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Making plans for 2018? Hampshire has a jammed pack programme of events throughout the year, from the bi-annual Farnborough International Airshow, a foodie favourite the Watercress Festival to high speed car racing at Thruxton’s British Touring Cars Championship. You’ll be sure to find an event in Hampshire to suit all interests and ages this year. Below you’ll find some of the best Hampshire events this year that are not to be missed.
When the festive season is but a distant memory, the cold nights of winter can feel bleak and long. What better way to cast aside the darkness than to brighten up your evenings with some fun nights out, sampling the best cocktails Winchester has to offer? Across the city, cafes, bars, restaurants and shops will be getting into the swing of things by offering discounted signature cocktails and hosting special events and parties.
Whether you are a runner or a spectator the ABP Southampton Marathon route is an exciting mix of coast, city and parks. This route is predominantly flat, perfect for a debut marathon and is a 2 lapped route, which means you have twice the fun and you know what’s coming up. The marathon route is spectator friendly with lots of activities, cafes and restaurants to explore.
Love fast cars? British Touring Car racing makes its annual visit to the fastest circuit in the UK, Truxton. It's the toughest race of the year for the flagship championship. They even bring special tyres to cope with the demands of the high speed circuit. Enjoy two days of track action and see the stars of BTCC race wheel to wheel.
Are you a foodie? This event is for you. This nationally acclaimed annual festival celebrates all things watercress. On the third Sunday of May each year, this beautiful market town of Alresford becomes the site of a huge street festival. Over 80 stalls showcase the very best local food and drink producers.
From the same creators as Bestival, Common People returns to Southampton for another year with some of the newest and well known acts in the country. Celebrating music, arts and community in the heart of the city, the festival wonderland will take place on Southampton Common on spring bank holiday weekend.
A unique kitesurfing festival held on Hayling Island, bringing the kitesurfing community together for one fantastic weekend of kiting, music, fundraising and record breaking. This event is free to attend and is the biggest kitesurfing and live music event of the year in the UK!
This month long event celebrates the finest food and drink produced in Hampshire. Throughout July local farms, producers, pubs, restaurants and hotels will hold over 60 food and farming events across the county from distilleries tours, vineyards tastings and brewery tours to meeting buffalo. There is something for everyone.
Why not make your visit to Hampshire longer? Book accommodation and plan a visit to some of Hampshire’s amazing attractions.
This annual agricultural show is held for three days at the end of July in the New Forest National Park. The show is a great family day out with much to do, learn and see. Enjoy international show jumping, crafts, antiques, art, show ring displays, show gardens, flowers, vegetables, huge variety of food & drink available, local produce, animals galore and over 600 trade strands.
Taking place every two years, the Farnborough International Airshow is one of the most iconic events in Hampshire, if not the world. The show features a jam-packed flying display both on the ground and in the air. Aerobatic display teams, wing walkers, fast jets, military giants, civil airliners and historic aircraft will grace the skies over Farnborough to celebrate the Pioneers of the Sky.
Want to get up close with some of the world’s most exclusive and desirable motors? This supercar weekend is a must for all supercar enthusiasts. See displays and hear their distinctive engine notes as they unleash their horsepower on demonstration runs.
See kites like you have never seen them before! This specular event will see a hundred invited kite fliers from 4 continents across the world with colourful demonstrations of kites including swarms of snakes, frogs, lizards, whales, jesters, fish, salamanders and much more. Alongside this amazing flying display there will be a host of other activities to meet a family’s needs. These will include a craft tent, stalls, free children’s kite workshop and children's rides along with local amusements.
Be part of one of the Ageas Bowl’s biggest ever cricket matches. The forth test between England and India comes to the home of Hampshire Cricket. Tickets are now on sale.
This is the biggest marine event on the South Coast. Whether you're an expert or only just finding your sea legs, Southampton Boat Show is not to be missed. The show offers a fun-filled, action-packed day out, for families or individuals old and young!
Winchester Cathedral Flower Festival returns in 2018 with a stunning array of flower arrangements inspired by the magnificent 12th-century Winchester Bible. Artistic Director Angela Turner (Chelsea Flower Show Gold Medal Winner), Wessex and Jersey NAFAS teams and members of the Cathedral flower arrangers will fill the Cathedral with spectacular and fragrant floral displays evoking the exquisitely illuminated pages of this medieval masterpiece.
What adventured and challenges will you be taking on during 2018? Share you photos with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using #VisitHampshire.
Hampshire has a jammed pack programme of events and activities during 2018. See our full guide to what’s on.
Make your visit to Hampshire longer by booking accommodation. Choose from top hotels, cosy cottages, traditional break and breakfasts, rural campsites or cool glamping sites.
