Nottingham June events — 10 things to do this month
Festivals, conventions, demonstrations, and more...
Whether we have another heatwave or you’re simply looking to soak in the start of summer, there are plenty of June events around Nottingham to enjoy.
I’ve curated a mixture of these across the city and county, from festivals and conventions to workshops and shows. These have been narrowed down based on their uniqueness, seasonality, and how good value for money they are.
If you’re looking for events and things to do in Nottingham, these are all worth checking out and putting in your calendar. For more events and guides, including our Notts Going On newsletter, subscribe to The Notts Edit to receive our articles in your inbox for free.
10 things to do around Nottingham this June
By Eve Smallman
1. Nottingham Poetry Festival
When: June 5-14
Where: Various venues around Nottingham
How much: Mix of free and paid-for
Nottingham’s excellent poetry scene is renowned – and this festival is all about celebrating this, with headline acts, intimate readings, open mics, workshops, performances, and more. Highlights include Foraging for Words (June 9, starts at Nottingham Castle, free or £10 with food), NPF Presents: Henry Normal (June 10, Nottingham Central Library, free entry), and BBC Upload x We, The Poets (June 13, Rough Trade, free entry), but be sure to check out the site for all the listings.
Do if: You’d like to spark your creativity by learning from the city and county’s finest poets.
2. Interactive Owl Talk and Demonstration
When: June 6
Where: Attenborough Nature Reserve
How much: £10pp adult, £8pp child
Join experts from BB Falconry Bird of Prey Experience Centre to meet and learn about some of the UK’s native owl species. This hour-long session will give you the chance to get up close and personal with a barn owl, tawny owl, and long-eared owl. You’ll learn about these wonderful birds, as well as experience them flying to your gloved hand. It’s worth noting that this is not suitable for children under six years of age, as this event features live birds. Plus, limited tickets remain as of the time of writing.
Do if: Owls have always fascinated you, and you’d love to learn more about them.
3. Sherwood Art Week
When: June 6-14
Where: Various venues around Sherwood
How much: Fair and open-air gallery free, workshops all £10pp
This suburb has a wonderful artistic flair – and during this week, you can discover more about this and even try your hand at creating. It begins with The Secret Garden Craft Fair at the Sherwood United Reformed Church (June 6, free entry, sherwoodartweek.org), which will have stalls and live music. From here, workshops will run throughout the week with needle felt, bobbin lace, copper jewellery, and more on offer (see on eventbrite.co.uk). Plus, over 50 shops will showcase artworks throughout the week to form an open-air gallery with Art in Shops (tockify.com).
Do if: You’d like to learn more about how artwork is created, as well as find new mediums to get creative with.
4. The Choir of Man
When: June 9-13
Where: Theatre Royal, Nottingham
How much: From £25pp
Direct from the West End, the Olivier Award-nominated hit is now on its first-ever UK tour. It’s filled with hits from artists such as Queen, Paul Simon, Adele, Guns & Roses, and Katy Perry to name but a few, all performed by a cast of nine extraordinary guys who are instrumentalists, wordsmiths, and singers. The Jungle Choir Community Project is also looking for a local choir to attend the opening night and take part in the show’s final moments.
Do if: You’d like to watch something that will truly uplift you, all while providing feel-good, foot-stomping entertainment.
5. Open Air Theatre
When: June 12 and throughout summer
Where: Nottingham Castle
How much: £20pp adult, £14pp child, £15 family ticket
Enjoy theatre in the way that Shakespeare intended during this range of open-air performances. These kick off with the famous love story Romeo & Juliet (June 12), reimagined by Oddsocks in a funny and fresh way (perhaps the perfect date night idea?). Later in the summer, there is also family-friendly tale The Sword in the Stone (July 30) and adorable adventure The Tale of Peter Rabbit & Benjamin Bunny (August 4). Bring low-backed seats and rugs to sit on – picnic optional.
Do if: You love classic, iconic stories, and would love to enjoy them at an iconic venue.
6. EM-Con
When: June 13-14
Where: Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham
How much: From £18pp, £13pp per child
The East Midlands’ biggest expo is returning to the Motorpoint Arena once again, with a jam-packed line-up of guests, panels, and stalls to browse. Celebrities to watch out for include Joonas Suotamo who plays Chewbacca in Star Wars, Ben Crompton from Game of Thrones, Alfie Williams from 28 Years Later, and Anna Shaffer from The Witcher and Harry Potter. We recommend going in cosplay for extra fun… and you might stick out like a sore thumb if you don’t.
Do if: You’re a secret nerd at heart and would love to meet other fans – and even the stars of – of the shows you love.
7. Summer Wedding Fair
When: June 14
Where: Norwood Park, Southwell
How much: Free entry but booking required
When it comes to getting married, it can be a little overwhelming to know where to start and what to do. This wedding fair makes the process beautifully easy, with photographers, florists, clothing, and cake makers to meet and greet. Norwood Park is also a standout wedding venue in the area, and it will be dressed on the day for a summer wedding, so you can get a feel for how it might look should you choose it. Walk around the gorgeous grounds and prepare to be inspired.
Do if: You or someone you love are getting hitched soon, and you’d love to browse the area’s finest vendors.
8. Nottingham Craft Beer Festival
When: June 19-20
Where: Sneinton Market
How much: From £13.20pp day tickets, all day Saturday £22pp
Over 30 breweries will be setting up in Sneinton Market for two days of drinks and entertainment. These range from local ones such as Bang the Elephant, Blue Monkey, and Black Iris, as well as ones like Salford’s Pomona Island, Wokingham’s Siren Craft Brew, and Manchester’s Track Brewing Co. Food-wise, market favourites like Working Man’s Kitchen and Yello Yard will be available. Dive into all this, then jam to DJ sets in the square and intimate gigs in The Grove.
Do if: You enjoy trying different tipples, and would like to do so in one of the city’s most vibrant creative hubs.
9. Father’s Day Cruise
When: June 21
Where: Starts and ends at Princess River Cruises, Colwick
How much: £29.50pp adult, £19.95pp child
Celebrate Father’s Day in style by hopping aboard a lovely river cruise on the River Trent. This will travel around points between Holme Pierrepont and Wilford Church, making for stunning, scenic views. Live commentary and a cruise map are also included, so that you can follow your journey and pick out local interest points. Enjoy these while tucking into a roast dinner, complete with dessert. Plus, dads all get a free drink at the bar (just in case you need further bribery!).
Do if: You’d like to treat your dad to a Father’s Day he’ll always remember.
10. Nottingham Puppet Festival
When: June 27-July 5
Where: Various venues around Nottingham
How much: Mix of free and paid-for
Returning after a hiatus, this city-wide festival is set to transform libraries, community centres, cinemas and theatres into magical spaces filled with puppets. A key part of the festival is the City Centre Day on June 27, where there will be a trail of free performances and walkabouts. On other dates puppets will be hitting the stage, with Roald Dahl’s The Enormous Crocodile at Theatre Royal (July 2-5, from £15pp) and Flyaway Katie for younger children at Lakeside Arts (June 28, from £10.50pp). This is another event where it’s worth checking out the site for all the activities.
Do if: You’re looking for a fun way to capture your children’s imagination – puppets of all sizes are truly mesmerising.
nottinghampuppetfestival.co.uk
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