- Words Notion Staff
With a mouth-watering selection of music and food festivals, art exhibitions and more, August is month that promises to be good.
With the clubs now re-open and the success of Latitude’s glittery return setting the stage for other British musical festivals, July has made sure that August will be the best month of the year.
If you’re struggling to make plans but are desperate to make the most of it, we’ve got some perfect suggestions to bring in the end of summer. Whether its family-friendly activities, free exhibitions, or the best UK food and music offerings, we’ve got you covered.
Dive into our definitive guide to the best events and things to do throughout London and the rest of the UK this August.
Carnival is on! Come celebrate Notting Hill Carnival with Duppy Share Rum and Panorama
Although Notting Hill Carnival will sadly not be held on the streets this year, the most respected steel band competition outside of the Caribbean, the UK National Panorama Steel Band Competition will go ahead at Hornimans, hosted by Duppy Share Rum, the Official Rum of Notting Hill Carnival. A chance to witness some of the world’s leading steel pan players and bands showcase their skills, this is not one to miss.
Duppy Share Rum will host a pop up bar in the Voysey Gardens of Hornimans, from 18:00-23:30 on Saturday the 28th August, where revellers can get into the carnival spirit and enjoy Duppy Share’s signature rum and spiced rum cocktails. All ticket sales will be in aid of the Notting Hill Carnival Recovery Fund.
Matthew Phillip, the CEO of Notting Hill Carnival says, ‘It’s wonderful to be bringing Panorama back for 2021. For decades, this has been the biggest steel pan competition outside of the Caribbean and the focal event of the year for any steel pan band. Despite the difficulties that COVID posed for Carnival, Panorama’s format can take place this year and it will be a fantastic celebration.”
Celebrate Black Culture at Yam Carnival
Yam Carnival is a new festival celebrating Black music, culture, and food, created by the same team that is behind Afro Nation. The new festival, that was meant to debut last summer, will be all up and running for August Bank Holiday weekend. With a stellar line-up including the likes of Davido, Kehlani, NSG, Pa Salieu and Honey Dijon, Yam Carnival promises to offer a rumbling mix of dancehall, afrobeat, R&B and hip hop, all partnered with celebratory masked plays and not to be missed food trucks.
Taking place on Saturday August 28 in Clapham Common, you can book your tickets here.
Rock the Rooftop with Virgin Money this summer
You might never have thought it possible, but Virgin Money is turning the roof of London’s O2 into a stage.
Scale the O2’s iconic roof and enjoy the breathtaking views of London, enjoying an intimate, acoustic performance from one of Virgin Money’s Emerging Stars with Up at The O2.
There are only three days of tickets available, so make sure you snap them up sharpish!
- Tuesday 24th August: DYLAN
- Wednesday 25th August: Aaron Taylor
- Thursday 26th August: Mosa Wild
Find out more information and book tickets here.
Discover Skateboarding’s Impact on UK Culture
Somerset House is currently presenting ‘No Comply’, a free exhibition that explores skateboarding’s impact on UK culture over the past 45 years.
Seen as an activity taken up by rebellious, vandalising youths for many years by older, “Karen” type counterparts, skateboarding has seen its biggest increase in uptake since 2000, with over 750,000 skaters and 1,500 active skateparks currently operating across the UK. Additionally, its recent debut at the Olympic Games can only further popularise the sport and change the negative, outdated stimulus towards it.
Featuring photography, film, fashion, and design, as well as fantastic stories from the skateboarding community, ‘No Comply’ documents the transformative influence the subculture has played in shaping people in the UK, through three enduring themes: the city as playground, skateboarding communities, and DIY culture.
The exhibition will run until September 19. Find out more here.
Free local music and film events in South London
Crystal Palace’s South Facing Festival has announced Sundown Sessions – a series of FREE local music and film events for the whole community.
The Crystal Palace Park Trust is working with South Facing Festival to provide a series of events in the Park, in partnership with Crystal Palace Festival, Crystal Palace International Film Festival, Soho Radio and Albert’s Favourites, who will produce and programme the events. The events span genres of music, film, and broadcast, and are open for the whole community, free of charge. There will also be lots of food traders, including pizza, hot dogs and churros.
Check out the full schedule here.
Spice Things Up at Peckham’s Hot Sauce Society
With over 40 different hot sauce makers, Hot Sauce Society returns to Peckham’s Copeland Park for a two-day hot sauce bonanza. The chilli-fuelled weekender occurs during August 21-22 and is in place to help anyone find their perfectly palatable sauce to take home.
The event will also support small UK businesses, showcasing some of London’s best street food vendors, including sizzling tacos from Dos Mas, a jerk chicken feast from Only Jerkin’, and a special guest appearance from Dishoom. What better way to wash down the spicy stuff and soothe those tastebuds than with a refreshing craft beer and a perfectly made cocktail.
For more information visit the Hot Sauce Society website here.
See the Borealis Lights in Greenwich and Woolwich
See the world in a new light with an extensive programme of innovative and mostly free outdoor events at this years Greenwich + Docklands International Festival. The annual festival will show a variety of art installations, street theatre, circus, dance acts, music events and other family activities across Greenwich, the City of London, Canary Wharf, Thamesmead, and the Royal Docks.
Promised to be one of the most spectacular and mesmerising displays is ‘Borealis’; Swiss artist Dan Acher’s recreation of the Northern Lights over Greenwich and Woolwich using many, many lasers. This event will run from 8.30pm-10pm in Greenwich August 7 to September 5, and then Woolwich September 9 to 11.
The festival will also focus on sustainability and wellbeing in the ‘Part of Healing Together’ series, including a large-scale light installation titled, ‘Recovery Poems’ and a look into tackling air pollution with ‘Urban Astronaut’.
For more information visit the festival’s website here.
It’s Time to Show Recognition to Sophie Taeuber-Arp
Swiss artist, Sophie Taeuber-Arp’s pivotal contribution to modern art and design is long overdue.
Taeuber-Arp was one of the foremost abstract artists and designers of the 1920s and 30s, who existed beyond any sort of boundaries. From carving sculptures, to created puppets, to editing magazines, her work was extraordinarily diverse and at times controversial.
Now being displayed at the Tate Modern until October 17, the exhibition is the first retrospective of her work ever held in the UK, including many pieces which have never been seen in this country before.
To book tickets visit the Tate’s website here.