Entertainment for all

 "Festivals and celebrations are plentiful all year round in Nottingham and there is always something going on either in the city centre or nearby.” 
World-guides.com

Nottingham is a city bursting with year-round events and activities for everyone to enjoy, whatever the season: fairgrounds, foreign markets, festivals, outstanding fireworks displays, cultural celebrations, music events and even outdoor ice skating.

Fairs and festivals

Goose Fair

Goose Fair is the largest travelling fair in Europe with over 700 years of history. The five-day event comes to town every October and features over 500 fairground attractions, stalls and side shows.

Riverside Festival

The Riverside Festival is vibrant programme of live music, performance, arts, fairground attractions and craft and food stalls is famed for its spectacular fireworks display.

Robin Hood Beer Festival

Renowned for offering the world’s largest selection of real ales, the Robin Hood Beer Festival is held every October in the grounds of Nottingham Castle.  

Robin Hood Pageant 

Every October Nottingham Castle plays host to the Robin Hood Pageant which features live jousting, a medieval village and ale house, craft stalls, living history demonstrations, falconry, and musicians.

"The Vintage Fair travels around the country and comes to Nottingham a few times a year. It’s only £1 to get in and there are loads of different stalls selling a huge variety of vintage clothes, shoes and accessories at affordable prices. There’s even a tearoom which sells lots of lovely cupcakes."

Sophie Gelsthorpe-Hill, BA in Modern Language Studies 

Cultural celebrations

Nottingham really knows how to celebrate and promote the multicultural richness within the city. Each year there are a number of festivities that mark and embrace different religious occasions, ethnicities and social groups.

Chinese New Year

The University of Nottingham's own Lakeside Arts Centre plays host to the city's Chinese New Year and Spring Festival which culminates in a spectacular fireworks display.

Read about Chinese New Year at Lakeside.  

Mela

The Nottingham Mela festival celebrates all that's great about Asian music, dance, art and culture. 2009's Mela was the 21st anniversary of the festival which now makes it the longest running Mela in Europe. 

Caribbean Carnival

Nottingham Caribbean Carnival is vibrant, dazzling and always impresses.  The two-day family event is packed with a variety of music and features the sensational Carnival Parade. 

Nottinghamshire Pride

Nottinghamshire Pride is a fantastic family day out for everyone and the opportunity for all members of the community to come together, celebrate and show their solidarity, whatever their sexuality. 

Music

In addition to the music that you can experience at Nottingham's annual events and cultural celebrations there are a number of music events, programmes and festivals that take place each year.  Some are weekend extravaganzas, some are free and some for charity ─  take a look at a selection of what's on offer.

• Splendour ─ Nottingham's big annual music event at Wollaton Park features famous artists, local bands and comedians
• Dot to Dot  ─ In May Nottingham's coolest venues unite and take over the city with a a cutting-edge music festival showcasing the best acts on the music scene
• Hockley Hustle  ─ Many promoters and venues collaborate to bring an impressive and extensive range of artists together for an amazing day of music... and it's all in the name of charity
• Bands in the Park  ─ During the summer months this season of free outdoor brass and woodwind concerts takes place at various locations in Nottingham 

Seasonal activities

Winter

From the middle of November the city centre has a magical atmosphere as the Christmas lights are switched on, the Market Square transforms in to an outdoor ice rink and the smells from the Christmas market waft around you as you eat, drink and shop.

Summer

The summer months see the Market Square transformed into Nottingham's very own British Riviera, complete with sand, fairground rides and a huge paddling pool.

What's on guides

• Nottingham City Council
• Nottinghamshire County Council
• Visit Nottingham
• Itchy Nottingham
• Left Lion Magazine

Take a look at events and activities available to students at The University of Nottingham, or read our City Guide (pdf).