As soon as the weather starts to turn a little bit nicer in the historic town of Stratford upon Avon it springs into life (no pun intended). Stratford offers wide variety of events and festivals and I have picked out the top 18. These are not necessarily base on the amount of people that attend but on the quality of entertainment offered. All of the events listed below are in Stratford upon Avon or very close buy and they are listed in no particular order.o Stratford upon Avon and English Music Festival – May – musical festival catering for all styles of music
o Shakespeare’s Birthday Concert -April -held at the Civic Hall, an annual celebration of Shakespeare’s
birthday
o Warwick Folk Festival – held in July at nearby Warwick
o Big Sheep Show – June – a farming event held at nearby Wilmcote
o Stratford Regatta – family event held in June for the last 100 years or so on the banks of the River Avon
o Poetry Festival – late summer
o Three Counties Show – June – held at the Malvern Showground, a little further out of Stratford
o Charity Raft Race – late June – down the weirs of the River Avon!
o Stratford upon Avon International Flute Festival – late summer for around a fortnight
o Bulldog Bash – August – rock and heavy metal at the Raceway
o CAMRA Harbury Beer Festival – late August – in the nearby village of Harbury
o Apple Week – late October to early November, held at Mary Arden’s Farm
o Shakespeare Marathon – April – has up to 1500 runners all competing through the streets of historic Stratford
o Jousting Weekends – various weekends throughout the summer months – held at Warwick Castle
o Sealed Knot Living History Weekend – June – Civil War re-enactments
o Leamington Peace Festival – held in neighbouring Leamington Spa on the closest weekend to the summer solstice
o Last Night of the Proms – classical music held at the Civic Hall in late June
o Classic Car and Transport Show – late June -held in nearby AlcesterWhatever your hobbies and interests it is not hard to find something to entertain you in Stratford upon Avon. This is by no means an exhaustive list so if you have more specialised interests then further digging could unearth a treasure of an event that I have never come across. So pack up your bags, book a room somewhere, gather the family together and come and visit us in historic Stratford upon Avon.