There is a lot going on in Cheltenham during the month of July! It is one of the busiest months in the calendar with a number of fantastic events for art lovers, foodies, music aficionados and sports fans. Here are some of the best events happening in Cheltenham in July.
Enjoy World Class Art and Theatre
Cheltenham Art in the Park continues during the month of July, featuring works from more than 100 artists in various styles. The event runs throughout the month and can be enjoyed Sunday 28 June to Saturday 4 July; Sunday 5 to Saturday 11 July; and Sunday 12 to Sunday 19 July. It is the 46th year that this free event has run and it will held in Cheltenham’s beautiful Imperial Gardens.
Cheltenham is set to enjoy an adaptation of the popular broadway musical “Chess”, which will be performed at the Bacon Theatre from Wednesday 8 to Saturday 11 July. The music for Chess was written by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus from ABBA, with lyrics written by academy award winner Tim Rice. The story is set during the 1970s with American and Soviet Union chess players battling it out on the chess board and vying to win the attention of a beautiful lady.
The Rain or Shine Theatre Company are bringing Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” to Cheltenham. The play will be performed in the Everyman Theatre’s studio between Monday 6 July to Wednesday 8 July. The company has been touring the play throughout the United Kingdom and receiving great reviews!
The Bacon Theatre’s Tuckwell Amphitheatre will be the venue for Cheltenham’s annual Open-Air Theatre Festival, running from Friday 17 to Friday 31 July. There will be a series of performances over the 14 days including: “Hamlet”, “When Harry Met Sally”, “The Grand Budapest Hotel”, “Treasure Island” and “My Pet Monster and Me”. The event is a fantastic day out for families.
Sudeley Castle will host an Alice in Wonderland event on 26 July. The event marks the 150th anniversary of the release of the book. A fantastic day out for the family, the event will feature access to the garden maze, Alice in Wonderland characters and a tea-cup ride!
A performance of the Twelfth Night will take place at the Cowley Manor on Wednesday 29 July. This is an outdoor event with BBQ food and drinks.
Food Lovers Get Ready to Feast!
If you are a foodie, you will enjoy Tasty Tuesday at the Whole Foods Market in Cheltenham. For only £5 you get to taste five delicious dishes expertly paired with wine. This is a monthly event and will be held on Tuesday 14 July.
There is an Alfresco Cocktail Dinner at Hotel du Vin on Friday 17 July. The dinner features the best local seasonal produce, enjoyed outdoors. The event includes a carefully selected 5-course menu paired with 4 cocktails. It kicks off at 7.30pm.
The Cotswold Beer Festival is happening between Friday 17 and Sunday 19 July. This is the 39th annual beer festival and this year it will feature 90 ales (30 from local brewers) and 20 local ciders. The festival will also feature live music and great food. It happens at the Postlip Tithe Barn, near Winchcombe.
Get Your Dancing Shoes On!
Are you ready to get your groove on and shake your tail feather? The Joilet Blues Band will be performing on Saturday 4 July at the Sandford Parks Lido. Their set contains material by well known blues artists including the Blue Brothers. Continuing on with the American theme, the Lido cafe will be offering a range of American foods including steak burgers, milkshakes and coke floats. An on-site bar is available for the adults to enjoy.
For music fans who like their music a bit louder, the 2000trees Music Festival runs from Thursday 9 to Saturday 11 July in Cheltenham. This is an 5000-capacity outdoor festival that runs for 3 days and features more than 80 musical acts. Some of the bands attending this years festival include Deaf Haven, Alkaline Trio, The Subways and We Are The Ocean.
The Cheltenham Music Festival can be enjoyed at from Tuesday 30 June to Saturday 11 July. The festival features a huge variety of classical and modern music in a number of beautiful locations around Cheltenham. Performances include the BBC Concert Orchestra performing pieces by Gershwin & Stravinsky, a live performance of the music from Hitchcock’s Psycho in conjunction with the film, an orchestral performance of Rachmaninov’s second symphony and a performance of Mahler’s third symphony featuring mezzo soprano Sarah Connolly.
For Sport Lovers
For a great day out with the family, try the Brewin Dolphin Cheltenham Cricket Festival, which takes place at the Cheltenham College between Wednesday 8 July and Sunday 19 July. The festival features a number of matches including two NatWest T20 Blast matches (Gloucestershire vs Kent and Gloucestershire vs Hampshire). There will also be some free cricket coaching for the youngsters to learn a few tricks. On Thursday 9 July the festival will have a ladies day that includes fashion displays and various stalls with beauty products.
If you have an athletically gifted child, they may be interested in the Pied Piper Junior Aquathlon held on Saturday 11 July in Cheltenham. The event raises money for two charities and there are prizes for the kids.
If you would like to test your endurance, there is a Night Swim Event at Sanford Parks Lido on Friday 24 July. The event is for swimmers and teams to see how far they can swim in a 12 hour period.
If You Just Want to Relax
For people looking to rid themselves of some stress, professional masseuse Jo Judd will be treating visitors to the £10 massages at the Whole Food Market in Cheltenham. The massages will be on offer every Thursday throughout the month.
There is plenty to do in Cheltenham during July, so get out there and have fun!