Half term events in Salisbury
It’s going to be a busy half term week in Salisbury! There’s the International Arts Festival, celebratory Jubilee events and lots of family fun happening across the city. Plenty to keep young and old entertained during the school holidays!
If you are looking for things to do in Salisbury this half term, here are some ideas:
Track down the seven fun characters that are hidden around Salisbury as part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Trail. Find the QR codes in shop windows, scan them, and the characters magically come to life on your phone! They’ll then give you information about the Queen’s historic 70 year reign. Click here for a map to follow and more details of the route. The trail is ongoing until June 12th, so you can play along whenever you’re in the city.
Two of the fun characters you can find on Salisbury's Jubilee Trail
Also taking place throughout half term is Stone School at Stonehenge. You’ll get to try your hand at a range of family challenges to see if you have what it takes to survive in the Stone Age! Can you design a trap to snare some food? Would you know what food to eat and not eat? You can find out from 28th May to 5th June.
On Sunday, 29th May, Salisbury Market Place will be filled with 100 vehicles as the 2022 Salisbury Motor Show takes place. This is definitely one for all those motor enthusiasts out there, young and old.
Car enthusiasts love Salisbury Motor Show
Salisbury City Council’s popular Sports Roadshows will return this half term. Kids aged 7 to 14 will get the chance to try a range of sports including football, hockey, basketball, cricket and tchoukball. There will be sessions:
- 30th May at Churchill Gardens
- 31st May on Bemerton Heath
- 1st June at Harnham Recreation Ground
No need to book, just turn and play! Get the full details here.
The family will be able to show off their green fingers at an event in Salisbury's Victoria Park on 1st June. To celebrate National Children's Gardening Week, Salisbury City Council will host a day of free activities called Fun in the Park. There will be a range of gardening themed workshops, face painting, info stands - and lots of family fun!
On 2nd June, the one-day music festival Live@TheFarm returns to River Bourne Community Farm. There will be plenty of great live music for the whole family to enjoy, plus food stands, drinks and a bouncy castle!
If you want to get involved in more Jubilee celebrations, there’s a special Garden Party taking place on both the 4th and 5th of June in Salisbury Cathedral Close. There will be entertainment, music, games, food and stalls to enjoy. Find more details here.
Plus, on 5th June, there’s also a big party in the Market Place and Guildhall Square. The Salisbury Platinum Jubilee Celebration will bring together live entertainment from local musicians, stalls from local artisans, a Spitfire replica and lots more!
For a full rundown of Jubilee events in Salisbury click here
Salisbury Arts Festival 2019 (Photo Ash Mills)
Salisbury International Arts Festival has a whole host of entertaining events throughout half term week.
The family programme gets underway on 28th May with Underwater, a magical dance piece for babies and their grown-ups. There’s also Marmalade, which fuses circus, music, and dance in a performance that can be enjoyed by tots as young as two. Meanwhile, Bemerton Beach Party will create a holiday vibe with street theatre, seaside sports and crafts, tasty treats and a fun run.
If you’d like something more interactive, definitely try Club Origami on 30th May. It’s an immersive and interactive dance show, that enables you to make some of your own paper creations.
Why not invite the family to a unique dance experience on top of the Old George Mall car park! SCRUM is an electrifying show of hip-hop and contemporary dance. It’s a captivating soundtrack suitable for all ages. Don’t miss it on 30th May.
You also won't want to miss City Encounters which returns on both 2nd and 3rd June, with free live street theatre and family-fun throughout the city. We have a full rundown of the programme, and where and when to see the entertainment, here.
City Encounters
There is plenty going on for young book lovers during the festival too. The Rocketship Bookshop will be hosting author talks and signings throughout half term, with Emma Reynolds and Emma Caroll just two of those you won’t want to miss.
With over 200 events, there is a lot more going on at the Salisbury Arts Festival this year. You can find the full programme list by clicking here.
And, if you have an event you’d like Experience Salisbury to promote, submit details here.