Upfest 2022: Colourful murals pop up around Bedminster as art and graffiti festival returns to city

Incredible murals are emerging on the streets of Bedminster as Upfest gears up to return to the city for its 15-year anniversary celebrations in Bristol.

Organisers say this year’s event will be ‘bigger and better’ than ever before, bringing together some of street art’s finest talent.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the festival weekend later this month.

When is Upfest 2022 happening?

The art celebrations will peak during the festival weekend between May 28 - May 29.

But Upfest itself started on May 5, with artists taking to the streets in Bedminster for live painting demonstrations.

During the festival weekend, guests and more than 400 artists will descend on hubs at Tobacco Factory and Ashton Gate Stadium.

And for the first year the festival will take over Greville Smyth Park as its main venue with music and live painting across the weekend.

What will be at the festival?

Alongside the talented artists there will be stalls that show off the best and brightest that Bristol has to offer.

From The Bristol Ploughmans serving traditional Ploughman’s sandwiches to Stop Ya Beefin who sell delicious vegan pies, there is something for everyone to try.

It’s not just food on offer - Graffiti Heads will be on site creating their unique hair styles and Stubborn Rhino will be serving top quality coffee.

Will there be workshops at the festival?

There will be five different workshops at Upfest 2022.

Graft is a graffiti stencil workshop where participants will create their own stencil canvas. It’s open to adults and children over the age of nine - participants need to book in advance - you can do so here. 

Acting Out is running a workshop all about performing. It’s a one hour session for tiny tots to teens - no booking required.

Posca will have a ‘doodle wall’ on which guests will be encouraged to draw on using water-based paint markers - open to all ages.

Charity NACOA will have their own section at the festival - they will have badge making, face painting and many other crafts suitable for children.

The Bristol Bordeaux Partnership have teamed up with Colourful Minds to create a craft workshop which will see guests create colourful cardboard animals and giant cardboard letters.

Important information

The festival is free to attend, so no need to buy tickets. Opening times are 11am to 8pm on both days.

There are toilets at Greville Smyth Park, Ashton Gate Stadium and The Tobacco Factory. First aid points will be located at Greville Smyth Park.

There are free water stations at the venues which can be used by guests with refillable water bottles.

What charity is the event raising money for?

Since the festival started in 2008 it has raised money for NACOA - The National Association for Children of Alcoholics.

Over the years they have raised over £100,000 and brought awareness to the charity.

NACOA was founded in Bristol in 1990 and supports children who have one or more parents who are dependent on alcohol.