Some major festivals to look forward to in May guaranteed to bring the city of Bath to life – according to Bath Tourism Plus. The Virtual Museum hears that entertainment will be bursting onto the streets and in the venues of Bath every day throughout the month celebrating cutting-edge fashion, the city’s unique history and heritage, world music, comedy and more. Here’s our guide to Bath’s month-long festivities, but for a full listing, see www.visitbath.co.uk
Bath in Fashion: 3 – 10 May
Bath in Fashion returns for another year promising an exciting and eclectic week-long programme that showcases summer 2014 fashions on the catwalk, brings fashion celebrities and authors to share their style and stimulate debate, and stages hands-on workshops, style counsel, exhibitions and installations.
Highlights to look out for include Vogue writer Linda Watson who will be discussing her book ‘Vogue On Vivienne Westwood’; Vintage Sunday which will feature the BathVA vintage fashion fair; and Bath in Fashion on Film – a series of fashion-inspired films hosted at the city-centre Little Theatre Cinema.
Bath in Fashion 2014 will also take a nostalgic look at the fashion moment 50 years ago when Barbara Hulanicki created BIBA. She will be in conversation with Hilary Alexander, former Fashion Director of The Telegraph and one of the most feted journalists of her generation, awarded an OBE in June 2013.
Bath International Music Festival: 16 – 26 May
Now in its 66th year, the Bath International Music Festival is set to be bigger and better than ever. The programme will be packed with an array of events ranging from sublime classical performances to the music of jazz, folk and world, all in beautiful settings around the city. This year the festival will concentrate on the human themes of Sleep, the Seven Deadly Sins and War.
Alongside international sensations like Jan Garbarek and the Harlem String Quartet, there will also be unusual ensembles and artists: Simon Thoumire, the virtuoso magician of the concertina; Pipers 3 with the unfamiliar ensemble of the oboe trio; and Martynas Levickis, the recent classical chart topping accordionist. Supported with a collection of films and music theatre, this year’s Bath International Music Festival is one not to miss.
Party in the City: 16 May
Party in the City is the biggest free show in Bath and will take place on the opening night of Bath International Music Festival. This year’s Party in the City will be another spectacular occasion, celebrating the diverse local music scene and vibrant cultural life of Bath and the surrounding areas. There will be an exciting programme of free events in venues across the city, including a fantastic street performance and procession which will bring the city centre alive with music and dancing. Don’t miss live music throughout the evening from 8pm until late at The Porter, music through the ages at the Roman Baths, Widcombe Choir at St Swithin’s or musical performances al fresco-style in Bath’s picturesque Parade Gardens. With many more city centre venues taking place, there really will be something for everyone at this unique and popular event.
Museums at Night: 17 – 18 May
Night owls can look forward to many special events as museums, galleries and heritage sites in Bath unlock their doors for the evening to celebrate Museums at Night. Join the Fashion Museum for a special tour of the 50th anniversary exhibition ‘50 Fabulous Frocks’, visit Bath Postal Museum and see the museum by the flicker of candlelight – the same precious flickers that illuminated the Post Offices of Victorian Britain, see the Roman Baths by Torchlight, or experience Sydney Gardens in its Georgian heyday with a unique audio experience and adventure using an antique listening device which tunes into the past!
Fringe Festival: 23 May – 8 June
This year’s Fringe will see a programme bursting with theatre, dance, music, visual arts, comedy, children’s festival, street theatre and circus with around 200 events in 40 venues in and around the city to choose from.
The fabulous Speigeltent will return with performances of folk music and cabaret as well as a festival especially for children. There will be a Bedlam Fair street theatre weekend with dozens of acts, an architectural pub-crawl and a commissioned installation by the artist Stanley Donwood. There will also be music of all genres, theatre, comedy and cabaret in venues such as Old Theatre Royal, Chapel Arts, The Mission and The Rondo Theatres.
For a full listing of events and festivals taking place in and around Bath this May, www.visitbath.co.uk for comprehensive details.
