With everything from delicious food to top entertainment and immersive activities, there's a whole host of annual events for the whole family to enjoy in Gloucestershire, from weekend music festivals to country shows.
SoGlos rounds up 15 of the best taking place across the county in 2025 — from world-renowned attractions to the locally loved traditions offering something for everyone.
The Royal International Air Tattoo in the Cotswolds
Combining thrills in the air with static displays of hundreds of aircraft on the ground, The Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford is the world's biggest military airshow, with attractions and areas for people of all ages to enjoy.
Taking place over three days from Friday 18 to Sunday 20 July 2025, aside from the aircraft, there's science and tech areas, shopping, food and drink and much more to explore, along with a family hospitality enclosure offering things like pilot meet-and-greets and additional comfort — plus under 18s go free with a ticket holding adult!
Wychwood Festival in Cheltenham
Bringing recognisable names in music and comedy together with a wide range of performances and activities for kids, Wychwood Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse prides itself on its family appeal.
Headliners for this year's festival, taking place from Friday 30 May to Sunday 1 June 2025, include 90s Britpop favourites Shed Seven and James, while for the younger ones there's everything from music, dance and fitness workshops, to arts and crafts, circus skills, storytelling and more.
Giffords Circus in Stroud and the Cotswolds
With dates throughout 2025 at multiple locations in Gloucestershire, Giffords Circus brings a 'dazzling' show combining music, poetry and performing arts that's a must-see for families.
This year, Giffords is touring its 25th anniversary show Laguna Bay, transporting audiences to 1950s America for an immersive performance featuring awe-inspiring acrobats, magicians and musicians — and plenty of silliness from Gloucestershire's favourite clown, Tweedy — while it's also bringing its travelling restaurant Circus Sauce, serving up a 'rustic extravagant inspired' three-course feast for afterwards, with casual food options available, too.
The Royal Three Counties Show in Malvern
A celebration of farming, food and the countryside in Gloucestershire, Worcestershire and Herefordshire, The Royal Three Counties Show just over the border in Malvern is a great day out for the whole family.
With thrilling entertainment including motocross, freefall parachuting and timbersports; delicious food and drink from local producers and plenty of family activities including the chance to pet friendly farm animals, this year's show takes place from Friday 13 to Sunday 15 June 2025 — with a separate just-for-kids event, CountryTastic, on Thursday 17 April 2025, too.
Cheltenham Science Festival in Cheltenham
From famous physicists and astronauts to TikTok stars, Cheltenham Science Festival features a range of talks, experiments and activities, sure to spark the interest of adults and children alike.
Along with a stellar lineup of guests for 2025, the festival — taking place from Tuesday 3 to Sunday 8 June 2025 — also has three free interactive zones; The Arcade, MakerShack and The Discover Zone, to explore along with brand-new stage Jetstream, giving the next generation of scientists a chance to get hands on with crafty activities and more.
Big Feastival in the Cotswolds
Hosted by Blur's Alex James on his Cotswolds farm, families can expect an impressive line-up of music, alfresco feasting, top chefs, cooking demonstrations and even a vintage fairground at Big Feastival over August bank holiday weekend.
With the likes of Nelly Furtado and Faithless appearing on the main stage this year, there's plenty for little festival-goers to enjoy, too, from wild workshops, crafting and play, to a farmyard circus, meet-and-greets with some of their favourite characters and the chance to interact with animals from Adam Henson's Cotswold Farm Park.
Tewkesbury Medieval Festival in Tewkesbury
Step back in time with re-enactments, living history displays, a medieval market and activities for kids at Tewkesbury Medieval Festival on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 July 2025.
Hear the clanging of swords in a full re-enactment of the Battle of Tewkesbury, before giving little history buffs a taste of life in ye olde England with period arts and crafts sessions in the children's activity area.
Forest Showcase Food Festival in the Forest of Dean
Bringing together some of the area's best food producers surrounded by beautiful woodland at The Speech House, Forest Showcase Food Festival has grown into one of the Forest of Dean's most anticipated annual events.
There's something for everyone at the festival — which takes place in the spring and autumn on Sunday 25 May and Sunday 5 October 2025 — with markets, hot food stalls, a cookery theatre, an entertainment arena featuring everything from live music to gardening and for the little ones, there's a vibrant circus show and arts workshops, including making your own vegetable creature!
Cheltenham Jazz Festival in Cheltenham
Along with a star studded lineup of world-renowned jazz and jazz-influenced artists, Cheltenham Jazz Festival brings entertainment for the whole family to town, with interactive events for kids, too.
The biggest names at this year's festival, running from Wednesday 30 April to Monday 5 May 2025, include the likes of Jools Holland, Beverley Knight and The Who's Roger Daltrey, with children's events in the family tent including games, 'toe-tapping' tunes, musical theatre and more.
Frampton Country Fair in Frampton on Severn
Traditional countryside demonstrations, trade stands selling locally produced food and drink and entertainment for all ages meet at 'one of the UK's last traditional country fairs' at Frampton Court Estate.
Taking place on Sunday 14 September 2025, there's an array of fun to be found in the main ring; country attractions like shooting and demonstrations of seldom seen crafts skills; and entertainers for all ages dotted around the estate, from Punch and Judy to live music — with a host of dog events for your four-legged family members, too!
Cirencester History Festival in Cirencester
Having hosted fascinating talks from big name historians and entertainers at its inaugural cross-town event last year, Cirencester History Festival is returning in 2025 with its full programme of history and Halloween-themed events for kids.
With last year's headliners including This Country star Charlie Cooper and 'rockstar' mythologist Natalie Haynes, grown-ups can expect another round of thought-provoking events at this year's festival, running from Saturday 25 October to Sunday 2 November 2025 — while for children there'll be a range of seasonal activities including crafts and performing arts at venues such as New Brewery Arts and the Barn Theatre.
Cotswold Show and Food Festival in Cirencester
Set in the heart of Cirencester Park, Cotswold Show and Food Festival attracts thousands of visitors each year with a wide of variety of attractions and entertainment for the whole family.
Along with its impressive array of locally produced food and drink, there's shopping, attractions including horse riding displays and dog shows in its main arena, farm animals and activities for kids, from clay pigeon shooting to go karting, tree climbing and inflatables, with this year's event taking place on Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 June 2025.
Gloucestershire Vintage & Country Extravaganza in South Cerney
Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2025, Gloucestershire Vintage & Country Extravaganza is 'one of the UK’s leading' heritage vehicle festivals, drawing thousands of visitors to its home at South Cerney Airfield near Cirencester.
Taking place from Friday 1 to Sunday 3 August 2025, there are thousands of attractions to enjoy at this year's show, with vintage motors, live music, retro fashion shows, free dance lessons and interactive vintage entertainment along with a popular animal and countryside arena — with vintage fairground attractions, miniature steam locomotive rides and a whole lot more for younger visitors, too.
Cheltenham Literature Festival in Cheltenham
With talks from a range of world-renowned authors from award winners to celebrities, there's an event for everyone at Cheltenham Literature Festival, with a programme catering for readers of all ages.
While the lineup for the 2025 festival, taking place from Friday 10 to Saturday 19 October 2025, is yet to be announced, adults and young people can expect plenty of variety at the festival village and around town — and for the little ones, there's storytelling with authors of their favourite books along with interactive events and arts and crafts workshops, too.
Stroud Festival of Food and Drink in Stroud
Jam packed with cookery demos and food talks, live music, children's entertainment, artisan produce and a wide range of food trucks and bars, Stroud Festival of Food and Drink is one of the town's best annual events for families.
Taking place across town venues including The Sub Rooms and Lansdown Hall from Friday 16 to Sunday 18 May 2025, events include demonstrations and talks from famous foodies and local chefs; while there's also a dedicated children's area in Bank Gardens, with face painting, 'silly science', arts and crafts and more to keep the younger ones entertained.
