Family-friendly festivals in Bristol: what’s on in 2025?
The best kind of festival with kids for me, isn’t too big, is fairly local, has tons of activities for youngsters during the day and plenty of good vibes. And the good news is, there are tons of festivals in Bristol, and festivals near Bristol that have exactly that.
If you’re hoping for some family festival action this year, take a gander at the Bristol summer events calendar and there’s pretty much a festival for everything. Music festivals, balloons, food, chocolate, film – you name it! As an added bonus, many of Bristol’s, and the festivals nearby, are kid friendly festivals, often free, and take place all year round – not just in summer.
So prepare to dust off your dancing shoes, deck yourself out in neon and shimmy your cares away (with one eye on the children, of course), with my round up of the best Bristol family festivals 2025.
Table of Contents
Family Festivals Bristol 2025
February family friendly festivals 2025
Bristol Light Festival
- When? 31 Jan-9 February 2025
Sick of the dark wintry nights? Head into the city centre! For 10 days in February, Bristol will be illuminated by vibrant and playful light installations created by renowned artists from across the UK and beyond.
Bristol Light Festival will take visitors along several different routes from Cabot Circus to Park Street, showcasing different installations along the way and Bristol at its best.
Slapstick Festival 2025, Bristol
- When? 12-16 February 2025
Celebrating silent and classic screen comedy, Slapstick Festival Bristol hosts family-friendly events.
>>More things to do this February half term in Bristol<<
GLOW Festival 2025, Weston-super-Mare
- When? *Not taking place in 2025*
GLOW (Glorious Lights of Weston) Festival will light up the town with a dazzling array of illuminated artworks, stunning light displays, interactive activities and sensory experiences from nationally-acclaimed spectacles, new showcase commissions and local creative talent. The festival will take place over four evenings in Grove Park and additional town centre locations.
April festivals for families
Lyra Festival 2025
- When? 25 April-4 May
The hybrid Bristol literary festival will feature a range of in-person and online events including family activities, readings, performances, workshops, panel discussions, a lecture, a walking tour, an open mic, poetry slams and a film screening. More info on Lyra Festival 2025.
May festivals 2025 Bristol
Bristol Walk Fest 2025
- When? 1-31 May 2025
As we discovered in lockdown, there is so much to discover in our local area than we ever appreciated, and I guarantee there is still more to discover on foot in Bristol! For this month-long festival of walking, Bristol Walk Fest will include tours, talks, workshops, family events and taster sessions around themes of art, education, food, sport, history, architecture, wildlife and nature, or anything else a walk could cover!
Watch this space for news of the 2025 event which promises to be even bigger and better
Bristol Folk Festival 2025
- When? May 2-4 2025
Bristol Folk Festival returns with a breath-taking line-up of UK and world artists for the May Bank Holiday weekend.
Back to Mine, Chew Valley Lake
- 23-25 May 2025
With Valley Fest in its fallow year, founder Luke is bringing some exciting projects to life around the lake for 2025. First up is a collaboration with the iconic Back to Mine Events, straight from Ibiza.
This intimate boutique event is set to host just 450 guests a day at Natures Spectacular Site (just around the corner from Valley Fest), with two stages, a chilled-out zone, local independent traders, and a secret after-party. Expect a hedonistic experience, in a truly special setting. Get tickets here.
June festivals for kids Bristol 2025
Bristol Festival of Nature 2025
- When? 6-15 June 2025
Bristol Nature Festival, the UK’s largest free festival celebrating the natural world is marking its 20th anniversary in 2025!
It’s a crucial year for taking action for the natural world and the team are planning the biggest nature events in Bristol this summer the festival has ever seen.
Expect a mix of wildlife workshops, walks talks digital, hybrid, and in-person activities across the city.
Upfest presents…Bristol
- When? 17 May-2 June 2024
This year, Europe’s largest street art festival, Upfest returns as UPFEST PRESENTS… a 17-day cultural programme. A calendar of what’s on at Upfest Presents, including artist painting schedule, workshops, talks and all the goings on can be found here: View details
Volksfest Bristol 2025
- When? 6-8 June 2025
If you’re lucky enough to be the owner of a VDubya, or are just a serious fan, Volksfest action-packed summer festival and camping weekend celebrates all things VW!
As well as petrol and diesel powered rides, traders, VW parts and conversion specialists the VW Fest Bristol will feature some amazing live music, Dj’s, entertainers, workshops and a kids area, with festivities culminating in the Show & Shine event.
Weston Air Festival
Sadly the Weston super Mare festival of air will not be taking place in 2025 due to rising costs.
July child friendly festivals
Bristol Pride 2025
- When? 28 June-13 July 2025
One of the most colourful, fabulous festivals around, Bristol Pride’s fortnight-long celebration features fun events such as theatre shows, comedy performances and the Queer Vision Film Festival.
The festivities culminate in a rainbow-coloured Pride march through Bristol, followed by live music, Big Top, Youth Area, Family Zone and Community Area on The Downs on Pride Day (12 July 2025). Watch this space for news on the Bristol Pride line-up 2025.
St Pauls Carnival Bristol 2025
- When? A scaled-down version of the event is due to take place in July 2025
St Pauls Carnival is a vibrant, eye-popping celebration of diversity and Afro-Caribbean culture and heritage featuring a procession, sound systems, costumes, food, musicians, dancers and more. After a three year hiatus caused by the pandemic, Carnival will finally return to its full flamboyant self, with a series of fringe events.
Bath Carnival 2025
- When? 12 July 2025
If you’re looking for free family festivals in the area, head over to Bath Carnival to celebrate carnival culture with this vibrant street procession of fabulous costumes, dynamic dance moves and live music.
A really easy and informal way for families to take part in the carnival procession is to register with their Buggy Bloc. So get into the spirit by dressing up as your favourite mammals, fish, birds, reptiles, or amphibians!
Starting at The Bath Recreation Ground, the carnival will make its way through the city, ending in Sydney Gardens with live bands, DJs, food and drink stalls, drumming and dance workshops, a super pirates kids’ zone and lots more!
Bristol Harbour Festival 2025
- Bristol Harbour Festival 2025 dates: 18-20 July
For a free, family friendly live music, dance, and arts extravaganza, check out the Bristol Harbour Festival programme. Packed with live music performances, comedy, aerial acts, circus performers, markets and maritime fun, it’s one of the best summer festivals in Bristol.
The festival stretches all the way along the Harbourside, from Underfall Yard to Cascade Steps to Thekla and Queen Square.
You’ll find the Children’s Area in Queen Square, where world-famous Bristol circus company Cirque Bijou present the Circus Playground, with a family friendly programme of circus, street theatre, comedy, walkabout and things to play, make and do.
Fantasy Forest Festival 2025, Sudeley Castle
- When? 18-20 July 2025
The fairytale-esque Sudeley Castle near Cheltenham (just over an hour away from Bristol) will be welcoming festival-goers to camp in its beautiful grounds for a weekend of sci-fi fantasy-themed entertainment and activities.
Take part in Ork Boot Camp, Witcher School, wand making, enchanted theatre and firelighting workshops, watch medieval weapon displays, willow weaving and attend a spell writing workshop! There’s also face painting, lightsabre workshops, walkabout entertainment, live bands and tons more. More info about the festival.
Womad, Malmesbury 2025
- When? *Not taking place in 2025*
To ensure that the festival can continue to thrive for years to come in a new location, Womad have decided to take a year off in 2025, before returning fully charged in 2026.
WOMAD (World of Music, Arts and Dance) brings together artistic performances from all over the world, across seven separate stages, in Wiltshire’s beautiful Charlton Park (40 minutes from Bristol).
As a festival for kids, it’s brilliant – a dedicated ‘World of Children’ programme runs from 9am to 7pm each day and almost all of the activities are free. It also caters for ‘WOMAD Weenies’ (under 5s) – who have their own space for fun activities, and there’s a teen tent for older ones.
August family festivals
Weston Shanty and Folk Festival 2025, Weston-super-Mare
- When? 1-3 August 2025
- Where? Multiple venues across WSM
The Weston-super-Mare Sea Shanty Festival is organised by Weston’s own shanty band, The Steepholmers. It’s all about folk music and pirates (fancy dress encouraged)!
Over 40 bands will play across bars and venues in the town centre, with a centre stage at the Italian Gardens – check the website for a full list of performers.
Entry to all venues is free (except for The Grand Pier) although donations to the charity buckets (raising for RNLI and The Lions Club) are appreciated.
Bristol International Balloon Fiesta 2025, Ashton Court
- Bristol Balloon Fiesta 2025 dates? 8-10 August 2025
One of the most famous and beloved summer events in Bristol, this free four-day, child friendly festival is the largest of its kind in Europe. Mass ascents of over 100 hot air balloons are scheduled to take place at dawn and late afternoon each day, wind permitting.
Day festival visitors can look forward to fairground rides, live music, kid-friendly activities (including a family foam party!) and awe-inspiring aerial displays, all set in the picturesque grounds of Ashton Court Estate.
Don’t miss the spectacular nightglow shows when 20 balloons illuminate their burners to a soundtrack provided by BBC Radio Bristol – ending in a firework finale.
>>Where to take cracking photos of hot air balloons in Bristol<<
Valley Fest Bristol 2025, Chew Magna
- When? *Not taking place in 2025*
- Where? Valley Fest location: Denny Ln, Chew Magna, Bristol BS40 8SZ
Valley Fest, a preposterously scenic, food-tastic family festival, takes place on an organic farm, 9 miles from Bristol and Bath. In its perch above the lake, this Chew Valley festival is as much a kids festival as it is for adults, with veg picking, mini raves, crafting, circus games, face painting, ride-on tractors and the new Alchemist’s Playground – a new Valley Fest Arcadia collaboration!
By day, kids can build the playground of their dreams from reclaimed materials, by night, the Afterburner stage fires up and the adults get a look-in!
Food is very much on the festival agenda – best to arrive with a good appetite to make the most of the street food and delicious sit-down feasts cooked by excellent local chefs, all washed down with your favourite West Country tipple.
Foodies Festival Bristol 2025, Bath
- When? 29-31 August 2025
Watch Great British Bake Off Winners, MasterChef Champions and top local chefs baking live and sharing top culinary tips at Foodies Festival 2025.
Feast in the Street Food Avenue, learn how to make show-stopping cakes at the Cake and Bake Theatre, buy goodies from local artisan producers and get the children involved with this fun festival at the Kids Cookery School Theatre.
There’s also a fairground, live music stage and family-friendly areas with activities for children.
Bristol festivals September
Icons of the Sky: Longleat Safari Park 2025
- When? 12-14 September 2025
If Bristol’s summer of balloons leaves you desperate to see more inflatable marvels floating above your head, you’re in luck! 40-minutes drive away from the city, Longleat Safari Park hosts one of the biggest annual hot air balloon festivals in Europe, Icons of the Sky.
Over the course of the festival, the skies above this magnificent estate will come to life with hundreds of hot air balloons, followed by a sensational night glow set to music on Friday and Saturday evening.
FORWARDS, The Downs
- 23-24 August 2025
FORWARDS music festival in Bristol on The Downs aims to present high quality, diverse and heritage music acts alongside emerging artists from Bristol & beyond.
Kids aged four and under go free.
Bristol Sea Shanty Festival 2025
- When? *Back in September 2026*
The Sea Shanty Festival Bristol is a celebration of the city through songs of the sea.
Kicking off around midday, the maritime music celebration will take place in Bristol Harbourside venues – hear salty singing talent at Brunel’s SS Great Britain dockyard, Underfall Yard cafe, the main stage in Brunel Square, The Matthew, Brunel’s Buttery and Arnolfini Harbour stage.
All performing shanty groups give their time for free to raise money for several charitable organisations.
Bath Children’s Literature Festival 2025
- When? TBC
If you’re looking for some of the best festivals for children, Europe’s largest dedicated children’s literature festival in Bath is a treat. The nine-day event offers talks and activities for kids to inspire and fuel young imaginations.
Young book lovers are given a chance to meet the creators of their literary heroes – past authors have included Harry Hill, Cressida Cowell, Dougie Poynter, Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler.
November festivals in Bristol
Afrika Eye Festival
- When? TBC
Afrika Eye Festival is the biggest celebration of African cinema and culture in the South West. Last year’s theme was Untold Stories, and while most of the events are more geared towards an older crowd, there was a pop-up event for families at Felix Road Adventure Playground with a movie and storytelling. Watch this space for more details on family events in Bristol organised by Afrika Eye Festival…
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