What’s on in Warwick District SPRING/SUMMER 2023
WARWICK, KENILWORTH, WHITNASH & ROYAL LEAMINGTON SPA
What’s on in Warwick District
SPRING/SUMMER 2023
From Coronation celebrations to international sport, we’re gearing up for another action-packed summer season, with an incredible line up of free events, festivals, live music, performances and much more to look forward to.
April
Saturday 1 to Thursday 6
& Tuesday 11 to Sunday 16 April
Easter Adventure Quest
Kenilworth Castle, 10am to 5pm
Explore the grounds and gardens to hunt for clues and challenges and discover traditional Easter games. Track down the Easter eggs and you’ll be rewarded with an adventurer’s certificate and a tasty chocolate treat. english-heritage.org.uk
Saturday 1 April to Sunday 5 November
The Falconer’s Quest and Legend of the Trebuchet
Warwick Castle, Twice daily shows warwick-castle.com
Friday 7 to Monday 10 April
Easter Escapades
Kenilworth Castle, 10am to 5pm
Join the performers at Kenilworth Castle for four days of Easter fun. There’ll be plenty of opportunity for the whole family to get involved in traditional games, activities and challenges. english-heritage.org.uk
Saturday 1 to Sunday 16 April
Spring Spectacular
Hatton Country World
The farm will be packed with baby animals; piglets, lambs, chicks and goat kids in the Spring Arrivals Marquee. Wait patiently and you might even witness a birth! adventure.hattonworld.com
Friday 7 to Sunday 9 April
The Mysteries 2023
Playbox Theatre, Warwick
Based on The Medieval Mystery Plays performed in Chester, Coventry, York and Wakefield in the Middle Ages, this epic multidisciplinary event takes its audience from Creation to Doomsday in a three-part production brought to the stage by some of Playbox’s finest actors. playboxtheatre.com
Saturday 15 April
Playbox Family Barn Dance
Playbox Theatre, Warwick
Everyone is invited to join Playbox Theatre’s first BARN DANCE at The Dream Factory. This joyful event is suitable for the whole family. playboxtheatre.com
Monday 17 to Saturday 22 April
The Girl on the Train
Talisman Theatre, Kenilworth, 7.30pm
A thrilling mystery adaptation of the best-selling novel. talismantheatre.co.uk
Sunday 23 April
Death by Shakespeare
Playbox Theatre, Warwick, 7.00pm
Monday 10 April
CJ’s Easter Festival
Parade, Leamington Spa, 10am to 4pm
At EasterFest there’ll be arts and craft stalls to bring fresh ideas and décor to your home; delicious hot and cold food and drinks to tempt your taste buds and awaken your senses. cjseventswarwickshire.co.uk
Saturdays 15 & 29 April, 13 May & 27 May, 10 June & Sunday 11 June
Peregrine Falcon Watch
Regent Grove, Leamington Spa, 10am to 3.30pm
The fastest animal in the world is living in Leamington Spa. Using telescopes provided by Focus Optics members of the public will be given the opportunity to view these rare birds. warwickshirewildlifetrust.org.uk/peregrine
Join a very special event to raise funds for Playbox Raindrops Campaign, which is supporting the restoration of the roof of The Dream Factory. playboxtheatre.com
Thursday 27 April
Charity Race Day
Warwick Racecourse
Gather your friends and families for an afternoon of excellent racing action. thejockeyclub.co.uk/warwick
Hill Close Gardens Events 2023
Friday 21 April, 2pm
Head Gardener’s Spring Garden Walk ***
Sunday 14 May, Normal opening hours
Wellbeing Day – information and activities in the gardens, supporting National Health Awareness Week.
Thursday 1 June, 10am to 12pm
Family Workshop – Slimly Slugs and Boggling Bugs (£4 per child)
Saturday 10 June, Normal opening hours
Community Open Day. Free entry for Warwick residents.
Saturday 17 June, 10am to 12pm
Volunteers and Members get together.
Tuesday 20 June, 10am to 12pm
Summer Propagation £25 (RHS/HCG Members £20)
Friday 14 July, 2pm
Head Gardener’s Summer Garden Walk ***
Saturday 15 July, 5pm & 7.30pm
‘Dr Doolittle’ – family performance, followed by ‘Great Gadsby ‘by Tethered Witts Theatre Company.
Tuesday 1 August, Doors open 5pm
David Walliams ‘Bad Dad’ by Heartbreak Productions.
Thursday 3 August, 2pm to 4pm
Teddy Bears’ Picnic- bring your bear and a picnic (£4 per child)
Tuesday 8 August, 10am to 12pm
Summer Pruning Workshop £25 ( RHS/HCG Members £20)
Saturday 9 & Sunday 10 September, Normal opening hours
Heritage Open Days. Free entry.
Friday 15 September, 2pm
Head Gardener’s Autumn Apple Walk***
Entrance fees: Adults £5 Children 5-17yrs
£1. Under 5s, HCG and RHS Members free.
Gardening Workshops and Head Gardener’s walks marked *** booking essential.
T. 01926 493339
E. centremanager@hcgt.org.uk
hillclosegardens.com
Last Sunday in the monthApril to September
Covent Garden Market
Leamington Spa, 10am to 4pm
Surrounded by some fantastic independent shops, cafés and bars, the Covent Garden Quarter markets are a popular monthly addition to Royal Leamington Spa.
cjseventswarwickshire.co.uk
Sunday 30 April to Monday 1 May
A Grand Medieval Day out
Kenilworth Castle, 10am to 5pm
Visitors to the 900 year old castle will be transported back to Kenilworth’s medieval prime with re-enactors throughout the grounds. Soak up the sights and smells of the living history village and experience the hustle and bustle of a medieval castle in its prime. english-heritage.org.uk
Monday 1 May
Kids Carnival
Warwick Racecourse
Looking for a day out with the family in Warwickshire? Then look no further as Warwick racecourse hosts its well-known Kids Carnival raceday, combining family fun and horse racing. thejockeyclub.co.uk/warwick
Wednesday 3 to Saturday 13 May
Consent
Loft Theatre Company, Leamington Spa
Nina Raine’s powerful, painful, funny play, sifts the evidence from every side and puts Justice itself in the dock. It premiered as a coproduction between the National Theatre and Out of Joint in 2017, and transferred to the West End in 2018. lofttheatrecompany.com
Sunday 7 May ‘Classical Sunday’, Sunday 14 May ‘Folk Sunday’, Sunday 21 May ‘Regional Talent Sunday’
OAF Leamington - Performances
Pump Room Gardens, Leamington
Classical Sunday is dedicated to local orchestras, brass and ukulele bands, choirs and instrumentalist performers. Folk Sunday is dedicated to local and regional folk bands and musicians. Regions Talent Sunday is dedicated to local and regional bands who are up and coming in the live music industry. openartsfestival.co.uk
May
KING’S CORONATION EVENTS
Saturday 6 May to Monday 8 May
KENILWORTH
Kenilworth Castle
Enjoy a live screening of the Coronation ceremony on 6 May and a special event with local choirs and live entertainment on 7 May.
Castle Hill
Castle Hill Fest with local craft and food stalls on 8 May. warwickdc.gov.uk/events
Saturday 6 May
LEAMINGTON SPA
Pump Room Gardens, 10am to 5pm
A family day of fun and celebrations to mark the Coronation of King Charles III brought to you by Leamington Spa Town Council. Watch the Coronation ceremony on the Big Screen, followed by live music, food, drinks, workshops, a dog show and much more! warwickdc.gov.uk/events
Saturday 6 May
WARWICK
Market Place, Warwick, 3pm to 7.30pm
Celebrate King Charles III’s Coronation with an atmosphere-packed community party with live music, entertainment food and drink, or bring an afternoon picnic! warwickdc.gov.uk/events
Sunday 7 May
WHITNASH
Whitnash Civic Centre and Acre Close Park, 1pm to 5pm
Celebrate the coronation of King Charles III with a ‘Picnic in the Park’, with free tea, coffee and cake, a cash bar, live music including Royal Spa Brass Band, bouncy castle, kids rides and a number of charity stalls, hosted by Whitnash Town Council and Whitnash Fun Day. warwickdc.gov.uk/events
Monday 8 May to Saturday 22 July
Summer Concerts
Warwick Castle
Selected performances include Ibiza Classics, Within the Walls and Pageant Field concerts. warwick-castle.com
Saturday 13 May
Ladies Night
Warwick Racecourse
Ladies Night returns to Warwick Racecourse and is set to be a fantastic evening of competitive racing. thejockeyclub.co.uk/warwick
Sunday 14 May
Warwick Cycle Races
Warwick Town Centre, 9.30am to 4.15pm
A British Cycling endorsed town centre event, around Warwick, consisting of six competitive cycle races, plus a town centre community ride.
Sunday 21 May
Walk for Myton
Myton Hospice, Warwick, 8.30am to 3pm
Sunday 14 May
Kids Bikeathon-Blood Cancer UK
Victoria Park, Leamington Spa, 10am to 12pm
Sponsored cycle ride for children aged 2 to 11, in aid of Blood Cancer U.K. bloodcancer.org.uk/get-involved
Walk for Myton is a sponsored walk which starts and ends at Warwick Myton Hospice - choose between a 3 mile stroll, a 6 mile walk or a 12 mile hike, setting off anytime between 8.30am and 10am. After the walk, Myton welcomes people to join them for a celebratory BBQ, live entertainment, ice cream van and children’s games including a bouncy castle. mytonhospice.org
Monday 22 to Saturday 27 May
Don’t Dress for Dinner
Talisman Theatre, Kenilworth, 7.30pm
Don’t Dress for Dinner is a hilarious Boulevarde Comedy - a very slick and sophisticated farce. talismantheatre.co.uk
Wednesday 24 May
Saturday 20 May
Fake Festival
Victoria Park, Leamington Spa, 11.45am to 11pm
Held inside the Fake Festivals marquee in Victoria Park enjoy tributes to Oasis, Nirvana, Muse, Depeche Muse, Green Day and Jamiroquai. fakefestivals.co.uk
Proudly Warwick
Warwick Racecourse
Celebrating the wonderful town of Warwick and its community, with two of the most prestigious races in the May racing calendar (The Wigley Group Carnival Handicap Steeple Chase and the Feldon Dunsmore Carnival Handicap Hurdle).
thejockeyclub.co.uk/warwick
Saturday 27 May to Sunday 3 September
War of the Roses LIVE!
Warwick Castle, Daily shows
The ultimate jousting experience returns to Warwick Castle.
warwick-castle.com
Saturday 27 May to Sunday 4 June
Kenilworth Castle and Kids Rule
Kenilworth Castle, 10am to 5pm Get ready for a right royal knees-up in the grounds of Kenilworth Castle to celebrate King Charles III’s coronation with hands-on activities and fresh-air family fun. english-heritage.org.uk
June
Wednesday 7 to Saturday 17 June
Boudica
Loft Theatre Company, Leamington Spa
Boudica, the warrior queen, is out for revenge. She will have blood and will make Rome quake with fear.
lofttheatrecompany.com
Sunday 28 May
CJ’s Warwick Food & Drink Festival
Market Place, Warwick, 10am to 5pm
Warwick food festival is back for another mouth-watering year, and this one will be bigger, better, and tastier than ever!
cjseventswarwickshire.co.uk
Wednesday 31 May
Wigley Property Race Day
Warwick Racecourse, starts 5pm
The final fixture of the season at Warwick Racecourse sees seven exciting mid-week evening races.
thejockeyclub.co.uk/warwick
Wednesday 31 May to Saturday 10 June
Heartbreak Productions
Jephson Gardens, Leamington Spa
Sense & Sensibility, 31 May & 1 June, 7.30pm
MacHamLear, 2 & 3 June, 7.30pm
Bad Dad, 9 June 6.30pm, 10 June 2pm
Pack a picnic, dress for the weather and head to Jephson Gardens for captivating open-air adaptations of Sense & Sensibility (Jane Austen) , MacHamLear (Shakespeare) and Bad Dad (David Walliams).
heartbreakproductions.co.uk
Saturday 10 June
Kenilworth Lions Grand Show
Abbey Fields, Kenilworth, 1pm to 10pm Stalls, food and drink, arena events and live entertainment. An opportunity for the Lions to thank the town for the support given throughout the year. kenilworthlionsclub.co.uk
Saturday 10 June
MEZMA
Mill Gardens, Leamington Spa
A brand new music festival showcasing exciting emerging talent. tulupresents.com
Sunday 11 June
Cars in the Spa
Pump Room Gardens, Leamington Spa, 10.30am to 4pm
A magnificent collection of over 200 classic cars in a wonderful setting with live entertainment and food stalls. carsatthespa.co.uk
Saturday 17 June to Sunday 2 July
Warwickshire Open StudiosSummer Art Weeks
149 venues across Warwickshire and Coventry
Sunday 11 June
Two Castles Run
Kenilworth/Warwick, Start 9am Warwick Castle
10km run from Warwick Castle to Kenilworth organised by volunteers from the Rotary Club of Kenilworth and Leamington Cycling and Athletics Club, with all proceeds being donated to charitable causes.
twocastlesrun.org.uk
As a true celebration of the variety and quality of visual art available locally, Summer Art Weeks is open to all – from passionate amateurs to professional artists, across all mediums. warwickshireopenstudios.org
Sunday 18 June
Sublime Sondheim
Loft Theatre Company
Book your seat for the theatre company’s selection of choices featuring the very best of Sondheim. lofttheatrecompany.com
Thursday 22 June to Sunday 25 June
Kenilworth Carnival and Funfair
Abbey Fields, Saturday 1pm to 7pm, Sunday 1pm to 5pm
Family event with music, Wilson’s fun fair, displays, food and entertainment.
Saturday 24 June
Armed Forces Day
Save the date for a special event, to pay tribute to and celebrate our Armed Forces.
Sunday 25 June
Leamington Spa Half Marathon
Starts 8.30am, Pump Room Gardens
Voted the 2nd best half marathon in the UK in 2019, taking in the beautiful surroundings of Warwickshire’s finest spa town.
leamingtonspahalfmarathon.co.uk
Monday 26 June to Saturday 1 July
Pride and Prejudice
Talisman Theatre, Kenilworth 7.30pm, Saturday 1 July, 2.30pm & 7.30pm
Romantic comedy at its best. talismantheatre.co.uk
Saturday 24 & Sunday 25 June
LOTT Canal Festival
Clemens Street, Leamington Spa, Saturday 9am to 5pm, Sunday 10am to 6pm
A community inspired event, to showcase the beauty and trade of the canal and the local commerce within Clemens Street. On Saturday 24 June enjoy a collection of canal barges on the Grand Union canal, with arts and craft, displays and refreshments. On Sunday 25 June, Clemens Street will enjoy a full road closure for live music on two stages, entertainment and food and drink concessions abound.
Saturday 24 June
International Yoga Day
Pump Room Gardens, 11am to 12.30pm
Enjoy a celebration of the ancient and spiritual practice of yoga which will take place in an open area near to the bandstand.
Friday 30 June to Sunday 2 July
Pub in Park
Victoria Park, Leamington Spa, Friday 6pm to 10pm, Saturday 11.30am to 4.30pm and 6pm to 10.30pm, Sunday 1pm to 7pm
Join James Martin & Ravneet Gill for the UK’s biggest celebration of food and music with award-winning restaurants, live music, and of course great food!
pubintheparkuk.com/leamington
Saturday 1 July
Summer Concert
Collegiate Church of St Mary, Warwick, 7.30pm
Celebrating 900 years of choral music in St Mary’s.
dacapochoir.org.uk
Sunday 2 July
CJ’s Vintage Carnival
Market Place, Warwick, 10am to 5pm
A full carnival theme featuring old fashioned fairground rides, pre 70’s cars, gifts, clothing and homeware stalls alongside delicious hot food, drink and local produce traders as well as pop up bars, many serving from beautiful converted vintage vehicles.
cjseventswarwickshire.co.uk
Thursday 6 to Sunday 16 July
Barker’s Funfair
Pump Room Gardens, Leamington Spa
Barkers Amusements are coming back to the Pump Room Gardens with a great selection of rides for all ages.
barkersamusements.co.uk
Saturday 8 July
Good Times Festival
Mill Gardens, Leamington Spa, 11am to 6pm
Live music, food & drink! A perfect way to spend a Saturday in Leamington Spa. warwickdc.gov.uk/events
Saturday 8 July
Doggy Paddle Event
Edmonscote, Leamington, 7am to 6pm
Event presented by Royal Leamington Spa
Canoe Club in aid of Guide Dogs for the Blind. An 18 mile recreational paddle. rlscc.com
July
Saturday 8 & Sunday 9 July
Warwick Thai Festival
Warwick Racecourse, 10.30am to 5pm
A two day festival to celebrate the taste and culture of Thailand. thejockeyclub.co.uk/warwick
Saturday 22 July
Digbeth Dining Club
Mill Gardens, Leamington Spa, 12pm to 8pm
Leamington Dining Club is a food and drink festival, showcasing a variety of world cuisines from pan-Asian to Jamaican, Italian to Middle Eastern. Around 15 local food vendors will be serving up the goods and a selection of craft beers , wine, cocktails and non-alcoholic beverages.
warwickdc.gov.uk/events
Thursday 27 to Sunday 30 July
Warwick Folk Festival
Castle Park, Warwick and Warwick Town Centre
Wednesday 12 to Saturday 22 July
The Rise and Fall of Little Voice
Loft Theatre Company, Leamington Spa
After a spectacular premier at the National Theatre in 1992, there followed the Laurence Olivier award for Best Comedy and a path that has only been characterised by the rise and rise of Little Voice to international acclaim. lofttheatrecompany.com
Friday 14 & Saturday 15 July
Warwick Court Leet Beer Festival
Pageant Gardens, Warwick, Friday 4pm to 10pm, Saturday 12 noon to 10pm Beer, cider and music festival.
warwick-courtleet.co.uk/the-beer-festival
A weekend of superb music, camping, workshops, singing, dancing, sessions and giggles at what is one of the friendliest and established folk festivals in the country. warwickfolkfestival.co.uk
Wednesday 26 July to Sunday 3 September
Return of the Dinosaurs
Hatton Country World
Enjoy a daily programme of dinosaur shows, activities and meet and greets. adventure.hattonworld.com
Saturday 29 July
Smith Street Party
Smith Street, Warwick, 11am to 10pm
This unique event celebrates the independent businesses on Smith Street. There will be a range of individual delights on offer including bespoke clothing, gift ideas, hair and beauty treatments and a variety of food options with live music on stage. warwickdc.gov.uk/events
Saturday 29 to Sunday 30 July
Legendary Joust
Kenilworth Castle, 10am to 5pm
Experience the exhilarating spectacle of speed and skill as four legendary knights compete for honour and glory in the Grand Medieval Joust. english-heritage.org.uk
Saturday 5 & Sunday 6 August
Art in the Park
Mill Gardens & Jephson Gardens, 10am to 6pm
Now in its tenth year, bringing a two day festival of artists, music, food, drink, workshops and performances. Everyone is welcome to join in the fun, get creative and leave inspired. artinthepark.co.uk
Thursday 10 to Sunday 27 August
Bowls England National Finals
Victoria Park, Leamington Spa
Sunday 30 July
Kenilworth Food Festival
Abbey End, Kenilworth, 10am to 5pm
Celebrating the town’s food and drink scene! There will be over eighty traders showcasing some of the best food and drink from around the region. There will also be children’s activities including amusements and craft workshops.
cjseventswarwickshire.co.uk
The prestigious Bowls England National Finals will see 33 competitions reaching their climax. Come and see the best players in the country, including Team England stars from last year’s Commonwealth Games competing for domestic titles. bowlsengland.com
August
Friday 11 to Sunday 13 August &
Thursday 17 to Sunday 20 August
Dragon Slayer
Warwick Castle
Spectacular night-time show following Guy of Warwick on his quest to win the love of his fair Felice. warwick-castle.com
Sunday 13 August
Warwick Classic Car Show
Market Place, Warwick, 10am to 5pm
A special event that’s held every August where classic cars, kit cars, hot rods, vans and occasionally lorries take over the Market Place and many of the side roads, with the owners proudly displaying their pride and joys. warwick-courtleet.co.uk
Saturday 19 August
Warwickshire Pride Festival
Pump Room Gardens, Leamington Spa, 11am to 6pm
A colourful celebration of LGBT+ life and culture. A rainbow marketplace of stalls, live performances, food, drink and entertainment on stage throughout the day. warwickshirepride.co.uk
Saturday 12 August
NHS 75 Celebrations
Pump Room Gardens, 10am to 5pm
Marking the 75th Birthday of the NHS, a family fun day featuring an ‘It’s a Knockout’ event. warwickdc.gov.uk/events
Friday 25 & Saturday 26 August
Sundown Spectacular
Warwick Castle
End of summer party with music, street food and dance-circus performances. warwick-castle.com
Saturday 26 to Monday 28 August
Sixty Hour Shakespeare - Theatre and Acting Workshop
Jephson Gardens, Leamington Spa
Participants have just 60 hours to rehearse and perform a Shakespeare play.
60hourshakespeare.com
Saturday 26 to Monday 28 August
Knights Tournament
Kenilworth Castle, 10am to 5pm Go back in time and get closer to the action as rival knights compete in the ultimate test of strength and skill at Kenilworth Castle’s Knights’ Tournament. english-heritage.org.uk
September
Saturday 2 September
UK Proms in the Park Tour
Warwick Castle, Gates open 5.30pm A magical night of classical music within the castle walls, as the UK Proms in the Park Tour comes to Warwick. warwick-castle.com
Saturday 2 September
EcoFest
Pump Room Gardens, Leamington Spa, 10am to 5pm
Celebrate everything eco at the Pump Room Gardens. Learn more about how you can decrease your carbon footprint, increase your healthy eating and step outside more to explore beautiful local green spaces. Featuring fun ‘have-a-go’ sessions, craft activities, street food and music on the bandstand. warwickdc.gov.uk/events
Sunday 27 & Monday 28 August
Warwick Horticultural Society
Annual Show
Pageant Gardens, Warwick, 10.00-4.00pm
WHAS Annual Show of flowers and vegetables. Plant sales stall, tombola, raffle, refreshments, craft stalls and live music. whasociety.org
Monday 28 August to
Saturday 2 September
Blackadder Goes Forth
Talisman Theatre, Kenilworth, 7.30pm
Blackadder Goes Forth is the triumphant World War I sequence of this much-loved TV sitcom. talismantheatre.co.uk
Friday 9 to Sunday 18 September
Heritage Open Days
Heritage Open Days is part of England’s biggest heritage festival. Over ten days you have the opportunity to take part in a guided tour or visit buildings, gardens and places of historic interest not normally open to the public, free of charge, with around 30 venues for you to visit and explore. heritageopendays.org.uk
Friday 8 & Saturday 9 September
Moonlit Cinema
Mill Gardens, Leamington Spa, 6.30pm to 10pm
Bring a picnic, order a takeaway or treat yourself to a range of food and drink available from the vendors on site and enjoy a movie under the stars. www.moonlitcinema.co.uk
Saturday 9 & Sunday 10 September
Leamington Food Festival
Pump Room Gardens, Leamington Spa
Celebrating the very best in local and regional food and drink with an exciting line up of live entertainment.
leamingtonfoodfestival.co.uk
Sunday 10 September
Kenilworth Half Marathon
Kenilworth, 9am start
The one lap course starts and finishes at the Clock Tower and goes through Kenilworth Castle. kenilworthhalfmarathon.co.uk
Friday 15 September
Ibiza Orchestra Experience
St Nicholas Park, Warwick, 2pm
New event for 2023 - Expect to be transported back to the white isle with some of the most iconic Ibiza tracks performed by an amazing 26-piece Orchestra on stage in Warwick’s St Nicholas Park.
ibizaorchestraexperience.co.uk
Saturday 16 September
Sausage & Cider Festival
St Nicholas Park, Warwick, 9am to 5pm
A new event for Warwick that celebrates the different flavour of sausage and cider from around the world, with incredible live music from tribute acts to DJs performing.
sausageandciderfest.co.uk
To find out what’s on at the Leamington Spa
Art Gallery & Museum and Royal Pump Rooms visit warwickdc.gov.uk/royalpumprooms or warwickdc.gov.uk/royalspacentre for performances and films at the Royal Spa Centre and Town Hall.
All information correct at the time of going to press and may be subject to change. Warwick District Council cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions in this guide. For further information, tickets and updates visit warwick.gov.uk/events or the organiser websites listed.
www.warwickdc.gov.uk