Southampton Pride is back bigger and better than ever before with a two day extended rainbow celebration, plus there's festivals, football and more music.
Here's our top tips for five things to do in Hampshire this August bank holiday weekend 2024.
At Southampton Pride...
The extended Southampton Pride will take over the streets of the city this bank holiday weekend.
The Big Pride Weekend is to run over two days, Saturday August 24 and Sunday August 25, for the first time.
Expect colourful celebrations in Guildhall Square following the pride march around the city from Queens Park and through the historic Bargate from around 11am on Saturday.
d Tens of thousands of people are expected to attend the event, the biggest LGBTI+ event in the region and nine years in.
Claire Richards of Steps fame and 80s pop icon Sonia are among acts set to perform this year.
Read more about what you can expect here.
At Victorious Festival...
The biggest metropolitan music festival in the UK returns to Hampshire this August bank holiday weekend with headliners Fatboy Slim, Snow Patrol, Jamie T and Biffy Clyro.
Victorious Festival will see three full days of music, comedy and children’s entertainment across multiple stages on Southsea Common.
Friday’s line-up has Razorlight, Idles, Louis Tomlinson and The Snuts joining joint-headliners Fatboy Slim and Snow Patrol on the Common Stage, while Jess Glynne, Baby Queen, Maximo Park, Lottery Winners and The Royston Club are some of the big names on the second Castle Stage.
On Saturday, Courteeners, Tom Walker, The Lathums, Holly Humberstone and Crystal Tides are part of the build-up before Londoner Jamie T tops the bill on the Common Stage, while Pixies, Sugababes, Lightning Seeds and The Amazons are on the Castle Stage.
Sunday sees Becky Hill, The Kooks, James Bay, Yard Act, Natasha Bedingfield, Red Rum Club and The Pigeon Detectives appear before Scottish rockers Biffy Clyro and The Isle of Wight’s Wet Leg close the weekend.
Russell Howard, Frankie Boyle and Al Murray lead the laughs in the Big Top Comedy tent, where Eastenders star Shaun Williamson will also bring his fun Barrioke show before it returns to The Engine Rooms, Southampton, at Christmas.
At St Mary's...
It's back to the Premier League for Saints in Southampton on Saturday at 3pm.
Russell Martin's men take on Nottingham Forest following their opening day defeat at St James's Park against Newcastle last weekend (pictured).
Despite the result, there were reasons to be cheerful with heaps of chances and majority possession.
A full house will be hoping the team can make it count in their first home fixture back in the big time.
At CarFest...
It's time for the 13th edition of the family-friendly festival, created by broadcaster and petrolhead Chris Evans at Laverstoke Park in Overton, featuring the likes of Jake Shears of Scissor Sisters, The Verve's Richard Ashcroft and Johnny Marr from The Smiths.
X Factor icon Olly Murs, Eurovision heavyweight Sam Ryder, queen of British soul Beverley Knight, pop-rock legends Scouting for Girls, and reggae pop fusion pioneers UB40 ft Ali Campbell are just a few of the musical acts also set to appear between Friday and Sunday.
Beyond the music, CarFest presented by bp pulse will feature three new StarFest stage talents: Ed Byrne, the witty and observational comedian known for his television appearances; Jay Blades, the skilled furniture restorer and presenter famous for his work on BBC's The Repair Shop; and Russell Kane, the comedian recognised for his sharp wit and humour. The three stars will take the stage alongside the likes of car aficionado James May; actor and TV presenter Rob Brydon; astronaut Tim Peake; architect George Clarke; BAFTA winner Ben Miller and Ted Lasso star James Lance.
At Exbury Gardens...
A stellar line-up of tribute acts will be performing hit after hit of some of the greatest artists of all time at the fourth outing of a New Forest music festival this bank holiday weekend.
21st Century ABBA, Upbeat Beatles and Motown by Moonlight will be bringing all the thrills of live performance to one of the UK’s finest gardens at the Exbury Festival of Music, which runs from Thursday to Saturday (August 22 to 24).
All of the back catalogue of Swedish supergroup Abba will be showcased when 21st Century Abba kick off the event on Thursday.
Expect a brilliant tribute to the bestselling band of all time when The Upbeat Beatles capture the energy of the original fab four with a setlist jam packed with hits on Friday.
Capitol Motown & Soul Band combine the energy of Motown and more. Put on your dancing shoes as the sun goes down to the sound of Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, The Temptations, Marvin Gaye, and Aretha Franklin on Saturday.
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