Nottingham August events — 10 of the best things to do this month
Festivals, activities, family-friendly fun, and more...
One of the busiest times of year is well underway – and there are plenty of August events to make the most out of this around Nottingham.
I have curated the best of these around the city and county. From cricket to games and from theatre to festivals, there really is something for all ages. Uniqueness, seasonality, and value for money have all played into my curation.
These summer events are all excellent things to do around Nottingham. For more guides and events, subscribe to The Notts Edit to receive our articles in your inbox for free.
10 of the best events around Nottingham this August
By Eve Smallman
1. The Hundred
When: Until August 10
Where: Trent Bridge, West Bridgford
How much: From £44pp adult, £5pp child
For those who like their sport fast-paced, The Hundred is a brilliantly dynamic version of cricket. Each team bats and bowls for just 100 balls an innings, making matches shorter and packed with big moments. The Trent Rockets has a stellar squad, including Nottinghamshire’s Ben Duckett and the legendary Nat Sciver-Brunt. Alongside the cricket, expect live music from local acts and family entertainment both on and off the field. After finishing second in the men’s competition and fourth in the women’s last year, expectations are high for another exciting tournament.
Do if: You’d like to introduce yourself or someone else to cricket – this is arguably the most accessible format.
2. Summer of Play
When: Until September 6
Where: Clumber Park, Worksop
How much: Free event included in admission, £6.50pp adult, £3.25pp child
Entertain little ones at the beautiful Clumber Park, which has plenty to entertain over the summer holidays, with six play zones to suit every age and every interest. The active zone will have sport, the nature zone will have elements to explore, the imagination stage will have theatre, and the loose parts zone will have pieces to spark creativity. This year also sees the all-new Pokémon area, with activities inspired by the game, such as the floor is lava. Plus, workshops such as yoga, circus, and art will take place.
Do if: You have children of varying ages, and are looking for a day out that will entertain them all.
3. D.H. Lawrence Festival
When: Until September 13
Where: Various venues across Eastwood and the wider county
How much: Mostly free, some ticketed
Championing Eastwood’s famous author – known for books such as Lady Chatterley’s Lover – this festival takes place across the area and spans music, literature, heritage, visual arts, and community. Highlights this month include the Wellbeing Walk in Eastwood (August 4, starts at the D.H, Lawrence Birthplace Museum, free entry), the Book Folding Workshop (August 13, Pretties in the Wood, £5pp), and Antique Auction in the Garden (August 20, D.H. Lawrence Birthplace Museum, free entry) Be sure to check out the full programme of events.
Do if: You’re looking for a family-friendly event that will add both fun and education to the summer holidays.
4. Robin Hood Festival
When: August 1-2, 8-9, and 29-31
Where: Sherwood Forest, Edwinstowe
How much: Free entry, £15 per vehicle parking
Celebrating its 40th anniversary, the Robin Hood Festival is returning to the iconic Sherwood Forest with spectacular arena shows, performances and displays for all ages, inspired by Robin Hood and his Merry Men. Expect medieval jousting, combat demonstrations, drama, comedy, storytelling, music and more. Events take place across three weekends in August, so be sure to check what’s happening when before pencilling into the diary. The festival concludes with a grand finale over the August bank holiday weekend, featuring storytelling and appearances from the Outlaws themselves.
Do if: Like me, you wish the area showcased Robin Hood a little more, and would love to embrace the spirit of Nottinghamshire’s most famous export.
5. Gloworm Festival
When: August 7-9
Where: Thoresby Park, Newark
How much: From £57.75pp adult, £46.75pp child, £198pp family ticket
Celebrating its 10th birthday and returning to Thoresby Park, Gloworm offers the chance to meet TV favourites including SpongeBob and Bing, sing along to tribute acts, and take part in everything from arts and crafts to laser tag and skateboarding. The dedicated Playmobil play tent, White Post Farm’s animals and colourful circus acts are also well worth a visit. Campers can also enjoy a pamper area and morning campsite activities this year. It’s worth noting that this is particularly suitable for little ones from 0-13.
Do if: You have children and would love a day where you can happily say ‘yes’ to almost everything they want to do.
6. Waitress
When: August 10-15
Where: Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham
How much: From £25pp
Starring Carrie Hope Fletcher as Jenna and Les Dennis as Joe, this is a star-studded musical that’s a West End favourite, and is coming to Nottingham this month. Jenna is a waitress and expert pie-maker who dreams of some happiness in her life – but when a hot new doctor arrives in town, life gets complicated. Can laughter, love and friendship provide the perfect recipe for happiness? Find out during this fun show, which has catchy songs penned by Sara Bareilles.
Do if: You’d like to see a feel-good show that’s plenty impressive - this has Tony, Grammy, and Olivier Award-nominations.
7. Nottingham Carnival
When: August 16
Where: Victoria Embankment, Nottingham
How much: Parade free to watch, carnival area from £6pp adult, £5pp child
One of the UK’s most colourful parades, hundreds of spectacular carnival dancers, plus live music, sound systems, delicious food, and family-friendly fun, will be along the riverside. The free-to-watch parade starts at 2pm at Victoria Embankment, heading up Wilford Grove, Felton Road and Green Street, before making its way back down. From here, there will be a dedicated stage within the carnival site. The complete parade should take no more than two hours and you can watch the parade at any point along the route.
Do if: You’d love to celebrate a vibrant part of our city’s culture by dancing and partying the day away.
8. Southwell Musical Festival
When: August 28-31
Where: Various venues around Southwell
How much: Mix of free and paid-for events
Welcoming professional musicians from across the UK while shining a spotlight on Nottinghamshire’s own talent, this festival celebrates a wide range of music. Nottingham-born renowned pianist Isata Kanneh-Mason will serve as the festival’s 2026 artist-in-residence, and you can see her perform with the Festival Sinfonia (August 28, from £6.29pp). Other highlights include A Night at the Opera (August 29, from £6pp), and the Festival Fringe with free performances in venues and outdoor locations.
Do if: You’ve been meaning to visit this picturesque town – this music festival is the perfect opportunity to do so.
9. Nottingham Running Festival
When: August 30
Where: Colwick Country Park
How much: From £28pp
Set within the scenic Colwick Country Park, this is a great opportunity to tackle a 5K, 10K or even a half marathon if you’re preparing for the Robin Hood Half in Setember. Scenic lakeside paths, wide open trails, and the unique opportunity to run through one of the UK’s oldest racecourses make this particularly unique. Afterwards, Wired on Wheels is the perfect place to reward yourself with a coffee, cob, or ice cream. Plus, your entry includes chip-timed results, a medal, race photos, and post-run goodies.
Do if: You’re looking for a fun run or hoping to chase a new PB – it’s a wonderfully flat course and one of my favourite places to run in Nottingham.
10. The Foolhardy Folk Festival
When: August 30
Where: The Arboretum, Nottingham
How much: From £46pp, under 11s free
Personally curated by folk artist Beans on Toast and set within one of the city’s best green spaces (it just gained a Green Flag and Green Heritage Site Accreditation!), this one-day festival will have plenty of interesting folk music. This year’s headline act is Badly Drawn Boy, who is one of the UK’s most distinctive songwriters and who you might know from the soundtrack for About a Boy. Skinny Lister, 3 Daft Monkeys, K.O.G, Gecko, Nuala and King Killership will also perform, while local street food and bars featuring Nottingham breweries will keep you fuelled for dancing.
Do if: You love scouting out independent music and hearing it live – this is a fab way to discover it.
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