As we head into July, the events season in Gloucester gets into full swing. Many of the events over this summer have been wrapped into a new brand of SoMAC – Summer of Music, Art and Culture. This reflects some of the new elements incorporated for 2016, such as Art in the City on 30th July, which will see hundreds of artists descend on Gloucester, as well as more established events like the historic Three Choirs Festival and the Carnival.

We are fortunate to have secured £46,000 of funding from the Arts Council for England for these events, on top of the £85,000 they gave us to support the cultural programme alongside last year’s Rugby World Cup.

The Food Festival at Gloucester Quays is one of the biggest events of the year and this year will be hosting Nadiya Hussain from the Great British Bake Off, Levi Roots and Gloucester-born Celebrity Chef Tom Kerridge, who will probably combine it with a visit to see his mum in Kingsholm!

Have a great summer in Gloucester!
The end of July sees events taking place to mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of Beatrix Potter. On 6th and 7th August, we have the festival fireworks finale in the Park and the Gloucester Marathon, plus the trial of the Quays to city centre land train.

Gloucester Goes Retro, last year’s winner of the Believe in Gloucester Event of the Year Award, makes a welcome return to the city centre on 27th August, when the gate streets will roll back the decades and be filled with vintage cars.

The biggest event of the year in my view is the 800th anniversary of the coronation of Henry III at Gloucester Cathedral. Such anniversaries don’t come along very often, so we must make the most of it! A series of events are being organised, but most importantly a procession and re-enactment at the Cathedral on 10th September.

This is only a flavour of what we have planned. For full details visit www.thecityofgloucester.co.uk, follow @VisitGloucester on Twitter, or keep your eyes on the local media including The Local Answer. Have a great summer in Gloucester!