Industrious Iron Age and will run throughout the summer holidays until Tuesday September 2.
This event is included within the £5.85 (children) and £8.10 (adult) booking fee.
For more information: https://878ad.co.uk/the-experience/#whats-on
4. Endless Summer VW Show – Vicarage Farm Park
A non-profit VW car show is taking place in Vicarage Farm Park, on Sunday July 20, to raise money for Naomi House and Jacksplace, a local charity providing hospice care for children and young adults. There will be plenty of local businesses, lots of entertainment for the kids, as well as competitions throughout the day for the best VWs.
Tickets are £10 per car, no matter the capacity and the event will be running from 10am till 4pm.
For tickets and more information: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/endless-summer-vw-show-2025-tickets-1264773364179
5. Art exhibition – The Arc
The opening of Hampshire based artist Joshua Raffell’s installation begins on Thursday July 17, in The Arc in Jewry Street. This free exhibition ‘Sensibilities on the Bonnet’, is a celebration of working women in Winchester, through crochet, craft and exciting colours. The exhibition will be running until Sunday September 7, alongside The Arc’s opening times, 9:30 am till 5:30 pm.
More information available at: https://www.arcwinchester.org.uk/event/sensibilities-on-bonnet-installation-joshua-raffell
Winchester Science Centre at Morn Hill has been taken over by bubbles, of all different shapes and sizes! Through this interactive and immersive experience, the opportunity to dance, play and get inside bubbles, begins on Saturday July 19. You will also be able to discover the science behind bubbles and look at nature’s bubbles through a microscope. This is a free event, included in general admission and will be running until Wednesday September 3.
To book tickets: https://www.winchestersciencecentre.org/whats-on/summer
7. Ballons and Tunes UK – Broadlands estate Romsey
Ballons and Tunes is coming to Romsey this weekend, and putting on a show for all the family! Across the weekend, hot air balloon shows will be taking over the skies, and there will many opportunities to watch live music in the evening. The kids stage will have various events taking place, from gameshows to foam parties.
The event will be running on Friday July 18 (4 pm – 11 pm), Saturday July 19 (12 pm – 11 pm) and finishing on Sunday July 20 (12 – 8 pm).
For tickets and more information: https://balloonsandtunesuk.com/events/hampshire-balloons-tunes/#events
Winchester Action on the Climate Crisis (WinACC) have set up a self-guided trail through Winchester to explore the historical routes that poet John Keats took over 200 years ago and find out how these are being preserved for future generations. Join the charity on Saturday July 19 from 9 am to 11am to join the trail, tickets are £10 per family, which also includes a chance to meet the mayor.
Tickets available at: https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/whats-on/winchester/abbey-house/family-activity-scavenger-hunt-trail-explore-our-past-to-discover-our-future/e-mojxyy
9. Party in the Palace – Bishop’s Waltham Palace
Bishop’s Waltham Palace is putting on a free event, on Saturday July 19, 12.30pm to 5pm. Come and bring a picnic blanket to enjoy an afternoon of entertainment. There will be live music, activities for children and plenty of food and drink stalls!
For more information: https://www.hampshirechronicle.co.uk/local-events/?_evDiscoveryPath=/event/3125973-party-in-the-palace
10. Inside the Artist’s studio – God’s House Tower Southampton
God’s House Tower has opened its doors for the chance to look inside the artists studios, up until Sunday August 3. This is part of a 20 year celebration from when the space first opened its doors in 2005. There are various workshops running alongside this exhibition, offering the chance to learn from the artists involved.
The open studios are free to attend, and are open from Thursday to Sunday.
For more information: https://www.hampshirechronicle.co.uk/local-events/?_evDiscoveryPath=/event/3112501-exhibition-inside-the-artist-s-studio-20-years-of-the-arches
