Things to do in Bristol this weekend May 20-22: Foodie festival, street parties, Guinness World Record attempts, and more

It’s set to be another lovely warm weekend in the south west, despite the chance for a little rain, and luckily for you, there are plenty of events and parties to get that weekend vibe going.

Whether you fancy something a bit more chilled and nature-fuelled, or you fancy yourself a full-on party, you won’t be disappointed by what’s on offer. So, without further ado, let’s dive into some of the weekend activities that you can expect from Bristol from Friday…

Foodies Festival

What better way to spend a weekend than to eat good food, drink good beverages and bask in the sunshine? Sounds like you should pop along to Foodies Festival, held on Clifton Downs from 20th-22nd May.

Watch MasterChef Champions, Michelin-starred and top local chefs cooking their signature summer recipes in The Chefs Theatre. Great British Menu 2021 competitor Hywel Griffith joins Foodies Festivals for the first time, fresh from his Michelin-starred Beach House Restaurant in Oxwich. You’ll also find the Great British Bake Off stars sharing their best baking hints and tips live on stage.

On top of that, you can sample new wines, champagnes and cocktails in The Drinks Theatre, eat delicious street food from around the world, meet artisan producers and have fun all day with chilli eating competitions and food challenges! What’s even better is that kids can join in the fun at The Kids Cookery Theatre, too!

Wild Outdoors Day

Wild Outdoors Day, the fun family-filled event, is back at Windmill Hill City Farm this weekend. Taking place on Saturday (21st May) from 11 am-4 pm, there will be live music, food and drink, and family activities to get stuck into.

Think potion-making, snail racing, pond dipping and nature activities from BS3 Wildlife Group for the kids, and live music from RiffRaff, Bright Sounds and more, as well as BBQ and local beers for the adults. There’ll also be storytelling and a craft market, so plenty of different things to keep every member of the family happy.

Tickets can be bought now, or you can get them on the door. The usual farm animals and activities will also be there to take part in, as well.

Bristol Urban Nature Trail

Always wanted to discover more about the urban wildlife hiding amongst our city buildings and life? Your luck’s in, because this Saturday (21st May) from 10 am-1 pm, you can be guided through five hotspots for nature in the city and learn from the expertise of local RSPB members.

Starting and ending at Stanfords bookshop on Corn Street, the route is expected to take around two hours and will end in some well-deserved refreshments. It’s a free event (amazing!), but to register your interest and book your spot, please email [email protected].

Spring Party

To celebrate spring in full before summer is well and truly upon us, The Vaulted Chambers Cafe are hosting their free to attend Spring Party this Saturday (21st May). Celebrate the longer evenings at ​​this free event at the historical Castle Park site and enjoy live music from the Bristol Ukulele Band and the Steelasophical Steel Band on the Vaulted Chambers Café patio, with giant garden games to play on the front lawn as well.

The 04 Experience

Head to this one-day event hosted by Bristol 1904 Arts, aiming to show you what they can offer members and how their society works. The Performance and Art event has a jam-packed programme for Saturday (21st May) from 10 am until 5 pm.

Expect to have plenty of music to watch, as well as magic shows, art workshops, or learn about photography, bird watching, classic cars, Bristol’s walking routes and local culture - truly, there’s something for everyone going on here.

Bristol 1904 Arts is an inclusive and social society for those who are interested in music and art, and the group, which has over 200 members, meet every Wednesday, next to the Red Lodge on Park Row.

The World’s Largest Negroni

For something a little bit different this weekend, why not head to Rock Salt to watch history (hopefully!) being made as the Cotham Hill bar battles to beat a Guinness World Record. Ed Sargent and Ben Salguero who run the restaurant and bar at Rock Salt in Cotham Hill are attempting to create the world’s largest negroni, which is apparently one of Bristol’s most-loved drinks.

If successful, not only will they secure themselves a place in the Guinness Book of World Records, but they are also aiming to raise plenty of cash for StreetSmart, a charity that supports homeless people in Bristol and other major UK cities. To win, they need to beat the current record held by Sheldon Wiley and Joey Maggiore who produced a 50-litre negroni at The Sicilian Butcher Phoenix in Arizona on 24 October 2018.

Going large, and on the day of the Cotham Hill Street Party, Ed and Ben are aiming for 600 litres of negroni goodness! If you still need to be tempted to go along, Bristol Dry Gin will produce 200 litres of gin, especially for the giant negroni and will be bottling the finished drink, ready to sell.

Cotham Hill Street Party

On that note, why not take a mooch over to Cotham Hill on Sunday (22nd May) for the Cotham Hill Street Party. Expect to find plenty of laughter, people, and a good atmosphere, as well as market stalls, street food, local shops and cafes. The event is free entry and is running from 12 pm-6 am.