12 Super Exciting Things to Look Forward to in Gloucester in 2024
January-February
Gloucester Food Dock – this much anticipated foodie haven has now started opening its doors, located in Victoria Basin. The openings start with new brewhouse Hop Kettle in October, followed swiftly by Wholly Gelato, bringing artisan gelato, desserts and shakes using milk from their cows on the family farm just three miles from Food Dock. Then Bella Mia opened, producing delicious authentic Italian pizza, Hetty’s Place offers freshly cooked brunch, delicious coffee, and Hetty’s indulgent award-winning brownies, while Our House is the perfect place to snack on a charcuterie board whilst you get stuck into your new favourite bottle of wine, discover a cracking Spanish lager or pop a bottle of prosecco. This winter truly is going be the season for foodies, with loads more eateries and drinkeries opening at Food Dock. For all the news on openings, keep your eye on their website HERE.
March
Museum of Gloucester - once again, the Museum has teamed up the Royal Photographic Society (RPS) to bring their renowned International Photography Exhibition (IPE) 164 to Gloucester in March 2024. Over 8,000 images were entered by 3,944 photographers from 114 countries, making this a record-breaking year for the most countries engaged with in an open call to the competition. A total of 96 eye-popping works by 46 incredible photographers will be on display in the Museum from 2 March until 2 June 2024.
Gloucester Guildhall - On Saturday 30 March, get on down to Underground Festival. Underground is a multi-venue festival of new music, across the Guildhall, Blackfriars Priory, and The Music Works studios. Previous headliners have included Bastille, Lower Than Atlantis, Frank Carter, Mallory Knox, Holding Absence and loads more, since the festival started in 2009. The 2024 line-up features the finest new artists, and tomorrow's festival headliners. Supported by Arts Council funding, the festival will operate a 'Pay What You Choose’ ticket price so everyone can access it.
April
Gloucester Cathedral – Squeaking in just before April, Easter Sunday falls on 31 March this year, and as always, all are warmly welcomed to join Gloucester Cathedral during Holy Week and Easter. There will be special services throughout Holy Week, as well as plenty of fun, family-friendly activities to coincide with the Easter Holidays.
Gloucester History Festival - Friday 12 April – Sunday 14 April sees the return of the History Festival with their Spring Weekend. Featuring live talks with famous faces at the beautiful Blackfriars Priory. After the sell-out success of the first Spring Weekend in 2023, 2024’s is packed with twenty incredible events featuring world-famous speakers including Philippa Langley, Sathnam Sanghera, Dan Jones, Kavita Puri and many more. The Gloucester History Festival is spearheaded by Festival President Janina Ramirez and supported by Patrons Michael Wood and David Olusoga. Mark the dates in your diary now, and Sign Up HERE to be first to hear the full line up when it is announced in February.
May
Gloucester Tall Ships – we are thrilled to officially confirm that the Tall Ships Festival is returning to the city in May 2024. Tickets will go on sale soon, and we expect them to go very quickly, so make sure you sign up at gloucestertallships.co.uk now so you are first in line when they are released. What’s more, if you sign up before the 24 January, you could be in with a chance to win your Tall Ships tickets for free!
June
Museum of Gloucester – (Saturday 29 June until 6 October) experience the history of the world told in LEGO®, with their big summer exhibition – Brick History! Created by acclaimed LEGO® artist Warren Elsemore and his team of talented designers, the exhibition will dive into pivotal moments in world history. See moments including the extinction of the Dinosaurs and the Battle of Hastings, key figures from Mozart to Martin Luther King and scientific discoveries from the Big Bang to DNA, and loads more, all wrought in our favourite bricks! Sign up to the Museum’s mailing list to hear first when tickets go on sale.
August
Gloucester Goes Retro - It wouldn’t be August without one of the highlights of Gloucester’s Festival Calendar, the biggest and best classic car show in the West. The streets of the city and the Docks are jam packed with everything vintage, including gleaming cars, fabulous fashion, family activities and more swing music than you can shake a hip at. More details to be announced soon.
September
Gloucester Day – (7 September) Originally the day of celebration to mark the lifting of the siege of Gloucester in 1643, it now celebrates the city’s communities. Expect the city centre to be bursting with stalls, stands, lively performances, and all the pomp and ceremony of the traditional Gloucester Day parade.
Gloucester History Festival – (Saturday 14 to Sunday 22 September 2024) The Autumn Festival really is one not to be missed. Join over one hundred of Britain’s top historians and authors for over two hundred events spanning our ancient city, including the unique tradition of Gloucester Day, as well as Heritage Open Days across our most interesting historic sites. The Blackfriars Talks take place for 10 days at Blackfriars Priory from. Full programme to be announced in July.
Pride Day 2024 – (Saturday 14 September) Join Pride in Gloucestershire for an incredible event promises to be a beacon of celebration and advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community in our county. Kicking off with a march through the city, followed by a jam-packed day of celebration in Gloucester Park, this is the culmination of the county-wide tour proudly celebrating inclusivity.
November-December
Lantern Procession and Tree of Light – It may still be Christmas 2023, but that doesn’t stop us thinking about next year’s festivities! Gloucester is an amazing place to visit during the run-up to Christmas, bursting with winter markets, beautiful illuminations, floating sleigh rides, amazing events and experiences, visits from Santa, crafting workshops, Christmas parties, and more. As usual, we will kick off the festivities in Mid-November with the magical Lantern Procession and Tree of Light Switch-on in Kings Square.
Cllr Andrew Lewis, Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure at Gloucester City Council, said: “Festivals and Events are the most amazing way to bring our communities together, and show visitors to our city who we are. Nowhere does this better than Gloucester. Our line-up for 2024 is already bigger and better than ever, so no matter your interest, we have an event you will enjoy.”
To ensure you don’t miss a thing, as more events are added to the city’s Event’s Calendar, make sure you sign up to the Visit Gloucester Newsletter HERE and bookmark visitgloucester.co.uk.