Bristol things to do for Jubilee weekend June 2-5: Music festivals, high tea and bumper bank holiday events

It’s the middle of May half-term, it’s Bank Holiday weekend and it’s a whole new Bank Holiday in celebration of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, too. Unsurprisingly, it means there is absolutely loads on in Bristol to get up to for this long weekend.

Whether you fancy getting into the Jubilee and Royal spirit, or you fancy doing something completely different such as scouring a kilo sale or heading to a gin launch, there really is something for everyone. Let’s take a look at what you can expect…

Love Saves the Day

Running from 2-3 May this year, Love Saves the Day is taking place in Ashton Court for the very first time and celebrating its 10 year anniversary, too.

Unsurprisingly, it’s set to be their most ambitious event to date, so you can expect bigger lineups, increased production, and even more stages. This year, the line-up shows that the festival wil be ​​hosting the likes of Chase & Status (live), Bicep (live), Caroline Polachek, Folamour, Tems, Grove and many more.

Royal Afternoon Tea

There are plenty of foodie celebrations to get your teeth stuck into this weekend in celebration of the Queen’s Jubilee, one of which is taking place at The Bristol.

Join The Bristol on 2-5 June to enjoy a limited edition Jubilee Afternoon Tea where you can indulge in a selection of classic finger sandwiches, scones with jam and Cornish clotted cream and delectable miniature cakes. In true royal style, top it off with a complimentary glass of Rathfinny English Sparkling Wine.

Crafty Jubilee at Bristol Cathedral

Fancy getting involved in something crafty for the Jubilee weekend? Luckily for you, Bristol Cathedral is hosting a Crafty Jubilee event, where you can glue, stick, craft and play to your hearts content. Perfect for little ones, the sessions are run on a Pay What You Think basis, to encourage people from all walks of life to get involved this half term.

20th Anniversary Family Fun Day at Hengrove Play Park

The incredibly popular Hengrove Play Park is celebrating its big 20th anniversary this year, so the Jubilee weekend is playing host to a Family Fun Day to celebrate.

Taking place on 1 June from 11:30am to 3:30pm, there will be an entertainment stage hosting all sorts of different things such as puppet shows, bubble artists, and magic shows throughout the day. There will also be a storytelling corner in the amphitheatre and a face painting truck by the park entrance, as well.

Platinum Jubilee High Tea

Head to No.4 Clifton Village for a Platinum Jubilee High Tea to celebrate the event in the same style as the Queen herself. For £20 per person, the walled garden will be set up as a quintessentially British, luxury eating space and you can dig into finger sandwiches, scones and all sorts of other royal British treats.

Bank Holiday Weekend at Propyard

Propyard has made a name for itself for its brilliant hosting of bank holiday events, and this year’s Jubilee weekend will be no different. Propyard have a long weekend of events in store and are throwing a part fit for a Queen.

The Feeder Road food, drinks and music venue will be playing host to a family edition of its popular Courtyard Social, a day of funk and soul in the sunshine from DJ royalty Jazzie B and a live drag show from Bristol’s best queens.

Entry for each event is free but visitors are encouraged to book a spot on Skiddle to guarantee entry. Thursday and Friday are family-friendly whereas Saturday is strictly over 18s only.

Bedminster Beer Trail

A brand new event for beer lovers across Bristol to head ‘south of the river’ and get a taste for the incredible scene that BS3 has to offer and satisfy their taste buds over the Platinum Jubilee, bank holiday weekend comes in the form of the Bedminster Beer Trail.

During the four-day nationwide break, in the heart of Bedminster, beer enthusiasts will be able to follow a map of 12 venues across North and East Street and sample each venue’s specialty beer, selected specially for the celebration, and get a stamp to mark off each venue.

Fit for a Queen at The Ivy

The Ivy is already known as one of the poshest establishments in Bristol, so what better place to celebrate the Royal Jubilee than there? In fact, Her Majesty famously dined at the original London quintessential celebrity favourite The Ivy and now you can too.

In celebration of the historic event, The Ivy Clifton Brasserie has launched a limited edition menu of royal-themed cocktails, a special dessert and an afternoon tea fit for a queen.

If you visit between 12-3pm on 2-5th June, you will also have the opportunity to greet and take photographs with the "Queen’s Guards", who will stand to attention at the entrance to the restaurant.

Jubilee Kilo Sale at Bookbarn

Something a little different from the usual food and drink-fuelled party events of the bank holiday weekend, the Jubilee Kilo Sale at Bookbarn on the Wells Road will allow you to scour the shop all day Thursday to Sunday, where they’ll be selling hundreds of thousands of books at just £2 per kilo. For those wanting some refreshments to fuel the shopping, the cafe will be open too.

Jubilee Weekend at Wiper and True

Another beer-y event to keep you cheery this long weekend, Wiper and True are hosting a Jubilee Weekend event at their taproom. You can expect lots of freshly brewed Bristol beer, as well as street food from Taco Station as well. It’s also child-friendly and dog-friendly, so a good option for the whole family.

525 Anniversary Weekend Harbour Trips with The Matthew

This year, May 2022 marks the 525th anniversary of the departure of the original Matthew from Bristol in 1497, and the 25th anniversary of the departure of the replica Matthew from Bristol in 1997, exactly 500 years later.

Naturally, the Matthew of Bristol Trust has a whole host of activities and events planned this weekend to celebrate the incredible feat. There will be 45-50 minute trips around the harbour, as well as a taste of Tudor Bristol with music and food onboard.

Busking on the Bus

An exciting new event for the Jubilee Weekend, Busking on the Bus is brought to Bristol by Bristol Ensemble and is an exciting and educational music project, celebrating the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

Busking on the Bus will bring professional classical music performances to communities and children all over Bristol, with a focus on reaching people in areas that may not usually have the opportunity to engage with classical music.

Musicians from the Bristol Ensemble will tour the city on an open top bus on Friday 3rd June, performing short concerts in communities across the city – from Lawrence Weston to Lawrence Hill, Knowle West and Hartcliffe – with a few other stops on the way.

Clifton Platinum Fest

If you take a wander down to The Mall in Clifton this weekend on 3 June from 1pm, you’ll find Clifton Platinum Fest, with live bands such as The Roosters and The Firebirds. You’ll also find more on the King’s Road from 2pm-10:30pm where there is more live music, food stalls and lots of other activities taking place.

Psychopomp Summer Gin Launch

Psychopomp Microdistillery on St Michael’s Hill are celebrating their brand new Summer seasonal gin recipe ‘Ana’ on 4th June.

Seats will open at 6pm, and they will serve everyone’s G&T’s then host a tasting of the new recipe, explaining the botanicals and the inspiration behind it. After this, the bar will open and you can stay on for another ‘Ana’ or try another of the house G&T’s.

ShangrilART Market

Another event that’s a bit different to the usual bank holiday weekend activities, the ShangrilART Market showcases Bristol’s diverse creative community, with unique handmade items and prints for sale, alongside affordable artworks from ShangrilART.

As it is hosted at Lost Horizon HQ, The Lost Horizon bar will also be open, providing vibes, tunes and a tasty cocktail and coffee selection.

The Big Jubilee Lunch

The Big Jubilee Lunch will be taking place on College Green on Sunday 5th June and will include live music (curated by St George’s Bristol), food and family-friendly games and activities.

As a Big Lunch event, it wants to play a part in ending food poverty in the city and so it will be asking for donations for local food charities.

Scruffs Dog Show

The Ostrich will be playing host to Scruffs Dog Show this weekend on Sunday 5th June. Raising money for Bristol Animal Rescue Centre, the event will have stalls to stock up on all your dog treats including dog beer in the form of puppy pilsner! They’ll also have face painting for humans and a photo booth to snap a picture of favourite furry child.

That’s not to mention the different events and classes, from the weird to the wonderful, that you can enter your canine friend into. The event will take place from 12-6pm and is free to enter.